N-CSR 1 d846259dncsr.htm MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST FORM N-CSR Met Investors Series Trust Form N-CSR

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-10183

 

 

MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

One Financial Center

Boston, MA 02111

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

 

(Name and Address of Agent for Service) Copy to:

Michael P. Lawlor

c/o MetLife Advisers, LLC

One Financial Center

Boston, MA 02111

David C. Mahaffey, Esq.

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

1666 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 578-3408

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014

 

 

 


Item 1: Report to Shareholders.

The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”):


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Managed by AllianceBernstein L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio returned 7.35%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Global economic growth diverged sharply in 2014, with the U.S. economy picking up momentum, while economic growth in Europe and China slowed. This divergence became a major catalyst for asset-class returns last year. In the stock markets, the U.S. outpaced its international counterparts. The S&P 500 Index returned almost 14% for the year ending not far from its record high, boosted by strong corporate profits. By contrast, the developed-international and emerging markets posted full-year losses, weighed down by concerns about weak economic growth and capital outflows. This slowing growth abroad helped to push many global bond yields lower. In arguably the surprise of the year, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield declined 80 basis points, to just 2.2%, from 3.0% at the start of the year. As a result, bond returns were positive: Global bonds (represented by the Barclays Global Aggregate Bond Index) increased 7.6% and U.S. bonds (represented by the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index) returned 6%. Longer-duration bonds, which are more interest-rate sensitive, had even higher returns. Oil prices tumbled 50% from their recent high in July due in part to rising supply combined with below-expected demand. This was a major factor in commodities posting poor results for the full year.

Equity market volatility had another year where it remained below average. However, toward the end of the period risk rose as investors reacted to a combination of lackluster growth in most of the world outside the U.S. and low and even declining inflation prompted by a sharp decline in oil prices.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio’s objective is to provide long term growth by participating in up markets and by mitigating the downside. We aim to deliver more consistent returns through broad diversification and reduce volatility by making flexible adjustments to asset allocation. In this way, we should capture potential return opportunities and manage risk. The strategic allocation is a growth-oriented portfolio with approximately 60% invested in a global mix of equities across capitalization ranges, including real estate; and 40% invested in a mix of global sovereign and high quality corporate bonds.

Throughout the year, we had an overweight in risk assets with global equity, real estate investment trust (“REIT”), and commodity holdings in excess of the strategic asset allocation weights; although the degree and composition of the overweight varied as market conditions changed. This position was supported by our view that easy money policies of central banks would continue to provide liquidity to markets creating conditions with low interest rates and where equity volatility was also likely to remain low. At the same time, strong corporate balance sheets and earnings trends offset slightly rich equity valuations. Through the year, the Portfolio maintained a regional bias towards developed-international equity markets—particularly in Europe and Japan—as a result of more favorable valuations. However, the extent and composition of the overweight varied over the year. Our positions in emerging market equities and commodities were small throughout the year due to growth concerns around emerging economies and given subdued prospects for inflation. For diversification, the Portfolio maintained a modest allocation to REITs. Due to the previously mentioned overweight in risk assets, we remained underweight bonds through most of the year and held a modest amount of cash at times to further reduce portfolio duration.

For the year ending December 31, 2014, the Portfolio outpaced its benchmark as our equity overweight slightly added to performance but developed-international and emerging market holdings detracted. Real estate equities also performed strongly. The decision to diversify across other assets classes hurt performance given the strong returns of U.S. equities, REITs and global bonds; allocations to commodities detracted. The Portfolio holds a 10-year interest rate swap, resulting in extended duration exposure, which added to performance as yields fell during the year. The Portfolio has extended duration exposure to provide additional diversification and balance the sources of risk.

In addition, during the year, we employed a variety of strategies to further protect the Portfolio during periods of uncertainty. At times, we held a small amount of equity put options to provide some protection to our overweight equity position. Over the course of the year, we hedged a portion of the foreign currency exposure that comes from owning non-U.S. stocks.

The Portfolio utilized Equity Futures, Fixed Income Futures, Currency Forwards, Exchange Traded Funds and Total Return Swaps for both hedging and investment purposes. Equity Options, Swaptions and Interest Rate Swaps were used for strictly hedging purposes, while Credit Default Swaps, Commodity Futures and an excess return swap on Commodities were used for investment purposes. All derivatives performed in line with the managers’ expectations over the period.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Managed by AllianceBernstein L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

At the end of the year, the Portfolio was positioned to be slightly overweight in return-seeking assets, concentrated in global equities with modest exposures to global REITs and commodities for diversification, based on our view that the low-growth, low-risk environment should continue.

Dan Loewy

Vadim Zlotnikov

Portfolio Managers

AllianceBernstein L.P.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
AllianceBerstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio            

Class B

       7.35           7.21   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           6.70   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 5/2/2011. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Equity Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      19.9   
Health Care      5.3   
Consumer Discretionary      5.3   
Information Technology      5.0   
Industrials      4.9   

Top Fixed Income Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      27.1   
Cash & Cash Equivalents      13.9   
Foreign Government      4.2   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.88    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,010.20         $ 4.46   
   Hypothetical*      0.88    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.77         $ 4.48   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—45.2% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—0.8%

 

Airbus Group NV

    56,421      $ 2,802,274   

BAE Systems plc

    302,781        2,210,311   

Boeing Co. (The)

    37,825        4,916,493   

Cobham plc

    109,227        547,708   

Finmeccanica S.p.A. (a)

    38,585        358,263   

General Dynamics Corp.

    17,930        2,467,527   

Honeywell International, Inc.

    44,160        4,412,467   

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

    4,885        616,536   

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    15,245        2,935,730   

Meggitt plc

    77,289        617,798   

Northrop Grumman Corp.

    11,725        1,728,148   

Precision Castparts Corp.

    8,125        1,957,150   

Raytheon Co.

    17,515        1,894,597   

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

    7,635        645,005   

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (a)

    180,968        2,437,832   

Safran S.A.

    26,005        1,600,581   

Singapore Technologies Engineering, Ltd.

    148,900        381,212   

Textron, Inc.

    15,680        660,285   

Thales S.A.

    8,946        482,691   

United Technologies Corp.

    47,925        5,511,375   

Zodiac Aerospace

    17,940        605,431   
   

 

 

 
      39,789,414   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—0.2%

 

Bollore S.A. (b)

    53,100        240,992   

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

    8,260        618,591   

Deutsche Post AG

    92,839        3,037,566   

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

    10,905        486,472   

FedEx Corp.

    15,010        2,606,636   

Royal Mail plc

    62,033        413,071   

TNT Express NV

    41,566        276,158   

Toll Holdings, Ltd. (b)

    64,954        309,157   

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B

    39,700        4,413,449   

Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. (b)

    34,893        687,058   
   

 

 

 
      13,089,150   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.1%

 

ANA Holdings, Inc.

    110,656        272,366   

Cathay Pacific Airways, Ltd.

    113,200        246,028   

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

    47,451        2,334,115   

Deutsche Lufthansa AG

    21,980        368,094   

easyJet plc

    15,329        395,663   

International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. - Class DI (a)

    97,776        723,733   

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

    11,578        338,200   

Qantas Airways, Ltd. (a)

    52,675        102,137   

Ryanair Holdings plc (ADR) (a)

    2,230        158,932   

Singapore Airlines, Ltd.

    51,200        447,411   

Southwest Airlines Co.

    38,585        1,632,917   
   

 

 

 
      7,019,596   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.4%

 

Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.

    18,407        661,598   

BorgWarner, Inc.

    12,840        705,558   

Bridgestone Corp.

    62,394        2,168,246   

Auto Components—(Continued)

 

Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin

    17,891      1,622,041   

Continental AG

    10,553        2,240,956   

Delphi Automotive plc

    16,921        1,230,495   

Denso Corp.

    46,657        2,174,477   

GKN plc

    157,466        835,227   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)

    15,490        442,549   

Johnson Controls, Inc.

    37,545        1,814,925   

Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    9,781        298,317   

NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.

    17,000        513,354   

NHK Spring Co., Ltd.

    15,100        131,743   

NOK Corp.

    9,147        232,311   

Nokian Renkaat Oyj (b)

    10,923        267,545   

Pirelli & C S.p.A.

    22,945        308,149   

Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.

    13,744        297,077   

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

    72,361        902,836   

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.

    16,401        244,193   

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

    6,245        126,102   

Toyota Industries Corp.

    15,624        798,344   

Valeo S.A.

    7,281        906,902   

Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (The)

    19,000        173,585   
   

 

 

 
      19,096,530   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—1.0%

 

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG

    31,764        3,449,692   

Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. (b)

    18,533        243,101   

Daimler AG

    92,370        7,706,487   

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (a) (b)

    84,006        964,006   

Ford Motor Co.

    218,595        3,388,223   

Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.

    57,012        2,007,681   

General Motors Co.

    75,913        2,650,123   

Harley-Davidson, Inc.

    12,275        809,045   

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

    156,396        4,547,948   

Isuzu Motors, Ltd.

    57,200        697,876   

Mazda Motor Corp.

    51,500        1,236,213   

Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

    61,400        562,487   

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

    238,449        2,076,949   

Peugeot S.A. (a) (b)

    37,562        458,213   

Renault S.A.

    18,447        1,348,025   

Suzuki Motor Corp.

    34,994        1,051,955   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    262,310        16,357,800   

Volkswagen AG

    2,836        617,949   

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

    25,166        506,123   
   

 

 

 
      50,679,896   
   

 

 

 

Banks—4.3%

 

Aozora Bank, Ltd. (b)

    110,635        343,361   

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.

    264,451        6,879,107   

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A. (a)

    417,218        237,235   

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.

    569,484        5,359,709   

Banco Comercial Portugues S.A. - Class R (a)

    3,331,804        261,997   

Banco de Sabadell S.A. (b)

    327,251        857,314   

Banco Espirito Santo S.A. (a) (c) (g)

    169,954        0   

Banco Popolare SC (a)

    34,745        415,931   

Banco Popular Espanol S.A. (b)

    171,358        848,442   

Banco Santander S.A.

    1,185,646        9,914,164   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Banks—(Continued)

 

Bank Hapoalim B.M.

    100,592      $ 474,415   

Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M. (a)

    126,762        434,878   

Bank of America Corp.

    592,708        10,603,546   

Bank of East Asia, Ltd.

    122,800        493,329   

Bank of Ireland (a)

    2,639,017        983,962   

Bank of Kyoto, Ltd. (The)

    32,632        272,943   

Bank of Queensland, Ltd.

    34,862        344,508   

Bank of Yokohama, Ltd. (The)

    111,009        602,500   

Bankia S.A. (a)

    440,346        652,819   

Bankinter S.A.

    64,673        515,678   

Barclays plc

    1,575,417        5,922,785   

BB&T Corp.

    40,545        1,576,795   

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Ltd.

    43,025        447,158   

BNP Paribas S.A.

    101,621        5,971,686   

BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.

    354,500        1,178,000   

CaixaBank S.A.

    167,350        869,244   

Chiba Bank, Ltd. (The)

    70,833        464,897   

Chugoku Bank, Ltd. (The)

    15,798        215,711   

Citigroup, Inc.

    170,871        9,245,830   

Comerica, Inc.

    10,155        475,660   

Commerzbank AG (a)

    92,933        1,234,589   

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

    155,539        10,802,227   

Credit Agricole S.A. (b)

    98,966        1,272,277   

Danske Bank A/S

    62,895        1,692,795   

DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.

    165,100        2,549,546   

DNB ASA

    93,754        1,382,344   

Erste Group Bank AG

    26,891        616,514   

Fifth Third Bancorp

    46,935        956,301   

Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc.

    73,326        378,580   

Gunma Bank, Ltd. (The) (b)

    35,171        228,142   

Hachijuni Bank, Ltd. (The)

    38,338        246,778   

Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.

    73,400        1,220,452   

Hiroshima Bank, Ltd. (The)

    47,340        225,020   

Hokuhoku Financial Group, Inc.

    116,000        234,449   

HSBC Holdings plc

    1,837,058        17,361,084   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

    45,955        483,447   

ING Groep NV (a)

    370,076        4,791,600   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.

    1,116,463        3,229,749   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. - Risparmio Shares

    89,130        219,394   

Iyo Bank, Ltd. (The) (b)

    23,000        249,303   

Joyo Bank, Ltd. (The) (b)

    62,592        310,607   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    212,000        13,266,960   

KBC Groep NV (a)

    24,031        1,333,733   

KeyCorp

    49,420        686,938   

Lloyds Banking Group plc (a)

    5,477,708        6,468,441   

M&T Bank Corp. (b)

    7,495        941,522   

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    1,223,280        6,704,973   

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, Ltd. (a)

    13,163        138,071   

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

    2,213,860        3,719,946   

National Australia Bank, Ltd.

    226,957        6,183,959   

Natixis S.A.

    89,693        589,806   

Nordea Bank AB

    291,395        3,365,467   

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.

    278,200        2,186,476   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    30,435        2,776,585   

Raiffeisen Bank International AG

    11,184        167,102   

Regions Financial Corp.

    77,615        819,614   

Resona Holdings, Inc.

    211,726        1,068,605   

Banks—(Continued)

 

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (a)

    242,564      1,472,490   

Seven Bank, Ltd.

    57,128        240,439   

Shinsei Bank, Ltd.

    158,300        276,362   

Shizuoka Bank, Ltd. (The) (b)

    50,824        464,890   

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB - Class A

    145,724        1,843,336   

Societe Generale S.A.

    69,521        2,921,363   

Standard Chartered plc

    236,969        3,553,825   

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

    122,150        4,413,585   

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.

    318,090        1,213,954   

SunTrust Banks, Inc.

    29,900        1,252,810   

Suruga Bank, Ltd.

    17,000        311,480   

Svenska Handelsbanken AB - A Shares

    47,885        2,235,882   

Swedbank AB - A Shares

    86,878        2,161,781   

U.S. Bancorp

    101,535        4,563,998   

UniCredit S.p.A.

    421,233        2,684,732   

Unione di Banche Italiane SCPA

    81,676        581,400   

United Overseas Bank, Ltd.

    124,400        2,299,890   

Wells Fargo & Co. (d)

    267,710        14,675,862   

Westpac Banking Corp.

    298,262        8,018,393   

Yamaguchi Financial Group, Inc. (b)

    20,000        206,038   

Zions Bancorporation

    11,360        323,874   
   

 

 

 
      222,683,384   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—1.0%

 

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV

    77,143        8,681,188   

Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.

    37,163        1,147,081   

Brown-Forman Corp. - Class B

    8,927        784,148   

Carlsberg A/S - Class B

    10,304        800,164   

Coca-Cola Amatil, Ltd.

    54,602        413,198   

Coca-Cola Co. (The) (d)

    222,510        9,394,372   

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.

    12,690        561,152   

Coca-Cola HBC AG (a)

    19,325        367,693   

Constellation Brands, Inc. - Class A (a)

    9,475        930,161   

Diageo plc

    241,014        6,912,558   

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

    10,940        784,179   

Heineken Holding NV

    9,688        607,269   

Heineken NV

    22,104        1,570,252   

Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. (b)

    78,148        968,031   

Molson Coors Brewing Co. - Class B

    9,005        671,053   

Monster Beverage Corp. (a)

    8,080        875,468   

PepsiCo, Inc.

    84,925        8,030,508   

Pernod-Ricard S.A.

    20,371        2,258,674   

Remy Cointreau S.A.

    2,384        159,239   

SABMiller plc

    92,780        4,801,578   

Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd.

    13,397        462,569   

Treasury Wine Estates, Ltd.

    61,864        240,660   
   

 

 

 
      51,421,195   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.7%

 

Actelion, Ltd. (a)

    9,854        1,133,675   

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    11,200        2,072,336   

Amgen, Inc.

    42,883        6,830,833   

Biogen Idec, Inc. (a)

    13,330        4,524,868   

Celgene Corp. (a)

    45,040        5,038,174   

CSL, Ltd.

    45,529        3,205,746   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)

    85,220        8,032,837   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Biotechnology—(Continued)

 

Grifols S.A. (b)

    14,312      $ 569,727   

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    4,241        1,739,870   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    13,467        1,599,880   
   

 

 

 
      34,747,946   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—0.2%

 

Allegion plc

    5,401        299,539   

Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (b)

    96,533        471,382   

Assa Abloy AB - Class B

    32,052        1,693,849   

Cie de St-Gobain

    43,590        1,835,108   

Daikin Industries, Ltd.

    22,491        1,450,609   

Geberit AG

    3,635        1,235,294   

LIXIL Group Corp.

    25,529        539,889   

Masco Corp.

    20,075        505,890   

TOTO, Ltd.

    27,000        314,043   
   

 

 

 
      8,345,603   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.9%

 

3i Group plc

    92,636        643,803   

Aberdeen Asset Management plc

    88,260        589,500   

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (a)

    3,205        680,229   

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

    10,615        1,403,834   

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)

    63,785        2,587,758   

BlackRock, Inc.

    7,110        2,542,252   

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

    64,645        1,951,633   

Credit Suisse Group AG (a)

    146,473        3,671,906   

Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.

    159,135        1,239,282   

Deutsche Bank AG

    132,319        3,999,442   

E*Trade Financial Corp. (a)

    16,215        393,295   

Franklin Resources, Inc.

    22,141        1,225,947   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    23,150        4,487,165   

Hargreaves Lansdown plc

    22,669        353,448   

ICAP plc

    52,491        366,133   

Invesco, Ltd.

    24,320        961,126   

Investec plc

    52,979        442,574   

Julius Baer Group, Ltd. (a)

    21,452        978,963   

Legg Mason, Inc.

    5,730        305,810   

Macquarie Group, Ltd.

    27,736        1,309,101   

Mediobanca S.p.A.

    57,616        466,500   

Morgan Stanley

    86,260        3,346,888   

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

    348,326        1,982,178   

Northern Trust Corp.

    12,490        841,826   

Partners Group Holding AG

    1,672        484,893   

SBI Holdings, Inc.

    19,389        210,536   

Schroders plc

    12,004        497,511   

State Street Corp.

    23,890        1,875,365   

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

    14,790        1,269,869   

UBS Group AG (a)

    348,908        5,997,624   
   

 

 

 
      47,106,391   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—1.3%

 

Air Liquide S.A.

    33,057        4,078,857   

Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.

    10,845        1,564,174   

Air Water, Inc.

    14,767        234,095   

Airgas, Inc.

    3,760        433,077   

Akzo Nobel NV

    23,276        1,614,067   

Chemicals—(Continued)

 

Arkema S.A.

    6,268      415,660   

Asahi Kasei Corp.

    120,475        1,104,078   

BASF SE

    88,113        7,448,518   

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    2,860        779,464   

Croda International plc

    13,047        537,588   

Daicel Corp.

    26,442        309,590   

Dow Chemical Co. (The)

    63,240        2,884,376   

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.

    51,555        3,811,977   

Eastman Chemical Co.

    8,380        635,707   

Ecolab, Inc.

    15,245        1,593,407   

EMS-Chemie Holding AG

    798        323,990   

FMC Corp.

    7,440        424,303   

Givaudan S.A. (a)

    888        1,587,794   

Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.

    9,988        176,930   

Incitec Pivot, Ltd.

    158,769        410,557   

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

    4,585        464,736   

Israel Chemicals, Ltd.

    42,467        306,313   

Israel Corp., Ltd. (The) (a)

    264        125,475   

Johnson Matthey plc

    19,725        1,034,065   

JSR Corp. (b)

    17,120        293,982   

K&S AG (b)

    16,546        459,465   

Kaneka Corp.

    25,974        139,665   

Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.

    22,548        348,470   

Koninklijke DSM NV

    16,553        1,006,529   

Kuraray Co., Ltd.

    33,005        376,294   

Lanxess AG

    8,851        411,777   

Linde AG

    17,819        3,323,596   

LyondellBasell Industries NV - Class A

    23,971        1,903,058   

Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp.

    129,632        631,271   

Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc. (b)

    36,159        181,644   

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (b)

    78,044        221,683   

Monsanto Co.

    29,580        3,533,923   

Mosaic Co. (The)

    17,880        816,222   

Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. (b)

    17,000        493,433   

Nitto Denko Corp.

    15,070        842,767   

Novozymes A/S - B Shares

    22,988        964,481   

Orica, Ltd.

    35,767        548,156   

PPG Industries, Inc.

    7,845        1,813,372   

Praxair, Inc.

    16,525        2,140,979   

Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)

    4,760        1,252,070   

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

    39,389        2,562,539   

Sigma-Aldrich Corp.

    6,685        917,650   

Sika AG

    207        607,133   

Solvay S.A.

    5,722        772,994   

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

    142,637        564,736   

Symrise AG

    11,831        717,478   

Syngenta AG

    8,918        2,863,574   

Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp. (b)

    14,268        157,440   

Teijin, Ltd.

    89,665        238,787   

Toray Industries, Inc.

    140,548        1,125,646   

Umicore S.A.

    10,445        420,694   

Yara International ASA

    17,225        770,331   
   

 

 

 
      65,720,637   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—0.2%

  

 

ADT Corp. (The) (b)

    9,722        352,228   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Commercial Services & Supplies—(Continued)

  

Aggreko plc

    24,639      $ 574,050   

Babcock International Group plc

    24,179        395,591   

Brambles, Ltd.

    149,990        1,291,695   

Cintas Corp.

    5,430        425,929   

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

    52,963        478,002   

Edenred

    19,744        548,233   

G4S plc

    147,932        636,636   

ISS A/S (a)

    8,906        256,393   

Park24 Co., Ltd.

    9,480        139,605   

Pitney Bowes, Inc.

    11,410        278,062   

Republic Services, Inc.

    14,185        570,946   

Secom Co., Ltd.

    20,129        1,156,453   

Securitas AB - B Shares

    29,854        361,718   

Societe BIC S.A.

    2,769        367,486   

Stericycle, Inc. (a)

    4,815        631,150   

Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

    52,929        344,571   

Tyco International plc

    24,925        1,093,211   

Waste Management, Inc.

    24,435        1,254,004   
   

 

 

 
      11,155,963   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—0.5%

 

Alcatel-Lucent (a) (b)

    269,968        958,434   

Cisco Systems, Inc. (d)

    287,400        7,994,031   

F5 Networks, Inc. (a)

    4,185        545,996   

Harris Corp.

    5,890        423,020   

Juniper Networks, Inc.

    22,620        504,878   

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    12,400        831,792   

Nokia Oyj

    359,270        2,827,647   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    94,505        7,024,557   

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - B Shares

    291,954        3,535,837   
   

 

 

 
      24,646,192   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—0.2%

  

ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios S.A.

    16,907        585,403   

Boskalis Westminster NV

    8,282        452,790   

Bouygues S.A.

    16,106        581,190   

Chiyoda Corp. (b)

    15,000        123,373   

Ferrovial S.A. (b)

    39,966        787,477   

Fluor Corp.

    8,895        539,304   

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (a)

    7,450        332,940   

JGC Corp.

    20,182        415,932   

Kajima Corp. (b)

    80,151        331,251   

Leighton Holdings, Ltd.

    9,707        176,614   

Obayashi Corp. (b)

    61,450        394,939   

OCI NV (a) (b)

    8,057        279,621   

Quanta Services, Inc. (a)

    12,185        345,932   

Shimizu Corp.

    56,178        382,527   

Skanska AB - B Shares

    36,444        779,126   

Taisei Corp. (b)

    98,221        559,098   

Vinci S.A.

    46,927        2,567,878   
   

 

 

 
      9,635,395   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.2%

  

Boral, Ltd.

    74,246        318,474   

CRH plc (Dublin Exchange)

    60,027        1,444,207   

Construction Materials—(Continued)

  

CRH plc (London Exchange)

    10,900      258,897   

Fletcher Building, Ltd.

    65,581        422,993   

HeidelbergCement AG

    13,539        963,141   

Holcim, Ltd. (a)

    21,965        1,559,737   

Imerys S.A.

    3,316        244,535   

James Hardie Industries plc

    42,746        455,151   

Lafarge S.A.

    17,930        1,258,405   

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (b)

    3,512        387,444   

Taiheiyo Cement Corp.

    112,000        352,428   

Vulcan Materials Co.

    7,350        483,116   
   

 

 

 
      8,148,528   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.2%

  

Acom Co., Ltd. (a) (b)

    38,280        116,473   

AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd. (b)

    11,005        215,138   

American Express Co.

    50,780        4,724,571   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    31,665        2,613,946   

Credit Saison Co., Ltd.

    14,215        264,481   

Discover Financial Services

    25,985        1,701,758   

Navient Corp.

    23,635        510,752   
   

 

 

 
      10,147,119   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.1%

  

Amcor, Ltd.

    115,761        1,273,892   

Avery Dennison Corp.

    5,200        269,776   

Ball Corp.

    7,770        529,681   

MeadWestvaco Corp.

    9,400        417,266   

Owens-Illinois, Inc. (a)

    9,270        250,197   

Rexam plc

    67,096        471,705   

Sealed Air Corp.

    11,895        504,705   

Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.

    15,696        193,633   
   

 

 

 
      3,910,855   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.0%

  

Genuine Parts Co.

    8,615        918,100   

Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Ltd.

    10,200        327,522   
   

 

 

 
      1,245,622   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services—0.0%

  

Benesse Holdings, Inc.

    6,454        191,720   

H&R Block, Inc.

    15,455        520,525   
   

 

 

 
      712,245   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.6%

  

ASX, Ltd.

    18,608        555,442   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B (a) (d)

    102,820        15,438,423   

CME Group, Inc.

    17,785        1,576,640   

Deutsche Boerse AG

    18,541        1,328,723   

Eurazeo S.A.

    3,649        254,889   

Exor S.p.A.

    9,453        385,657   

First Pacific Co., Ltd.

    224,500        221,318   

Groupe Bruxelles Lambert S.A.

    7,745        659,234   

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, Ltd.

    106,400        2,340,659   

Industrivarden AB - C Shares

    15,715        272,948   

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    6,436        1,411,350   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

Investment AB Kinnevik - B Shares

    22,658      $ 734,831   

Investor AB - B Shares

    43,697        1,583,549   

Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (b)

    25,123        585,325   

Leucadia National Corp.

    17,775        398,515   

London Stock Exchange Group plc

    21,635        743,300   

McGraw Hill Financial, Inc.

    15,315        1,362,729   

Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Co., Ltd.

    47,260        223,328   

Moody’s Corp.

    10,525        1,008,400   

NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (The)

    6,570        315,097   

ORIX Corp.

    126,980        1,587,363   

Pargesa Holding S.A.

    3,017        232,410   

Singapore Exchange, Ltd.

    76,600        450,384   

Wendel S.A.

    3,064        342,430   
   

 

 

 
      34,012,944   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—1.2%

  

AT&T, Inc. (d)

    292,251        9,816,711   

Belgacom S.A. (b)

    14,687        531,814   

Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Corp., Ltd.

    182,189        323,910   

BT Group plc

    780,901        4,847,493   

CenturyLink, Inc.

    32,050        1,268,539   

Deutsche Telekom AG

    304,580        4,881,892   

Elisa Oyj

    13,654        371,617   

Frontier Communications Corp. (b)

    56,465        376,622   

HKT Trust / HKT, Ltd.

    254,200        330,092   

Iliad S.A.

    2,522        605,831   

Inmarsat plc

    40,708        504,472   

Koninklijke KPN NV

    307,245        968,676   

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (a)

    15,714        775,957   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    36,014        1,853,209   

Orange S.A.

    177,882        3,025,110   

PCCW, Ltd.

    389,700        266,480   

Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.

    761,400        2,233,390   

Singapore Telecommunications, Ltd.

    3,000        8,806   

Spark New Zealand, Ltd.

    173,913        421,376   

Swisscom AG

    2,241        1,176,751   

TDC A/S

    77,418        589,975   

Telecom Italia S.p.A. (a) (b)

    969,238        1,027,896   

Telecom Italia S.p.A. - Risparmio Shares

    574,543        480,223   

Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG (a)

    57,071        304,784   

Telefonica S.A.

    404,163        5,781,133   

Telenor ASA

    72,020        1,452,165   

TeliaSonera AB

    228,470        1,469,279   

Telstra Corp., Ltd.

    417,798        2,028,912   

TPG Telecom, Ltd.

    26,556        144,949   

Verizon Communications, Inc. (d)

    233,620        10,928,744   

Vivendi S.A. (a)

    116,432        2,904,415   

Windstream Holdings, Inc.

    33,950        279,748   
   

 

 

 
      61,980,971   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.7%

  

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

    27,550        1,672,836   

AusNet Services

    160,953        173,879   

Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.

    58,400        431,509   

Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. (a)

    61,837        727,477   

Electric Utilities—(Continued)

  

Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. (The) (b)

    28,434      372,365   

CLP Holdings, Ltd.

    181,482        1,574,822   

Contact Energy, Ltd.

    34,436        171,378   

Duke Energy Corp.

    39,815        3,326,145   

Edison International

    18,345        1,201,231   

EDP - Energias de Portugal S.A.

    221,352        856,063   

Electricite de France S.A.

    23,181        636,524   

Enel S.p.A.

    631,468        2,823,448   

Entergy Corp.

    10,125        885,735   

Exelon Corp.

    48,424        1,795,562   

FirstEnergy Corp.

    23,625        921,139   

Fortum Oyj

    42,555        919,589   

Hokuriku Electric Power Co.

    16,111        205,744   

Iberdrola S.A.

    484,061        3,256,847   

Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (The) (a)

    67,533        642,489   

Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. (a)

    40,897        409,587   

Mighty River Power, Ltd.

    67,154        155,785   

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    24,645        2,619,517   

Northeast Utilities

    17,765        950,783   

Pepco Holdings, Inc.

    14,060        378,636   

Pinnacle West Capital Corp.

    6,150        420,106   

Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.

    132,900        1,283,040   

PPL Corp.

    37,415        1,359,287   

Red Electrica Corp. S.A. (b)

    10,379        911,142   

Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc. (a)

    17,152        207,925   

Southern Co. (The) (b)

    50,395        2,474,898   

SSE plc

    93,538        2,348,239   

Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale S.p.A.

    143,727        651,097   

Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc.

    43,438        504,595   

Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (a)

    138,685        565,125   

Xcel Energy, Inc.

    28,410        1,020,487   
   

 

 

 
      38,855,031   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.4%

  

ABB, Ltd. (a)

    210,959        4,462,140   

Alstom S.A. (a)

    20,772        670,073   

AMETEK, Inc.

    13,867        729,820   

Eaton Corp. plc

    26,838        1,823,911   

Emerson Electric Co.

    39,295        2,425,680   

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

    52,942        211,197   

Legrand S.A.

    25,484        1,334,059   

Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.

    4,848        191,055   

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

    184,739        2,199,508   

Nidec Corp.

    20,900        1,355,627   

OSRAM Licht AG (a)

    8,625        339,847   

Prysmian S.p.A.

    19,445        353,922   

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

    7,745        861,244   

Schneider Electric SE

    50,386        3,661,140   

Vestas Wind Systems A/S (a)

    21,544        778,265   
   

 

 

 
      21,397,488   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.4%

  

Amphenol Corp. - Class A

    17,670        950,823   

Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.

    25,300        194,641   

Corning, Inc.

    72,740        1,667,928   

FLIR Systems, Inc.

    7,905        255,411   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—(Continued)

  

Hamamatsu Photonics KK

    6,834      $ 326,560   

Hexagon AB - B Shares

    24,484        757,163   

Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.

    2,955        344,010   

Hitachi High-Technologies Corp.

    6,011        173,437   

Hitachi, Ltd.

    463,158        3,389,047   

Hoya Corp.

    40,850        1,367,698   

Ibiden Co., Ltd.

    11,567        169,988   

Japan Display, Inc. (a) (b)

    34,489        105,490   

Keyence Corp.

    4,388        1,943,611   

Kyocera Corp.

    30,800        1,411,681   

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    19,446        2,124,155   

Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.

    37,602        169,512   

Omron Corp.

    19,666        881,439   

Shimadzu Corp.

    22,283        226,775   

TDK Corp.

    11,825        696,725   

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

    23,000        1,454,750   

Yaskawa Electric Corp. (b)

    22,000        281,405   

Yokogawa Electric Corp.

    20,643        227,235   
   

 

 

 
      19,119,484   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.3%

  

Amec Foster Wheeler plc

    37,181        486,624   

Baker Hughes, Inc.

    24,525        1,375,117   

Cameron International Corp. (a)

    11,400        569,430   

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (b)

    3,715        136,378   

Ensco plc - Class A

    13,170        394,441   

FMC Technologies, Inc. (a)

    13,230        619,693   

Halliburton Co.

    47,950        1,885,873   

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

    6,105        411,599   

Nabors Industries, Ltd.

    16,215        210,471   

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

    24,205        1,586,154   

Noble Corp. plc (b)

    14,265        236,371   

Petrofac, Ltd.

    25,003        271,174   

Saipem S.p.A. (a) (b)

    25,369        266,433   

Schlumberger, Ltd. (d)

    73,090        6,242,617   

Seadrill, Ltd. (b)

    37,842        435,613   

Subsea 7 S.A. (b)

    26,901        274,330   

Technip S.A.

    9,850        588,180   

Tenaris S.A. (b)

    45,256        683,573   

Transocean, Ltd. (b)

    19,180        351,569   

Transocean, Ltd. (Swiss-Traded Shares) (b)

    34,746        636,785   

WorleyParsons, Ltd.

    19,861        163,820   
   

 

 

 
      17,826,245   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—0.9%

  

Aeon Co., Ltd. (b)

    60,829        612,270   

Carrefour S.A.

    59,928        1,820,734   

Casino Guichard Perrachon S.A.

    5,427        499,415   

Colruyt S.A.

    6,742        312,623   

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    24,695        3,500,516   

CVS Health Corp.

    65,315        6,290,488   

Delhaize Group S.A. (b)

    9,906        719,591   

Distribuidora Internacional de Alimentacion S.A.

    59,120        397,520   

FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (b)

    5,614        209,579   

ICA Gruppen AB

    7,426        290,659   

Food & Staples Retailing—(Continued)

  

J Sainsbury plc (b)

    119,297      453,537   

Jeronimo Martins SGPS S.A. (b)

    24,196        242,520   

Koninklijke Ahold NV

    85,800        1,525,184   

Kroger Co. (The)

    27,480        1,764,491   

Lawson, Inc. (b)

    6,276        379,499   

Metcash, Ltd. (b)

    84,910        127,687   

Metro AG (a)

    15,643        478,933   

Safeway, Inc.

    12,900        453,048   

Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.

    72,331        2,609,031   

Sysco Corp.

    33,045        1,311,556   

Tesco plc

    779,267        2,267,608   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (d)

    88,974        7,641,087   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

    49,595        3,779,139   

Wesfarmers, Ltd.

    107,387        3,635,377   

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

    20,300        1,023,526   

WM Morrison Supermarkets plc

    200,874        571,681   

Woolworths, Ltd.

    120,866        3,011,416   
   

 

 

 
      45,928,715   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—1.2%

  

Ajinomoto Co., Inc.

    54,281        1,005,812   

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

    36,355        1,890,460   

Aryzta AG (a)

    8,362        642,515   

Associated British Foods plc

    34,177        1,660,512   

Barry Callebaut AG (a)

    215        220,197   

Calbee, Inc.

    7,080        244,407   

Campbell Soup Co. (b)

    9,990        439,560   

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG

    10        573,965   

Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG (Participation Certifcate)

    91        449,248   

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

    23,740        861,287   

Danone S.A.

    55,586        3,656,808   

General Mills, Inc.

    34,460        1,837,752   

Golden Agri-Resources, Ltd.

    676,600        234,645   

Hershey Co. (The)

    8,365        869,375   

Hormel Foods Corp.

    7,505        391,011   

J.M. Smucker Co. (The)

    5,785        584,169   

Kellogg Co.

    14,355        939,391   

Kerry Group plc - Class A
(Dublin Exchange)

    9,082        626,623   

Kerry Group plc - Class A (London Exchange)

    6,107        427,993   

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

    6,883        911,275   

Kikkoman Corp.

    14,100        345,926   

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

    33,423        2,094,285   

McCormick & Co., Inc. (b)

    7,270        540,161   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

    11,430        1,149,172   

MEIJI Holdings Co., Ltd. (b)

    5,918        538,983   

Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A

    94,960        3,449,422   

Nestle S.A.

    309,367        22,677,078   

NH Foods, Ltd.

    16,715        365,610   

Nisshin Seifun Group, Inc. (b)

    20,400        197,661   

Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.

    5,634        269,615   

Orkla ASA

    77,914        531,006   

Tate & Lyle plc

    44,620        419,137   

Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd. (b)

    8,477        273,715   

Tyson Foods, Inc. - Class A

    16,450        659,481   

Unilever NV

    156,275        6,138,913   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Food Products—(Continued)

  

Unilever plc

    123,127      $ 5,001,513   

WH Group, Ltd. (144A) (a)

    351,300        200,081   

Wilmar International, Ltd.

    183,339        447,252   

Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (b)

    8,492        448,152   

Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd. (b)

    10,748        132,615   
   

 

 

 
      64,346,783   
   

 

 

 

Gas Utilities—0.1%

  

AGL Resources, Inc.

    6,730        366,852   

APA Group (b)

    106,242        646,881   

Enagas S.A.

    19,547        618,717   

Gas Natural SDG S.A.

    33,586        844,918   

Hong Kong & China Gas Co., Ltd.

    605,039        1,374,608   

Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.

    179,489        670,859   

Snam S.p.A.

    194,647        960,218   

Toho Gas Co., Ltd. (b)

    39,048        191,360   

Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

    222,460        1,200,430   
   

 

 

 
      6,874,843   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.6%

  

Abbott Laboratories

    84,700        3,813,194   

Baxter International, Inc.

    30,500        2,235,345   

Becton Dickinson & Co.

    10,790        1,501,536   

Boston Scientific Corp. (a)

    74,680        989,510   

C.R. Bard, Inc.

    4,185        697,305   

CareFusion Corp. (a)

    11,420        677,663   

Cochlear, Ltd. (b)

    5,519        348,321   

Coloplast A/S - Class B

    10,710        901,430   

Covidien plc

    25,465        2,604,560   

DENTSPLY International, Inc.

    7,945        423,230   

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (a)

    6,030        768,101   

Elekta AB - B Shares

    35,180        359,052   

Essilor International S.A.

    19,604        2,182,252   

Getinge AB - B Shares

    19,294        438,241   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)

    2,020        1,068,459   

Medtronic, Inc.

    55,235        3,987,967   

Olympus Corp. (a)

    23,006        810,637   

Smith & Nephew plc

    85,588        1,571,345   

Sonova Holding AG

    5,170        757,886   

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

    15,985        1,039,504   

Stryker Corp.

    16,870        1,591,347   

Sysmex Corp.

    14,000        621,085   

Terumo Corp.

    29,200        665,021   

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a)

    5,825        503,921   

William Demant Holding A/S (a) (b)

    2,167        164,480   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

    9,535        1,081,460   
   

 

 

 
      31,802,852   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—0.6%

  

Aetna, Inc.

    19,944        1,771,626   

Alfresa Holdings Corp.

    16,900        204,244   

AmerisourceBergen Corp.

    11,985        1,080,568   

Anthem, Inc.

    15,480        1,945,372   

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    18,930        1,528,219   

Celesio AG

    4,855        156,984   

Health Care Providers & Services—(Continued)

  

Cigna Corp.

    14,825      1,525,641   

DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc. (a)

    9,630        729,376   

Express Scripts Holding Co. (a)

    42,014        3,557,325   

Extendicare Inc. (b)

    9,700        54,436   

Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA

    20,822        1,558,336   

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA

    36,310        1,896,115   

Healthscope, Ltd. (a)

    108,007        239,140   

Humana, Inc.

    8,700        1,249,581   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (a)

    4,825        520,617   

McKesson Corp.

    13,055        2,709,957   

Medipal Holdings Corp.

    12,887        149,656   

Miraca Holdings, Inc.

    5,443        234,563   

Patterson Cos., Inc.

    4,780        229,918   

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

    8,105        543,521   

Ramsay Health Care, Ltd.

    12,670        587,521   

Ryman Healthcare, Ltd.

    35,267        234,127   

Sonic Healthcare, Ltd.

    36,361        546,054   

Suzuken Co., Ltd.

    6,765        186,965   

Tenet Healthcare Corp. (a)

    5,457        276,506   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    54,800        5,539,732   

Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B

    5,200        578,552   
   

 

 

 
      29,834,652   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Technology—0.0%

  

Cerner Corp. (a)

    17,060        1,103,099   

M3, Inc.

    18,611        309,485   
   

 

 

 
      1,412,584   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—0.6%

  

Accor S.A.

    16,560        741,990   

Carnival Corp.

    25,320        1,147,756   

Carnival plc

    17,649        796,885   

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (a)

    1,815        1,242,386   

Compass Group plc

    160,932        2,742,978   

Crown Resorts, Ltd.

    34,811        357,624   

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

    7,375        432,396   

Flight Centre Travel Group, Ltd. (b)

    5,369        142,005   

Galaxy Entertainment Group, Ltd.

    223,771        1,245,658   

Genting Singapore plc (b)

    587,000        475,604   

InterContinental Hotels Group plc

    22,652        907,714   

Marriott International, Inc. - Class A

    12,275        957,818   

McDonald’s Corp.

    55,340        5,185,358   

McDonald’s Holdings Co. Japan, Ltd. (b)

    6,377        139,509   

Merlin Entertainments plc

    48,626        300,198   

MGM China Holdings, Ltd.

    90,500        228,144   

Oriental Land Co., Ltd.

    4,860        1,114,494   

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

    9,414        775,996   

Sands China, Ltd.

    232,135        1,130,538   

Shangri-La Asia, Ltd.

    133,200        182,944   

SJM Holdings, Ltd.

    189,856        298,787   

Sodexo S.A.

    9,088        891,074   

Starbucks Corp.

    42,330        3,473,177   

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

    10,765        872,719   

TABCORP Holdings, Ltd.

    71,914        242,605   

Tatts Group, Ltd.

    137,644        387,231   

TUI AG (a)

    19,187        308,319   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—(Continued)

  

Whitbread plc

    17,417      $ 1,285,322   

William Hill plc

    83,947        472,083   

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

    7,065        605,894   

Wynn Macau, Ltd.

    148,278        414,325   

Wynn Resorts, Ltd.

    4,550        676,858   

Yum! Brands, Inc.

    24,740        1,802,309   
   

 

 

 
      31,978,698   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.3%

  

Casio Computer Co., Ltd. (b)

    19,300        296,394   

D.R. Horton, Inc.

    18,650        471,658   

Electrolux AB - Series B

    23,114        678,194   

Garmin, Ltd. (b)

    6,770        357,659   

Harman International Industries, Inc.

    3,830        408,699   

Husqvarna AB - B Shares

    38,957        286,503   

Iida Group Holdings Co., Ltd.

    15,479        187,993   

Leggett & Platt, Inc. (b)

    7,680        327,245   

Lennar Corp. - Class A (b)

    9,995        447,876   

Mohawk Industries, Inc. (a)

    3,460        537,546   

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.

    15,425        587,538   

Nikon Corp. (b)

    32,655        433,594   

Panasonic Corp.

    211,828        2,488,698   

Persimmon plc (a)

    29,342        717,762   

PulteGroup, Inc.

    18,980        407,311   

Rinnai Corp.

    3,575        240,730   

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

    40,915        492,556   

Sekisui House, Ltd.

    53,549        701,374   

Sharp Corp. (a) (b)

    146,178        323,948   

Sony Corp.

    100,575        2,047,589   

Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.

    131,100        420,135   

Whirlpool Corp.

    4,430        858,268   
   

 

 

 
      13,719,270   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.5%

  

Clorox Co. (The)

    7,215        751,875   

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

    48,350        3,345,337   

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

    11,228        1,093,332   

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    21,135        2,441,938   

Procter & Gamble Co. (The) (d)

    152,625        13,902,611   

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

    62,345        5,029,458   

Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA - B Shares

    56,374        1,217,455   

Unicharm Corp.

    35,700        859,107   
   

 

 

 
      28,641,113   
   

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—0.0%

  

AES Corp.

    37,485        516,168   

Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.

    11,170        378,081   

Enel Green Power S.p.A.

    166,848        346,656   

Meridian Energy, Ltd.

    120,436        165,123   

NRG Energy, Inc.

    19,005        512,185   
   

 

 

 
      1,918,213   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—0.8%

  

3M Co.

    36,545        6,005,074   

Danaher Corp.

    34,360        2,944,996   

Industrial Conglomerates—(Continued)

  

General Electric Co. (d)

    565,545      14,291,322   

Hutchison Whampoa International, Ltd.

    204,600        2,345,009   

Keihan Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

    48,000        256,363   

Keppel Corp., Ltd.

    139,000        927,500   

Koninklijke Philips NV

    91,776        2,664,731   

NWS Holdings, Ltd.

    143,500        262,431   

Roper Industries, Inc.

    5,690        889,632   

Seibu Holdings, Inc. (b)

    11,513        234,888   

Sembcorp Industries, Ltd.

    93,600        313,885   

Siemens AG

    76,066        8,626,661   

Smiths Group plc

    37,819        640,091   

Toshiba Corp.

    385,779        1,633,541   
   

 

 

 
      42,036,124   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—1.8%

  

ACE, Ltd.

    18,940        2,175,827   

Admiral Group plc

    18,710        383,155   

Aegon NV

    174,988        1,312,936   

Aflac, Inc.

    25,485        1,556,879   

Ageas

    21,053        746,618   

AIA Group, Ltd.

    1,155,473        6,340,449   

Allianz SE

    43,794        7,276,535   

Allstate Corp. (The)

    24,365        1,711,641   

American International Group, Inc.

    80,435        4,505,164   

AMP, Ltd.

    283,746        1,262,669   

Aon plc

    16,380        1,553,315   

Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.

    112,017        2,289,118   

Assurant, Inc.

    4,005        274,062   

Aviva plc

    282,773        2,118,866   

AXA S.A.

    174,243        4,024,410   

Baloise Holding AG

    4,586        585,703   

Chubb Corp. (The)

    13,570        1,404,088   

Cincinnati Financial Corp.

    8,310        430,707   

CNP Assurances

    16,499        292,162   

Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (The)

    103,430        1,569,520   

Delta Lloyd NV

    19,123        420,280   

Direct Line Insurance Group plc

    143,375        646,667   

Friends Life Group, Ltd.

    135,205        764,404   

Genworth Financial, Inc. - Class A (a)

    27,915        237,278   

Gjensidige Forsikring ASA

    19,318        314,665   

Hannover Rueck SE

    5,828        528,640   

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    25,240        1,052,256   

Insurance Australia Group, Ltd.

    223,819        1,134,742   

Legal & General Group plc

    569,636        2,187,869   

Lincoln National Corp.

    14,640        844,289   

Loews Corp.

    17,140        720,223   

Mapfre S.A.

    88,306        297,377   

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    30,650        1,754,406   

Medibank Pvt, Ltd. (a)

    265,179        521,746   

MetLife, Inc. (e)

    63,375        3,427,954   

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings

    48,639        1,155,267   

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG

    16,591        3,323,871   

NN Group NV (a)

    11,752        350,180   

Old Mutual plc

    470,615        1,384,039   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

    15,375        798,577   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Progressive Corp. (The)

    30,305      $ 817,932   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    25,930        2,345,628   

Prudential plc

    246,207        5,665,754   

QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.

    128,739        1,167,714   

RSA Insurance Group plc (a)

    96,788        651,373   

Sampo Oyj - A Shares

    42,886        2,010,907   

SCOR SE

    14,730        445,771   

Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Holdings, Inc.

    31,766        798,280   

Sony Financial Holdings, Inc.

    16,692        246,140   

Standard Life plc

    229,413        1,413,282   

Suncorp Group, Ltd.

    123,472        1,406,983   

Swiss Life Holding AG (a)

    3,083        728,557   

Swiss Re AG (a)

    33,785        2,826,903   

T&D Holdings, Inc.

    55,552        668,312   

Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.

    66,479        2,158,889   

Torchmark Corp.

    7,355        398,420   

Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)

    19,080        2,019,618   

Tryg A/S

    2,005        224,168   

UnipolSai S.p.A.

    85,568        229,286   

Unum Group

    14,295        498,610   

Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe

    3,710        165,132   

XL Group plc

    14,965        514,347   

Zurich Insurance Group AG (a)

    14,337        4,489,528   
   

 

 

 
      95,570,088   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—0.2%

  

Amazon.com, Inc. (a)

    21,390        6,638,386   

Expedia, Inc.

    5,585        476,736   

Netflix, Inc. (a)

    3,383        1,155,667   

Priceline Group, Inc. (The) (a)

    2,995        3,414,929   

Rakuten, Inc. (a) (b)

    76,401        1,063,701   

TripAdvisor, Inc. (a)

    6,305        470,731   
   

 

 

 
      13,220,150   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.7%

  

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)

    10,010        630,229   

eBay, Inc. (a)

    63,675        3,573,441   

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (a)

    117,682        9,181,550   

Google, Inc. - Class A (a) (d)

    16,040        8,511,786   

Google, Inc. - Class C (a) (d)

    16,040        8,443,456   

Kakaku.com, Inc. (b)

    13,954        200,616   

Mixi, Inc. (b)

    3,592        134,057   

United Internet AG

    11,800        535,107   

VeriSign, Inc. (a)

    6,335        361,095   

Yahoo Japan Corp. (b)

    136,583        492,847   

Yahoo!, Inc. (a)

    52,095        2,631,318   
   

 

 

 
      34,695,502   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—0.8%

  

Accenture plc - Class A

    35,595        3,178,989   

Alliance Data Systems Corp. (a)

    3,150        901,058   

Amadeus IT Holding S.A. - A Shares

    40,792        1,620,960   

AtoS

    7,749        613,202   

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

    27,095        2,258,910   

IT Services—(Continued)

  

Cap Gemini S.A.

    13,792      982,377   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (a)

    34,250        1,803,605   

Computer Sciences Corp.

    8,155        514,173   

Computershare, Ltd.

    45,075        431,085   

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

    16,085        1,000,487   

Fiserv, Inc. (a)

    14,060        997,838   

Fujitsu, Ltd.

    178,016        948,267   

International Business Machines Corp. (d)

    52,296        8,390,370   

Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp.

    2,300        81,498   

MasterCard, Inc. - Class A

    55,500        4,781,880   

Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.

    10,830        332,545   

NTT Data Corp.

    12,110        452,696   

Otsuka Corp.

    4,600        145,578   

Paychex, Inc.

    18,415        850,221   

Teradata Corp. (a) (b)

    8,700        380,016   

Total System Services, Inc.

    9,295        315,658   

Visa, Inc. - Class A

    27,740        7,273,428   

Western Union Co. (The) (b)

    29,820        534,076   

Xerox Corp.

    61,060        846,292   
   

 

 

 
      39,635,209   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Products—0.1%

  

Bandai Namco Holdings, Inc.

    17,010        361,044   

Hasbro, Inc. (b)

    6,445        354,410   

Mattel, Inc.

    18,945        586,253   

Sankyo Co., Ltd.

    4,704        162,120   

Sega Sammy Holdings, Inc. (b)

    17,848        228,980   

Shimano, Inc.

    7,641        988,365   

Yamaha Corp.

    16,100        239,137   
   

 

 

 
      2,920,309   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—0.1%

  

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

    18,735        767,011   

Lonza Group AG (a)

    5,106        575,432   

PerkinElmer, Inc.

    6,290        275,062   

QIAGEN NV (a)

    22,311        522,482   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    22,530        2,822,783   

Waters Corp. (a)

    4,690        528,657   
   

 

 

 
      5,491,427   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.9%

  

Alfa Laval AB

    30,187        571,103   

Amada Co., Ltd. (b)

    32,986        282,816   

Andritz AG

    7,010        385,244   

Atlas Copco AB - A Shares (b)

    64,421        1,793,296   

Atlas Copco AB - B Shares

    37,384        957,922   

Caterpillar, Inc.

    35,385        3,238,789   

CNH Industrial NV

    90,881        732,629   

Cummins, Inc.

    9,695        1,397,728   

Deere & Co. (b)

    20,215        1,788,421   

Dover Corp.

    9,400        674,168   

FANUC Corp.

    18,410        3,038,361   

Flowserve Corp.

    7,680        459,494   

GEA Group AG

    17,554        777,236   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Machinery—(Continued)

  

Hino Motors, Ltd.

    25,133      $ 328,792   

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.

    10,358        219,609   

IHI Corp.

    132,748        674,006   

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

    20,600        1,950,820   

IMI plc

    26,134        511,605   

Ingersoll-Rand plc

    15,065        954,970   

Joy Global, Inc. (b)

    5,535        257,488   

JTEKT Corp.

    19,717        333,945   

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

    135,697        619,688   

Komatsu, Ltd.

    89,587        1,986,102   

Kone Oyj - Class B (b)

    30,012        1,363,098   

Kubota Corp.

    108,359        1,573,508   

Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.

    9,724        203,147   

Makita Corp.

    11,490        519,849   

MAN SE

    3,395        378,636   

Melrose Industries plc

    102,184        420,455   

Metso Oyj

    10,930        325,996   

Minebea Co., Ltd.

    30,000        439,108   

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

    291,000        1,608,989   

Nabtesco Corp.

    10,740        257,837   

NGK Insulators, Ltd.

    24,922        513,277   

NSK, Ltd.

    45,169        534,957   

PACCAR, Inc.

    19,995        1,359,860   

Pall Corp.

    6,020        609,284   

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

    8,435        1,087,693   

Pentair plc

    10,873        722,185   

Sandvik AB

    102,003        993,172   

Schindler Holding AG

    1,963        281,547   

Schindler Holding AG (Participation Certificate)

    4,281        617,718   

Sembcorp Marine, Ltd. (b)

    79,700        196,326   

SKF AB - B Shares

    37,927        797,869   

SMC Corp.

    5,313        1,383,543   

Snap-on, Inc.

    3,310        452,609   

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

    8,840        849,347   

Sulzer AG

    2,324        246,895   

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.

    52,676        283,085   

THK Co., Ltd.

    10,952        264,419   

Vallourec S.A.

    10,545        287,949   

Volvo AB - B Shares

    147,214        1,589,888   

Wartsila Oyj Abp

    14,245        639,232   

Weir Group plc (The)

    20,441        585,061   

Xylem, Inc.

    10,240        389,837   

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings, Ltd.

    179,890        163,373   

Zardoya Otis S.A. (b)

    16,691        184,707   
   

 

 

 
      46,058,688   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.1%

  

AP Moeller - Maersk A/S - Class A

    369        706,026   

AP Moeller - Maersk A/S - Class B

    686        1,363,569   

Kuehne & Nagel International AG

    5,192        705,756   

Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd. (b)

    103,913        308,666   

Nippon Yusen KK

    153,984        435,536   
   

 

 

 
      3,519,553   
   

 

 

 

Media—1.1%

  

Altice S.A. (a)

    8,318      656,388   

Axel Springer SE (b)

    3,871        233,455   

Cablevision Systems Corp. - Class A (b)

    12,185        251,498   

CBS Corp. - Class B

    27,250        1,508,015   

Comcast Corp. - Class A

    145,830        8,459,598   

Dentsu, Inc.

    20,787        874,789   

DIRECTV (a)

    28,345        2,457,511   

Discovery Communications, Inc. - Class A (a)

    8,250        284,213   

Discovery Communications, Inc. - Class C (a)

    15,350        517,602   

Eutelsat Communications S.A.

    14,884        481,161   

Gannett Co., Inc.

    12,640        403,595   

Hakuhodo DY Holdings, Inc. (b)

    22,360        214,319   

Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)

    23,725        492,768   

ITV plc

    367,455        1,224,127   

JCDecaux S.A.

    6,470        222,175   

Kabel Deutschland Holding AG (a)

    2,134        290,211   

Lagardere SCA

    11,281        292,779   

News Corp. - Class A (a)

    28,021        439,649   

Numericable-SFR (a)

    9,343        460,706   

Omnicom Group, Inc.

    14,185        1,098,912   

Pearson plc

    78,641        1,446,619   

ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG

    20,979        883,821   

Publicis Groupe S.A.

    17,876        1,280,336   

REA Group, Ltd. (b)

    5,089        186,970   

Reed Elsevier NV

    67,100        1,603,605   

Reed Elsevier plc

    109,577        1,864,278   

RTL Group S.A. (Brussels Exchange)

    3,657        344,149   

RTL Group S.A. (Frankfurt Exchange) (a)

    93        8,838   

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. - Class A (b)

    5,850        440,330   

SES S.A.

    29,247        1,049,121   

Singapore Press Holdings, Ltd. (b)

    153,000        485,996   

Sky plc

    99,051        1,378,614   

Telenet Group Holding NV (a)

    5,090        285,875   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.

    15,735        2,392,664   

Time Warner, Inc.

    48,155        4,113,400   

Toho Co., Ltd.

    10,894        247,190   

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. - Class A

    106,135        4,076,115   

Viacom, Inc. - Class B

    21,470        1,615,618   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

    88,979        8,380,932   

Wolters Kluwer NV

    28,960        884,313   

WPP plc

    126,394        2,622,194   
   

 

 

 
      56,454,449   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.8%

  

Alcoa, Inc.

    66,250        1,046,088   

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

    6,035        209,837   

Alumina, Ltd. (a)

    241,405        349,830   

Anglo American plc

    133,982        2,478,928   

Antofagasta plc

    37,693        437,626   

ArcelorMittal (b)

    95,987        1,039,658   

BHP Billiton plc

    202,619        4,333,982   

BHP Billiton, Ltd.

    308,109        7,310,983   

Boliden AB

    26,244        418,147   

Fortescue Metals Group, Ltd. (b)

    148,438        327,111   

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

    58,500        1,366,560   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Metals & Mining—(Continued)

  

Fresnillo plc (b)

    21,130      $ 250,745   

Glencore plc (a)

    1,018,500        4,687,898   

Hitachi Metals, Ltd.

    20,465        348,513   

Iluka Resources, Ltd. (b)

    39,920        191,902   

JFE Holdings, Inc.

    47,161        1,049,732   

Kobe Steel, Ltd.

    296,670        513,191   

Maruichi Steel Tube, Ltd. (b)

    4,500        95,862   

Mitsubishi Materials Corp.

    106,804        355,041   

Newcrest Mining, Ltd. (a)

    73,081        650,760   

Newmont Mining Corp.

    28,035        529,862   

Nippon Steel Sumitomo Metal Corp.

    729,089        1,809,390   

Norsk Hydro ASA

    128,220        721,160   

Nucor Corp.

    17,940        879,957   

Randgold Resources, Ltd.

    8,503        575,322   

Rio Tinto plc

    122,073        5,624,216   

Rio Tinto, Ltd.

    41,804        1,960,910   

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.

    50,516        753,791   

ThyssenKrupp AG (a)

    43,526        1,119,512   

Voestalpine AG

    10,755        423,970   

Yamato Kogyo Co., Ltd.

    3,700        104,025   
   

 

 

 
      41,964,509   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.6%

  

AGL Energy, Ltd.

    53,238        578,752   

Ameren Corp.

    13,660        630,136   

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

    24,200        567,006   

Centrica plc

    481,465        2,072,205   

CMS Energy Corp.

    15,455        537,061   

Consolidated Edison, Inc.

    16,445        1,085,535   

Dominion Resources, Inc.

    32,790        2,521,551   

DTE Energy Co.

    9,930        857,654   

E.ON SE

    191,963        3,296,383   

GDF Suez

    138,883        3,243,654   

Integrys Energy Group, Inc.

    4,490        349,547   

National Grid plc

    361,778        5,157,444   

NiSource, Inc.

    17,750        752,955   

PG&E Corp.

    26,545        1,413,256   

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

    28,470        1,178,943   

RWE AG

    46,949        1,469,875   

SCANA Corp. (b)

    7,940        479,576   

Sempra Energy

    13,020        1,449,907   

Suez Environnement Co.

    28,505        494,142   

TECO Energy, Inc.

    13,135        269,136   

Veolia Environnement S.A.

    40,458        718,475   

Wisconsin Energy Corp. (b)

    12,665        667,952   
   

 

 

 
      29,791,145   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—0.2%

  

Dollar General Corp. (a)

    17,080        1,207,556   

Dollar Tree, Inc. (a)

    11,570        814,297   

Don Quijote Holdings Co., Ltd.

    5,660        386,601   

Family Dollar Stores, Inc.

    5,410        428,526   

Harvey Norman Holdings, Ltd.

    49,785        135,751   

Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, Ltd. (b)

    32,197        394,712   

J Front Retailing Co., Ltd.

    22,900        266,677   

Kohl’s Corp. (b)

    11,525        703,486   

Multiline Retail—(Continued)

  

Macy’s, Inc.

    19,910      1,309,082   

Marks & Spencer Group plc

    156,855        1,158,099   

Marui Group Co., Ltd.

    22,900        207,105   

Next plc

    14,714        1,551,972   

Nordstrom, Inc.

    8,040        638,296   

Takashimaya Co., Ltd.

    25,372        203,480   

Target Corp.

    35,690        2,709,228   
   

 

 

 
      12,114,868   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.6%

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    28,535        2,354,138   

Apache Corp.

    21,595        1,353,359   

BG Group plc

    327,213        4,355,445   

BP plc

    1,767,342        11,222,164   

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.

    23,490        695,539   

Caltex Australia, Ltd.

    12,908        357,196   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

    29,235        572,129   

Chevron Corp. (d)

    107,100        12,014,478   

Cimarex Energy Co.

    4,915        520,990   

ConocoPhillips

    69,320        4,787,239   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

    12,890        435,811   

Delek Group, Ltd.

    464        116,432   

Denbury Resources, Inc. (b)

    19,805        161,015   

Devon Energy Corp.

    21,620        1,323,360   

ENI S.p.A.

    244,049        4,262,367   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    30,890        2,844,042   

EQT Corp.

    8,510        644,207   

Exxon Mobil Corp. (d)

    240,389        22,223,963   

Galp Energia SGPS S.A.

    36,856        372,870   

Hess Corp.

    14,770        1,090,321   

Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (b)

    8,400        139,188   

Inpex Corp.

    84,171        933,906   

JX Holdings, Inc.

    215,024        837,710   

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (b)

    95,930        4,058,798   

Koninklijke Vopak NV (b)

    6,746        349,470   

Lundin Petroleum AB (a) (b)

    20,889        298,694   

Marathon Oil Corp.

    37,980        1,074,454   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    16,005        1,444,611   

Murphy Oil Corp.

    9,385        474,130   

Neste Oil Oyj (b)

    12,432        301,238   

Newfield Exploration Co. (a)

    7,700        208,824   

Noble Energy, Inc.

    20,300        962,829   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    43,945        3,542,407   

OMV AG

    14,226        376,444   

ONEOK, Inc.

    11,760        585,530   

Origin Energy, Ltd.

    105,877        999,167   

Phillips 66

    31,540        2,261,418   

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

    8,065        1,200,475   

QEP Resources, Inc.

    9,265        187,338   

Range Resources Corp.

    9,505        508,042   

Repsol S.A. (b)

    97,153        1,805,895   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - A Shares

    378,242        12,537,396   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - B Shares

    234,118        8,042,874   

Santos, Ltd.

    93,846        634,050   

Showa Shell Sekiyu KK (b)

    18,000        177,401   

Southwestern Energy Co. (a)

    19,905        543,208   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—(Continued)

  

Spectra Energy Corp.

    37,720      $ 1,369,236   

Statoil ASA

    107,065        1,876,253   

Tesoro Corp.

    7,225        537,179   

TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK (b)

    26,150        223,542   

Total S.A.

    205,347        10,587,533   

Tullow Oil plc

    87,107        551,149   

Valero Energy Corp.

    29,715        1,470,893   

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)

    37,865        1,701,653   

Woodside Petroleum, Ltd.

    71,137        2,211,513   
   

 

 

 
      136,721,513   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—0.1%

  

International Paper Co.

    24,035        1,287,795   

OJI Holdings Corp.

    76,372        274,070   

Stora Enso Oyj - R Shares

    52,469        467,032   

UPM-Kymmene Oyj

    51,051        838,292   
   

 

 

 
      2,867,189   
   

 

 

 

Personal Products—0.2%

  

Avon Products, Inc. (b)

    24,400        229,116   

Beiersdorf AG

    9,719        792,706   

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) - Class A

    12,720        969,264   

Kao Corp.

    49,524        1,953,701   

L’Oreal S.A.

    24,115        4,048,597   

Shiseido Co., Ltd. (b)

    34,509        483,243   
   

 

 

 
      8,476,627   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—3.4%

  

AbbVie, Inc.

    89,680        5,868,659   

Actavis plc (a)

    14,932        3,843,646   

Allergan, Inc.

    16,795        3,570,449   

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

    205,900        2,865,636   

AstraZeneca plc

    121,125        8,520,618   

Bayer AG

    79,333        10,845,568   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    93,435        5,515,468   

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    21,474        527,870   

Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.

    61,199        855,592   

Eisai Co., Ltd.

    24,180        936,923   

Eli Lilly & Co.

    55,430        3,824,116   

GlaxoSmithKline plc

    465,233        9,953,684   

Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc.

    5,525        173,448   

Hospira, Inc. (a)

    9,440        578,200   

Johnson & Johnson (d)

    159,020        16,628,721   

Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.

    22,167        208,661   

Mallinckrodt plc (a)

    6,370        630,821   

Merck & Co., Inc. (d)

    162,535        9,230,363   

Merck KGaA

    12,436        1,179,748   

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp.

    21,801        319,473   

Mylan, Inc. (a)

    21,085        1,188,561   

Novartis AG

    220,673        20,294,740   

Novo Nordisk A/S - Class B

    192,533        8,146,380   

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    7,934        703,048   

Orion Oyj - Class B

    9,591        297,747   

Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.

    37,473        1,123,888   

Perrigo Co. plc

    7,553        1,262,560   

Pharmaceuticals—(Continued)

  

Pfizer, Inc.

    357,406      11,133,197   

Roche Holding AG

    67,400        18,268,127   

Sanofi

    114,090        10,397,698   

Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    7,137        381,943   

Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

    28,698        743,433   

Shire plc

    56,559        4,001,734   

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. (b)

    15,200        147,740   

Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings Co., Ltd.

    3,039        185,388   

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    75,750        3,143,298   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.

    82,205        4,723,023   

UCB S.A.

    12,129        920,472   

Zoetis, Inc.

    28,240        1,215,167   
   

 

 

 
      174,355,808   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—0.2%

  

Adecco S.A. (a)

    16,356        1,120,451   

ALS, Ltd. (b)

    37,683        163,058   

Bureau Veritas S.A.

    21,327        470,937   

Capita plc

    63,418        1,062,834   

Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The)

    2,095        253,411   

Equifax, Inc.

    6,815        551,129   

Experian plc

    94,922        1,601,118   

Intertek Group plc

    15,487        561,386   

Nielsen NV

    17,133        766,359   

Randstad Holding NV

    12,095        581,667   

Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. (a) (b)

    13,853        392,199   

Robert Half International, Inc.

    7,720        450,694   

Seek, Ltd.

    31,046        433,275   

SGS S.A.

    528        1,076,561   
   

 

 

 
      9,485,079   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—3.0%

  

Acadia Realty Trust

    7,105        227,573   

Activia Properties, Inc.

    25        217,436   

Advance Residence Investment Corp. (b)

    142        379,164   

Aedifica S.A.

    1,027        69,348   

Affine S.A.

    600        11,015   

Agree Realty Corp.

    1,850        57,517   

Alexander’s, Inc.

    228        99,677   

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

    7,918        702,643   

Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust

    8,270        266,508   

Alstria Office REIT-AG (a) (b)

    7,500        93,300   

American Assets Trust, Inc.

    4,150        165,212   

American Campus Communities, Inc.

    11,600        479,776   

American Homes 4 Rent Trust - Class A

    16,674        283,958   

American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust, Inc.

    18,950        225,505   

American Realty Capital Properties, Inc.

    102,550        928,077   

American Tower Corp.

    22,345        2,208,803   

ANF Immobilier

    750        18,331   

Apartment Investment & Management Co. - Class A

    24,365        905,160   

Artis Real Estate Investment Trust

    14,950        182,468   

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust

    413,800        742,789   

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.

    7,800        81,744   

Associated Estates Realty Corp.

    6,350        147,384   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    21,984      $ 3,591,966   

Aviv REIT, Inc.

    2,800        96,544   

Befimmo S.A.

    1,850        134,356   

Beni Stabili S.p.A.

    118,257        83,048   

Big Yellow Group plc

    15,800        149,013   

BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.

    21,894        471,597   

Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust

    4,400        233,066   

Boston Properties, Inc.

    25,475        3,278,378   

Brandywine Realty Trust

    19,826        316,819   

British Land Co. plc

    204,864        2,461,048   

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    11,800        293,112   

BWP Trust (b)

    52,648        119,328   

Calloway Real Estate Investment Trust

    11,450        269,052   

Camden Property Trust

    9,600        708,864   

Campus Crest Communities, Inc. (b)

    7,150        52,267   

Canadian Apartment Properties

    12,250        264,970   

Canadian Real Estate Investment Trust

    8,000        315,304   

CapitaCommercial Trust

    413,150        546,885   

CapitaMall Trust

    518,900        798,450   

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

    18,800        365,096   

CDL Hospitality Trusts

    69,750        91,578   

Cedar Realty Trust, Inc.

    8,750        64,225   

Chambers Street Properties

    26,200        211,172   

Champion REIT

    257,850        119,647   

Charter Hall Retail

    34,200        114,527   

Chartwell Retirement Residences

    19,100        195,800   

Chatham Lodging Trust

    3,600        104,292   

Chesapeake Lodging Trust

    6,057        225,381   

Cofinimmo S.A.

    1,945        225,116   

Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust

    17,481        280,015   

Corio NV

    14,300        697,877   

Corporate Office Properties Trust

    10,250        290,793   

Cousins Properties, Inc.

    23,494        268,301   

Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust

    8,550        95,082   

Cromwell Property Group

    159,950        134,253   

Crown Castle International Corp.

    18,810        1,480,347   

CubeSmart

    18,021        397,723   

Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp. (b)

    29        144,608   

Daiwa House Residential Investment Corp.

    36        173,348   

Daiwa Office Investment Corp. (b)

    28        156,215   

DCT Industrial Trust, Inc.

    9,752        347,756   

DDR Corp.

    33,850        621,486   

Derwent London plc

    10,250        478,749   

Dexus Property Group (b)

    187,290        1,059,074   

DiamondRock Hospitality Co.

    21,600        321,192   

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

    15,000        994,500   

Douglas Emmett, Inc.

    14,864        422,138   

Dream Global Real Estate Investment Trust

    10,500        77,453   

Dream Office Real Estate Investment Trust

    11,550        250,028   

Duke Realty Corp.

    37,827        764,105   

DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc. (b)

    7,250        240,990   

EastGroup Properties, Inc.

    3,533        223,710   

Education Realty Trust, Inc.

    5,166        189,024   

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. - Class A

    8,979        157,851   

EPR Properties

    6,347        365,778   

Equity Commonwealth

    14,259        366,029   

Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.

    8,469        436,577   

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

Equity One, Inc.

    6,826      173,107   

Equity Residential

    59,930        4,305,371   

Essex Property Trust, Inc.

    10,700        2,210,620   

Eurocommercial Properties NV

    4,500        190,889   

Excel Trust, Inc.

    6,400        85,696   

Extra Space Storage, Inc.

    12,100        709,544   

Federal Realty Investment Trust

    7,548        1,007,356   

Federation Centres, Ltd. (b)

    294,772        686,042   

FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc.

    13,800        149,316   

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

    12,150        249,804   

First Potomac Realty Trust

    6,500        80,340   

Fonciere Des Regions

    6,471        598,794   

Fortune Real Estate Investment Trust

    143,450        144,631   

Franklin Street Properties Corp.

    9,750        119,633   

Frontier Real Estate Investment Corp.

    53        242,574   

Fukuoka REIT Corp. (b)

    68        126,019   

Gecina S.A.

    6,522        816,283   

General Growth Properties, Inc.

    91,161        2,564,359   

Getty Realty Corp.

    2,750        50,078   

Glimcher Realty Trust

    16,050        220,527   

GLP J-Reit

    224        248,222   

Goodman Group (b)

    357,449        1,647,829   

Government Properties Income Trust

    7,785        179,133   

GPT Group (b)

    357,638        1,263,522   

Granite Real Estate Investment Trust

    5,200        184,672   

Great Portland Estates plc

    38,150        436,006   

Grivalia Properties Real Estate Investment Co.

    4,301        39,040   

H&R Real Estate Investment Trust

    30,394        568,481   

Hamborner REIT AG

    5,000        49,117   

Hammerson plc

    162,226        1,516,245   

Hansteen Holdings plc (b)

    76,000        127,461   

HCP, Inc.

    76,625        3,373,799   

Health Care REIT, Inc.

    54,545        4,127,420   

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.

    10,810        295,329   

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. - Class A

    13,675        368,405   

Hersha Hospitality Trust

    19,050        133,922   

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    10,100        447,228   

Home Properties, Inc.

    6,300        413,280   

Hospitality Properties Trust

    16,600        514,600   

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    126,435        3,005,360   

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.

    6,100        183,366   

ICADE

    7,537        603,518   

Immobiliare Grande Distribuzione

    33,546        26,125   

Industrial & Infrastructure Fund Investment Corp.

    33        152,384   

Inland Real Estate Corp.

    9,450        103,478   

InnVest Real Estate Investment Trust

    10,276        52,892   

Intervest Offices & Warehouses

    750        20,359   

Intu Properties plc (b)

    189,853        981,769   

Investa Office Fund (b)

    66,762        197,192   

Investors Real Estate Trust

    12,708        103,824   

Iron Mountain, Inc.

    10,349        400,092   

Japan Excellent, Inc.

    121        160,342   

Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp.

    309        197,843   

Japan Logistics Fund, Inc. (b)

    92        206,202   

Japan Prime Realty Investment Corp. (b)

    164        569,336   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp.

    260      $ 1,251,280   

Japan Retail Fund Investment Corp.

    503        1,060,744   

Kenedix Realty Investment Corp.

    40        224,553   

Keppel REIT

    165,400        152,284   

Kilroy Realty Corp.

    9,334        644,699   

Kimco Realty Corp.

    68,638        1,725,559   

Kite Realty Group Trust

    9,112        261,879   

Kiwi Property Group, Ltd.

    112,550        108,725   

Klepierre

    20,399        878,651   

Land Securities Group plc

    163,072        2,917,989   

LaSalle Hotel Properties

    11,500        465,405   

Lexington Realty Trust (b)

    25,650        281,637   

Liberty Property Trust

    16,350        615,250   

Link REIT (The)

    474,500        2,958,925   

Londonmetric Property plc

    64,750        153,263   

LTC Properties, Inc.

    3,850        166,205   

Macerich Co. (The)

    23,518        1,961,636   

Mack-Cali Realty Corp.

    9,857        187,874   

Mapletree Commercial Trust (b)

    141,850        150,920   

Mapletree Industrial Trust

    130,100        145,525   

Mapletree Logistics Trust (b)

    158,700        141,877   

Mercialys S.A.

    4,550        101,492   

Merlin Properties Socimi S.A. (a)

    13,859        168,144   

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

    8,376        625,520   

Mirvac Group

    759,099        1,096,293   

Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust

    3,800        59,397   

Mori Hills REIT Investment Corp.

    144        206,045   

Mori Trust Sogo REIT, Inc.

    110        220,266   

National Health Investors, Inc.

    3,750        262,350   

National Retail Properties, Inc.

    14,483        570,196   

New York REIT, Inc.

    18,100        191,679   

Nieuwe Steen Investments NV

    14,393        64,095   

Nippon Accommodations Fund, Inc.

    50        197,293   

Nippon Building Fund, Inc. (b)

    287        1,437,917   

Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc.

    275        596,181   

Nomura Real Estate Master Fund, Inc.

    185        239,329   

Nomura Real Estate Office Fund, Inc.

    40        198,090   

Northern Property Real Estate Investment Trust

    3,550        72,632   

Novion Property Group (b)

    452,513        779,044   

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    14,150        552,840   

Orix JREIT, Inc.

    235        328,965   

Paramount Group, Inc. (a)

    15,974        296,957   

Parkway Properties, Inc.

    8,850        162,752   

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

    7,850        358,196   

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust

    7,250        170,085   

Physicians Realty Trust

    5,050        83,830   

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. - Class A

    17,100        322,164   

Plum Creek Timber Co., Inc.

    9,945        425,547   

Post Properties, Inc.

    6,000        352,620   

Premier Investment Corp.

    24        117,928   

Primary Health Properties plc

    11,744        67,616   

ProLogis, Inc.

    83,420        3,589,563   

PS Business Parks, Inc.

    2,250        178,965   

Public Storage

    24,296        4,491,116   

Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust

    21,000        80,255   

Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust

    8,478        158,878   

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

Realty Income Corp. (b)

    24,566      1,172,044   

Redefine International plc

    96,300        81,807   

Regency Centers Corp.

    10,350        660,123   

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

    10,285        172,685   

Retail Properties of America, Inc. - Class A

    26,200        437,278   

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust

    34,738        790,261   

RLJ Lodging Trust

    14,650        491,215   

Rouse Properties, Inc. (b)

    4,000        74,080   

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (b)

    5,336        281,421   

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc.

    6,000        182,220   

Safestore Holdings plc

    22,950        82,956   

Saul Centers, Inc.

    1,457        83,326   

Scentre Group (a)

    1,084,973        3,085,165   

Segro plc

    153,013        877,105   

Select Income REIT (b)

    4,155        101,424   

Senior Housing Properties Trust

    22,550        498,580   

Shaftesbury plc

    30,800        373,443   

Silver Bay Realty Trust Corp.

    3,900        64,584   

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    52,375        9,538,011   

SL Green Realty Corp.

    10,700        1,273,514   

Sovran Self Storage, Inc.

    3,768        328,645   

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.

    42,412        504,279   

STAG Industrial, Inc.

    7,135        174,808   

Stockland (b)

    481,070        1,607,045   

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (a)

    29,654        392,322   

Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.

    9,050        112,582   

Sun Communities, Inc.

    5,096        308,104   

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

    22,748        375,569   

Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust

    491,150        725,998   

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc.

    10,600        391,776   

Taubman Centers, Inc.

    7,050        538,761   

Tokyu REIT, Inc.

    102        138,493   

Top REIT, Inc.

    19        85,188   

UDR, Inc.

    28,300        872,206   

Unibail-Rodamco SE

    20        5,151   

Unibail-Rodamco SE

    20,155        5,151,367   

United Urban Investment Corp.

    519        815,212   

Universal Health Realty Income Trust

    1,450        69,774   

Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. - Class A

    2,850        62,358   

Vastned Retail NV

    2,107        95,185   

Ventas, Inc.

    49,242        3,530,651   

Vornado Realty Trust

    28,480        3,352,381   

Warehouses De Pauw SCA

    1,471        111,515   

Washington Prime Group, Inc.

    17,208        296,322   

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (b)

    7,394        204,518   

Weingarten Realty Investors

    12,208        426,303   

Wereldhave Belgium NV

    200        25,188   

Wereldhave NV

    3,850        264,245   

Westfield Corp. (REIT) (a)

    403,103        2,947,176   

Weyerhaeuser Co.

    29,720        1,066,651   

Winthrop Realty Trust

    3,550        55,345   

Workspace Group plc

    12,850        151,931   

WP Carey, Inc.

    9,751        683,545   
   

 

 

 
      154,929,023   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Real Estate Management & Development—1.0%

  

Aeon Mall Co., Ltd.

    23,847      $ 421,705   

Allreal Holding AG (a)

    1,050        144,793   

Azrieli Group

    4,050        133,495   

BUWOG AG (a) (b)

    5,750        113,956   

CA Immobilien Anlagen AG (a) (b)

    9,082        170,320   

Capital & Counties Properties plc

    80,600        454,646   

CapitaLand, Ltd.

    526,250        1,307,517   

Castellum AB

    18,200        283,902   

CBRE Group, Inc. - Class A (a)

    15,715        538,239   

Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.

    133,500        2,231,028   

City Developments, Ltd. (b)

    104,550        807,206   

Citycon Oyj

    28,950        90,264   

Conwert Immobilien Invest SE (a) (b)

    6,800        80,281   

Daejan Holdings plc

    550        47,369   

Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd.

    7,044        797,560   

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (b)

    56,810        1,075,738   

Deutsche Annington Immobilien SE

    48,747        1,658,152   

Deutsche Euroshop AG

    5,100        223,332   

Deutsche Wohnen AG

    59,221        1,407,105   

Development Securities plc

    13,800        47,485   

DIC Asset AG

    3,800        34,053   

Dios Fastigheter AB (b)

    5,182        38,385   

DO Deutsche Office AG (a)

    7,200        25,368   

Entra ASA (144A) (a)

    6,918        70,642   

Fabege AB

    14,650        187,988   

Fastighets AB Balder - B Shares (a)

    10,250        143,931   

First Capital Realty, Inc. (b)

    9,600        154,188   

Forest City Enterprises, Inc. - Class A (a)

    16,700        355,710   

GAGFAH S.A. (a)

    24,200        541,463   

Global Logistic Properties, Ltd.

    634,068        1,185,840   

Grainger plc

    45,550        133,316   

Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.

    461,750        1,286,846   

Helical Bar plc

    11,000        65,639   

Hemfosa Fastigheter AB (a)

    4,362        91,716   

Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.

    226,260        1,567,674   

Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.

    129,750        873,308   

Hufvudstaden AB - A Shares

    12,300        159,662   

Hulic Co., Ltd. (b)

    55,550        552,240   

Hysan Development Co., Ltd.

    129,700        576,307   

IMMOFINANZ AG (a)

    91,491        231,584   

Inmobiliaria Colonial S.A. (a)

    185,909        121,931   

Keppel Land, Ltd.

    144,500        371,460   

Kerry Properties, Ltd.

    133,350        480,916   

Killam Properties, Inc. (b)

    5,700        50,337   

Klovern AB - A Shares

    4,150        4,364   

Klovern AB - B Shares (a)

    41,550        40,508   

Kungsleden AB

    20,170        145,529   

LEG Immobilien AG (a)

    6,350        476,385   

Lend Lease Group

    52,629        700,742   

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.

    260,094        5,504,721   

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

    195,468        5,257,213   

Mobimo Holding AG (a)

    700        140,246   

New World Development Co., Ltd.

    1,054,175        1,205,792   

Nomura Real Estate Holdings, Inc.

    25,159        432,331   

Norwegian Property ASA (a)

    30,400        41,197   

NTT Urban Development Corp.

    23,092        231,646   

PSP Swiss Property AG (a)

    4,409        379,631   

Real Estate Management & Development—(Continued)

  

Quintain Estates & Development plc (a)

    54,250      80,479   

Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust, Ltd.

    57,500        53,308   

Sino Land Co., Ltd.

    615,850        982,212   

Sponda Oyj

    26,698        116,931   

St. Modwen Properties plc

    19,550        116,763   

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.

    82,795        2,820,449   

Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.

    327,628        4,954,196   

Swire Pacific, Ltd. - Class A

    60,900        788,911   

Swire Properties, Ltd.

    241,550        714,420   

Swiss Prime Site AG (a)

    11,625        851,783   

TAG Immobilien AG (b)

    12,450        144,921   

Technopolis plc

    10,550        47,226   

TLG Immobilien AG (a)

    3,692        55,355   

Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd.

    84,450        615,020   

Tokyu Fudosan Holdings Corp.

    45,939        316,536   

UNITE Group plc

    22,300        161,579   

UOL Group, Ltd.

    95,300        500,118   

Wallenstam AB - B Shares

    11,100        184,665   

Wharf Holdings, Ltd. (The)

    312,550        2,244,497   

Wheelock & Co., Ltd.

    86,800        403,021   

Wihlborgs Fastigheter AB

    7,350        134,157   
   

 

 

 
      52,181,449   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.4%

  

Asciano, Ltd.

    92,995        455,306   

Aurizon Holdings, Ltd.

    204,289        765,403   

Central Japan Railway Co.

    13,834        2,075,402   

ComfortDelGro Corp., Ltd.

    194,700        381,177   

CSX Corp.

    56,270        2,038,662   

DSV A/S

    16,980        515,826   

East Japan Railway Co.

    32,126        2,406,901   

Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.

    109,000        586,421   

Kansas City Southern

    6,190        755,366   

Keikyu Corp.

    44,373        328,644   

Keio Corp.

    54,672        392,369   

Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

    25,811        314,747   

Kintetsu Corp.

    173,710        572,940   

MTR Corp., Ltd.

    139,200        568,523   

Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. (b)

    81,000        301,593   

Nippon Express Co., Ltd.

    81,307        413,512   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

    17,440        1,911,598   

Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (b)

    59,552        528,451   

Ryder System, Inc.

    3,000        278,550   

Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.

    97,045        414,716   

Tokyu Corp.

    108,569        673,536   

Union Pacific Corp.

    50,590        6,026,787   

West Japan Railway Co.

    15,798        748,603   
   

 

 

 
      23,455,033   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—0.7%

  

Advantest Corp.

    15,307        190,717   

Altera Corp.

    17,390        642,387   

Analog Devices, Inc.

    17,640        979,373   

Applied Materials, Inc.

    68,660        1,711,007   

ARM Holdings plc

    134,668        2,073,654   

ASM Pacific Technology, Ltd.

    23,000        218,662   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—(Continued)

  

ASML Holding NV

    34,298      $ 3,674,574   

Avago Technologies, Ltd.

    14,161        1,424,455   

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

    30,235        1,310,083   

First Solar, Inc. (a)

    4,270        190,421   

Infineon Technologies AG

    108,265        1,160,714   

Intel Corp. (d)

    279,070        10,127,450   

KLA-Tencor Corp.

    9,270        651,866   

Lam Research Corp.

    9,147        725,723   

Linear Technology Corp.

    13,380        610,128   

Microchip Technology, Inc. (b)

    11,230        506,585   

Micron Technology, Inc. (a)

    60,270        2,110,053   

NVIDIA Corp.

    28,970        580,848   

Rohm Co., Ltd.

    9,278        562,884   

STMicroelectronics NV

    60,770        453,199   

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    60,130        3,214,850   

Tokyo Electron, Ltd.

    16,525        1,254,032   

Xilinx, Inc.

    15,080        652,813   
   

 

 

 
      35,026,478   
   

 

 

 

Software—1.0%

  

Adobe Systems, Inc. (a)

    26,620        1,935,274   

Autodesk, Inc. (a)

    12,815        769,669   

CA, Inc.

    18,045        549,470   

Citrix Systems, Inc. (a)

    9,270        591,426   

COLOPL, Inc. (b)

    4,741        106,117   

Dassault Systemes S.A.

    12,267        746,550   

Electronic Arts, Inc. (a)

    17,580        826,524   

Gemalto NV (b)

    7,600        620,811   

GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. (a) (b)

    38,539        140,487   

Intuit, Inc.

    15,995        1,474,579   

Konami Corp.

    9,603        177,063   

Microsoft Corp. (d)

    464,455        21,573,935   

Nexon Co., Ltd.

    12,052        112,375   

NICE Systems, Ltd.

    5,465        276,646   

Nintendo Co., Ltd.

    10,187        1,061,702   

Oracle Corp. (d)

    183,310        8,243,451   

Oracle Corp. Japan

    3,733        152,091   

Red Hat, Inc. (a)

    10,635        735,304   

Sage Group plc (The)

    103,456        746,062   

Salesforce.com, Inc. (a)

    32,460        1,925,203   

SAP SE

    88,392        6,249,800   

Symantec Corp.

    38,900        997,979   

Trend Micro, Inc. (a) (b)

    10,124        276,991   
   

 

 

 
      50,289,509   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—0.7%

  

ABC-Mart, Inc. (b)

    2,600        125,988   

AutoNation, Inc. (a)

    4,405        266,106   

AutoZone, Inc. (a)

    1,835        1,136,067   

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (a)

    11,375        866,434   

Best Buy Co., Inc.

    16,345        637,128   

CarMax, Inc. (a) (b)

    12,350        822,263   

Dixons Carphone plc

    93,613        674,257   

Fast Retailing Co., Ltd.

    5,179        1,886,875   

GameStop Corp. - Class A (b)

    6,345        214,461   

Gap, Inc. (The)

    15,440        650,178   

Specialty Retail—(Continued)

  

Hennes & Mauritz AB - B Shares

    91,083      3,778,288   

Hikari Tsushin, Inc.

    1,600        97,391   

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    75,870        7,964,074   

Inditex S.A.

    104,647        2,998,445   

Kingfisher plc

    227,136        1,196,918   

L Brands, Inc.

    13,840        1,197,852   

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    55,620        3,826,656   

Nitori Holdings Co., Ltd.

    6,600        354,674   

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a)

    5,865        1,129,716   

PetSmart, Inc.

    5,580        453,626   

Ross Stores, Inc.

    11,840        1,116,038   

Sanrio Co., Ltd. (b)

    4,726        117,546   

Shimamura Co., Ltd.

    2,200        189,548   

Sports Direct International plc (a)

    25,741        282,309   

Staples, Inc.

    36,285        657,484   

Tiffany & Co.

    6,320        675,355   

TJX Cos., Inc. (The)

    39,050        2,678,049   

Tractor Supply Co.

    7,735        609,673   

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (a) (b)

    5,750        201,997   

USS Co., Ltd.

    21,040        323,784   

Yamada Denki Co., Ltd. (b)

    83,440        278,498   
   

 

 

 
      37,407,678   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—1.1%

  

Apple, Inc. (d)

    333,371        36,797,491   

Brother Industries, Ltd.

    22,646        410,861   

Canon, Inc.

    108,833        3,456,740   

EMC Corp.

    114,310        3,399,579   

FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.

    44,453        1,341,538   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

    105,110        4,218,064   

Konica Minolta, Inc.

    44,253        477,338   

NEC Corp.

    249,087        726,163   

NetApp, Inc.

    17,970        744,857   

Ricoh Co., Ltd.

    67,478        685,481   

SanDisk Corp.

    12,655        1,239,937   

Seagate Technology plc

    18,360        1,220,940   

Seiko Epson Corp.

    12,500        525,043   

Western Digital Corp.

    12,395        1,372,127   
   

 

 

 
      56,616,159   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.5%

  

Adidas AG

    20,071        1,398,912   

Asics Corp.

    15,878        379,449   

Burberry Group plc

    42,668        1,081,149   

Christian Dior S.A.

    5,250        897,000   

Cie Financiere Richemont S.A.

    50,078        4,435,775   

Coach, Inc.

    15,450        580,302   

Fossil Group, Inc. (a)

    2,599        287,813   

Hermes International (b)

    1,597        569,449   

Hugo Boss AG

    4,053        497,603   

Kering

    7,266        1,396,944   

Li & Fung, Ltd.

    560,300        523,993   

Luxottica Group S.p.A.

    16,137        883,463   

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.

    26,791        4,236,570   

Michael Kors Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    11,597        870,935   

NIKE, Inc. - Class B

    39,690        3,816,193   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares

    Value  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—(Continued)

  

Pandora A/S

    11,062      $ 897,267   

PVH Corp.

    4,708        603,424   

Ralph Lauren Corp.

    3,495        647,134   

Swatch Group AG (The)

    4,799        415,086   

Swatch Group AG (The) - Bearer Shares

    2,961        1,314,795   

Under Armour, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    9,372        636,359   

VF Corp.

    19,400        1,453,060   

Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings, Ltd.

    71,100        255,525   
   

 

 

 
      28,078,200   
   

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance—0.0%

  

Hudson City Bancorp, Inc.

    27,085        274,100   

People’s United Financial, Inc. (b)

    17,395        264,056   
   

 

 

 
      538,156   
   

 

 

 

Tobacco—0.6%

  

Altria Group, Inc.

    111,725        5,504,691   

British American Tobacco plc

    178,822        9,716,091   

Imperial Tobacco Group plc

    91,817        4,020,955   

Japan Tobacco, Inc.

    105,527        2,897,569   

Lorillard, Inc.

    20,290        1,277,053   

Philip Morris International, Inc. (d)

    88,005        7,168,007   

Reynolds American, Inc.

    17,380        1,117,013   

Swedish Match AB

    19,297        601,893   
   

 

 

 
      32,303,272   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.3%

  

Ashtead Group plc

    48,288        853,694   

Brenntag AG

    14,817        833,743   

Bunzl plc

    32,155        876,541   

Fastenal Co. (b)

    15,350        730,046   

ITOCHU Corp.

    144,010        1,539,706   

Marubeni Corp.

    157,709        945,353   

Mitsubishi Corp.

    132,485        2,429,758   

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

    163,705        2,188,436   

Noble Group, Ltd.

    421,000        361,423   

Rexel S.A.

    26,748        477,635   

Sumitomo Corp. (b)

    107,913        1,108,373   

Toyota Tsusho Corp.

    20,426        472,097   

Travis Perkins plc

    23,783        684,715   

United Rentals, Inc. (a)

    5,400        550,854   

Wolseley plc

    25,571        1,455,716   

WW Grainger, Inc.

    3,420        871,724   
   

 

 

 
      16,379,814   
   

 

 

 

Transportation Infrastructure—0.1%

  

Abertis Infraestructuras S.A.

    38,880        768,114   

Aeroports de Paris

    2,878        348,834   

Atlantia S.p.A.

    39,671        921,422   

Auckland International Airport, Ltd.

    91,033        299,598   

Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (b)

    3,556        206,008   

Groupe Eurotunnel S.A.

    44,685        576,821   

Transportation Infrastructure—(Continued)

  

Hutchison Port Holdings Trust - Class U

    541,202      $ 372,947   

Kamigumi Co., Ltd.

    21,677        192,786   

Mitsubishi Logistics Corp.

    11,300        163,371   

Sydney Airport

    103,798        396,726   

Transurban Group (b)

    173,742        1,214,552   
   

 

 

 
      5,461,179   
   

 

 

 

Water Utilities—0.0%

  

Severn Trent plc

    22,948        711,498   

United Utilities Group plc

    65,416        927,006   
   

 

 

 
      1,638,504   
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services—0.4%

  

KDDI Corp.

    55,932        3,499,678   

Millicom International Cellular S.A.

    6,365        473,370   

NTT DoCoMo, Inc.

    146,563        2,145,411   

SoftBank Corp.

    92,232        5,488,932   

StarHub, Ltd.

    57,000        178,494   

Tele2 AB - B Shares

    30,588        370,305   

Vodafone Group plc

    2,542,246        8,710,908   
   

 

 

 
      20,867,098   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,823,212,194)

      2,349,501,336   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—27.1%   

Federal Agencies—2.3%

  

Federal Home Loan Bank
4.750%, 12/16/16

    1,785,000        1,932,796   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
0.750%, 01/12/18 (b)

    10,255,000        10,107,831   

2.000%, 08/25/16

    3,900,000        3,993,120   

2.375%, 01/13/22

    16,225,000        16,392,020   

4.375%, 07/17/15

    4,305,000        4,401,208   

6.250%, 07/15/32

    2,480,000        3,624,852   

Federal National Mortgage Association
0.500%, 05/27/15 (b)

    6,510,000        6,517,285   

0.500%, 03/30/16

    12,850,000        12,926,008   

0.875%, 02/08/18 (b)

    20,645,000        20,408,491   

1.250%, 01/30/17

    14,970,000        15,104,206   

1.875%, 02/19/19

    11,900,000        12,080,571   

2.375%, 04/11/16 (b)

    966,000        989,812   

5.250%, 09/15/16 (b)

    5,445,000        5,868,147   

5.375%, 06/12/17

    756,000        835,808   

6.625%, 11/15/30 (b)

    1,650,000        2,450,009   

7.250%, 05/15/30 (b)

    1,941,000        3,021,019   
   

 

 

 
      120,653,183   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—24.8%

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds
2.750%, 08/15/42

    8,785,000        8,782,259   

2.875%, 05/15/43

    11,089,000        11,341,962   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

U.S. Treasury—(Continued)

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds
3.125%, 11/15/41

    15,840,000      $ 17,094,829   

3.125%, 02/15/42

    5,645,000        6,076,752   

3.125%, 02/15/43

    8,925,000        9,582,523   

3.500%, 02/15/39

    7,482,000        8,593,197   

3.625%, 08/15/43

    19,066,000        22,421,921   

3.750%, 08/15/41 (b)

    8,025,000        9,672,003   

4.250%, 05/15/39

    1,235,000        1,587,458   

4.375%, 11/15/39

    8,320,000        10,909,600   

4.375%, 05/15/40

    6,650,000        8,742,150   

4.375%, 05/15/41

    7,495,000        9,941,413   

4.750%, 02/15/41

    1,780,000        2,487,411   

5.375%, 02/15/31 (b) (f)

    14,855,000        20,705,315   

6.000%, 02/15/26 (b)

    14,292,000        19,587,858   

6.250%, 08/15/23 (b)

    4,620,000        6,151,456   

6.250%, 05/15/30

    1,815,000        2,711,723   

7.250%, 05/15/16 (b)

    13,085,000        14,293,321   

8.875%, 02/15/19

    2,158,000        2,801,690   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes
0.125%, 04/15/18

    34,528,973        34,399,489   

0.125%, 04/15/19

    25,249,127        24,970,983   

0.625%, 07/15/21

    19,554,942        19,800,904   

1.125%, 01/15/21

    21,013,807        21,829,731   

1.250%, 07/15/20

    14,817,479        15,551,404   

1.375%, 07/15/18

    4,460,759        4,672,297   

1.375%, 01/15/20

    14,823,945        15,559,346   

1.625%, 01/15/18

    5,761,276        6,032,683   

1.875%, 07/15/19

    7,238,594        7,769,045   

2.125%, 01/15/19

    4,334,296        4,657,336   

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.375%, 01/31/16

    6,295,000        6,297,952   

0.625%, 11/30/17

    19,755,000        19,501,899   

0.750%, 12/31/17

    19,375,000        19,170,652   

0.750%, 03/31/18

    30,165,000        29,700,730   

0.875%, 11/30/16

    30,406,000        30,539,026   

0.875%, 01/31/17

    21,673,700        21,736,359   

0.875%, 02/28/17

    17,235,000        17,276,743   

0.875%, 01/31/18

    63,035,000        62,527,757   

1.000%, 05/31/18

    36,865,000        36,507,852   

1.250%, 11/30/18

    16,530,000        16,413,778   

1.250%, 01/31/19

    6,545,000        6,482,109   

1.250%, 04/30/19 (b)

    56,744,000        56,083,443   

1.375%, 06/30/18 (b)

    21,010,000        21,051,033   

1.500%, 08/31/18

    39,415,000        39,605,926   

1.500%, 01/31/19

    5,070,000        5,071,982   

1.500%, 05/31/19

    35,913,200        35,823,417   

1.500%, 11/30/19

    18,445,000        18,328,280   

1.625%, 11/15/22

    16,550,000        16,054,791   

1.750%, 05/15/23 (b)

    47,565,000        46,312,709   

1.875%, 10/31/17

    13,345,000        13,658,821   

2.000%, 01/31/16

    54,765,000        55,740,474   

2.000%, 04/30/16 (b)

    21,417,000        21,868,770   

2.000%, 11/15/21 (b)

    17,230,000        17,293,269   

2.000%, 02/15/22

    9,370,000        9,393,425   

2.000%, 02/15/23

    9,615,000        9,578,944   

U.S. Treasury—(Continued)

  

U.S. Treasury Notes
2.125%, 08/15/21

    11,970,000      $ 12,111,210   

2.250%, 11/30/17 (b)

    16,220,000        16,773,767   

2.375%, 07/31/17

    15,830,100        16,405,176   

2.500%, 05/15/24

    22,872,000        23,561,728   

2.625%, 01/31/18

    18,655,000        19,481,361   

2.625%, 08/15/20

    21,945,000        22,917,098   

2.625%, 11/15/20

    15,004,000        15,661,595   

2.750%, 02/15/19

    33,793,000        35,551,284   

3.125%, 10/31/16 (b)

    52,110,000        54,471,208   

3.125%, 01/31/17

    14,130,000        14,834,296   

3.250%, 07/31/16 (b)

    18,515,000        19,309,127   

3.500%, 05/15/20 (b)

    9,995,000        10,903,925   

3.625%, 02/15/20

    25,218,000        27,649,166   

3.625%, 02/15/21 (b)

    16,280,000        17,933,429   
   

 

 

 
      1,288,312,570   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $1,389,216,480)

      1,408,965,753   
   

 

 

 
Investment Company Securities—8.0%   

F&C Commercial Property Trust, Ltd.

    58,500        124,229   

F&C UK Real Estate Investment, Ltd.

    25,600        37,432   

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

    531,980        25,019,020   

iShares International Developed Real Estate ETF (b)

    1,289,880        38,747,995   

iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF

    392,600        23,921,118   

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

    33,488        2,037,410   

Medicx Fund, Ltd.

    39,183        50,617   

Picton Property Income, Ltd.

    48,700        49,247   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

    1,215,496        249,784,428   

Standard Life Investment Property Income Trust plc

    27,040        32,976   

UK Commercial Property Trust, Ltd. (b)

    49,000        67,340   

Vanguard REIT ETF (b)

    353,080        28,599,480   

Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (b)

    396,470        46,252,190   
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Company Securities
(Cost $408,227,726)

      414,723,482   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—4.2%   

Sovereign—4.2%

  

Australia Government Bonds

   

2.750%, 04/21/24 (AUD)

    1,015,000        828,936   

5.250%, 03/15/19 (AUD) (b)

    510,000        467,260   

5.750%, 05/15/21 (AUD)

    2,345,000        2,285,652   

6.000%, 02/15/17 (AUD)

    230,000        202,589   

Austria Government Bonds

   

3.150%, 06/20/44 (144A) (EUR)

    145,000        244,689   

3.400%, 11/22/22 (144A) (EUR)

    1,390,000        2,064,793   

4.000%, 09/15/16 (144A) (EUR)

    1,850,000        2,392,586   

4.150%, 03/15/37 (144A) (EUR)

    240,000        445,942   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Sovereign—(Continued)

  

Belgium Government Bonds
2.600%, 06/22/24 (144A) (EUR)

    400,000      $ 561,337   

3.750%, 09/28/20 (144A) (EUR)

    335,000        486,056   

4.250%, 09/28/21 (144A) (EUR)

    900,000        1,369,230   

4.250%, 03/28/41 (144A) (EUR)

    435,000        794,565   

5.000%, 03/28/35 (144A) (EUR)

    175,000        334,455   

5.500%, 09/28/17 (144A) (EUR)

    900,000        1,254,428   

5.500%, 03/28/28 (EUR)

    815,000        1,500,450   

Bundesobligation
0.250%, 04/13/18 (EUR)

    390,000        476,667   

Bundesrepublik Deutschland
1.500%, 05/15/23 (EUR)

    885,000        1,171,795   

2.000%, 01/04/22 (EUR)

    1,505,000        2,048,621   

2.000%, 08/15/23 (EUR)

    1,170,000        1,607,934   

2.500%, 01/04/21 (EUR)

    2,715,000        3,759,287   

2.500%, 07/04/44 (EUR)

    405,000        623,080   

3.250%, 07/04/42 (EUR)

    135,000        235,204   

3.750%, 01/04/17 (EUR)

    3,345,000        4,354,508   

4.000%, 07/04/16 (EUR)

    2,270,000        2,911,898   

4.250%, 07/04/39 (EUR)

    920,000        1,801,310   

5.500%, 01/04/31 (EUR)

    1,310,000        2,631,692   

Canadian Government Bonds
2.750%, 06/01/22 (CAD)

    1,075,000        998,960   

3.500%, 06/01/20 (CAD)

    420,000        401,194   

4.000%, 06/01/16 (CAD)

    2,410,000        2,161,449   

4.000%, 06/01/41 (CAD)

    975,000        1,113,084   

5.750%, 06/01/29 (CAD)

    385,000        481,598   

5.750%, 06/01/33 (CAD)

    245,000        322,507   

Denmark Government Bonds
1.500%, 11/15/23 (DKK)

    2,355,000        413,840   

4.000%, 11/15/15 (DKK)

    500,000        84,032   

4.000%, 11/15/19 (DKK)

    3,690,000        712,333   

4.500%, 11/15/39 (DKK)

    1,645,000        443,618   

Finland Government Bond
3.500%, 04/15/21 (144A) (EUR)

    1,500,000        2,177,255   

France Government Bond OAT
1.750%, 05/25/23 (EUR)

    545,000        722,110   

2.250%, 10/25/22 (EUR)

    1,410,000        1,930,754   

2.250%, 05/25/24 (EUR)

    1,740,000        2,393,745   

3.250%, 04/25/16 (EUR)

    1,710,000        2,157,333   

3.250%, 05/25/45 (EUR)

    280,000        443,983   

3.750%, 04/25/21 (EUR)

    4,445,000        6,523,104   

4.500%, 04/25/41 (EUR)

    1,585,000        3,004,178   

5.500%, 04/25/29 (EUR)

    1,310,000        2,460,548   

5.750%, 10/25/32 (EUR)

    360,000        725,363   

French Treasury Note BTAN
1.750%, 02/25/17 (EUR)

    3,595,000        4,516,741   

Ireland Government Bonds
4.500%, 04/18/20 (EUR)

    415,000        605,011   

5.400%, 03/13/25 (EUR)

    445,000        741,943   

Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro
3.750%, 04/15/16 (EUR)

    3,305,000        4,167,571   

3.750%, 03/01/21 (EUR)

    4,625,000        6,437,924   

3.750%, 09/01/24 (EUR)

    800,000        1,129,596   

5.000%, 08/01/39 (EUR)

    1,380,000        2,216,623   

5.250%, 08/01/17 (EUR)

    2,605,000        3,524,677   

Sovereign—(Continued)

  

Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro
5.250%, 11/01/29 (EUR)

    3,195,000      5,142,433   

5.500%, 11/01/22 (EUR)

    1,830,000        2,847,526   

Japan Government Five Year Bonds
0.200%, 06/20/17 (JPY)

    271,800,000        2,281,373   

0.300%, 09/20/18 (JPY)

    621,850,000        5,249,155   

Japan Government Ten Year Bonds
0.500%, 12/20/24 (JPY)

    82,400,000        699,594   

0.800%, 09/20/22 (JPY)

    78,700,000        689,519   

0.800%, 12/20/22 (JPY)

    274,150,000        2,401,758   

0.800%, 09/20/23 (JPY)

    389,900,000        3,414,470   

1.700%, 03/20/17 (JPY)

    1,292,250,000        11,199,389   

Japan Government Thirty Year Bonds
1.800%, 09/20/43 (JPY)

    315,400,000        2,976,894   

1.900%, 09/20/42 (JPY)

    268,850,000        2,589,994   

2.300%, 03/20/40 (JPY)

    305,700,000        3,158,646   

Japan Government Twenty Year Bonds
1.400%, 12/20/22 (JPY)

    876,300,000        8,023,998   

1.500%, 03/20/33 (JPY)

    90,500,000        826,345   

1.700%, 12/20/31 (JPY)

    561,250,000        5,320,278   

1.700%, 09/20/32 (JPY)

    182,400,000        1,721,553   

1.700%, 09/20/33 (JPY)

    403,250,000        3,782,295   

2.100%, 06/20/29 (JPY)

    555,050,000        5,566,390   

2.100%, 12/20/29 (JPY)

    144,800,000        1,452,414   

2.500%, 12/21/20 (JPY)

    968,350,000        9,266,312   

Mexican Bonos
6.500%, 06/10/21 (MXN)

    21,375,000        1,521,528   

7.250%, 12/15/16 (MXN)

    12,170,000        879,860   

7.750%, 11/13/42 (MXN)

    3,375,000        263,351   

10.000%, 11/20/36 (MXN)

    4,580,000        434,900   

Netherlands Government Bonds
2.250%, 07/15/22 (144A) (EUR)

    935,000        1,285,370   

3.750%, 01/15/42 (144A) (EUR)

    435,000        810,615   

4.500%, 07/15/17 (144A) (EUR)

    1,240,000        1,672,265   

5.500%, 01/15/28 (EUR)

    925,000        1,745,073   

Norway Government Bond
3.000%, 03/14/24 (NOK)

    3,240,000        488,943   

Poland Government Bonds
5.500%, 10/25/19 (PLN)

    3,610,000        1,173,883   

5.750%, 04/25/29 (PLN)

    1,105,000        424,204   

Singapore Government Bond
2.250%, 06/01/21 (SGD)

    865,000        661,917   

South Africa Government Bonds
8.250%, 09/15/17 (ZAR)

    12,430,000        1,108,333   

10.500%, 12/21/26 (ZAR)

    4,640,000        482,345   

Spain Government Bonds
3.150%, 01/31/16 (EUR)

    2,940,000        3,664,342   

3.800%, 01/31/17 (EUR)

    830,000        1,073,481   

4.000%, 04/30/20 (EUR)

    2,190,000        3,072,098   

4.200%, 01/31/37 (EUR)

    650,000        985,762   

4.400%, 10/31/23 (144A) (EUR)

    445,000        666,123   

4.700%, 07/30/41 (EUR)

    425,000        688,424   

5.850%, 01/31/22 (EUR)

    2,230,000        3,555,482   

6.000%, 01/31/29 (EUR)

    770,000        1,346,549   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Sovereign—(Continued)

  

Sweden Government Bonds
1.500%, 11/13/23 (SEK)

    3,330,000      $ 452,246   

4.500%, 08/12/15 (SEK)

    660,000        86,901   

5.000%, 12/01/20 (SEK)

    8,685,000        1,411,227   

Switzerland Government Bond
4.000%, 02/11/23 (CHF)

    415,000        544,735   

United Kingdom Gilt
1.750%, 01/22/17 (GBP)

    1,495,000        2,389,433   

1.750%, 09/07/22 (GBP)

    275,000        434,715   

2.250%, 09/07/23 (GBP)

    2,630,000        4,295,059   

3.250%, 01/22/44 (GBP)

    1,855,000        3,335,479   

3.750%, 09/07/20 (GBP)

    1,395,000        2,464,772   

4.250%, 09/07/39 (GBP)

    2,555,000        5,320,708   

4.500%, 12/07/42 (GBP)

    275,000        604,939   

8.000%, 06/07/21 (GBP)

    1,170,000        2,568,234   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $244,600,704)

      220,389,670   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks—0.1%   

Automobiles—0.1%

   

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG

    5,227        428,987   

Porsche Automobil Holding SE

    14,707        1,194,959   

Volkswagen AG

    15,597        3,483,931   
   

 

 

 
      5,107,877   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.0%

   

Fuchs Petrolub SE (b)

    6,667        268,511   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.0%

   

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

    17,092        1,848,919   
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $5,948,675)

      7,225,307   
   

 

 

 
Rights—0.0%   

Banks—0.0%

   

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., Expires 01/07/15 (a) (b)
(Cost $55,707)

    569,484        54,439   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—17.8%   

Mutual Fund—3.9%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (h)

    199,953,360        199,953,360   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—1.1%

   

U.S. Treasury Bills

   

0.007%, 01/08/15 (d) (i)

    30,500,000        30,499,955   

0.010%, 01/29/15 (i)

    25,000,000        24,999,806   

0.010%, 02/12/15 (i)

    2,500,000        2,499,971   
   

 

 

 
      57,999,732   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—12.8%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $663,736,068 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $669,625,000 U.S. Government Agency obligations with rates ranging from 0.375% - 4.875%, maturity dates ranging from 06/15/16 - 09/27/17 with a value of $677,013,431.

    663,736,068      663,736,068   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $921,689,160)

      921,689,160   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—102.4%
(Cost $4,792,950,646) (j)

      5,322,549,147   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(2.4)%

      (127,256,487
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 5,195,292,660   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $199,729,517 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $199,953,360 and non-cash collateral with a value of $7,518,441. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent less than 0.05% of net assets.
(d) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $108,536,620.
(e) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(f) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open forward foreign currency exchange contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $1,103,912.
(g) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.0% of net assets.
(h) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(i) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(j) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $4,824,161,491. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $661,790,308 and $(163,402,652), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $498,387,656 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $16,830,432, which is 0.3% of net assets.

(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(DKK)— Danish Krone
(ETF)— Exchange-Traded Fund
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(NOK)— Norwegian Krone
(PLN)— Polish Zloty
(REIT)— A Real Estate Investment Trust is a pooled investment vehicle that invests primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest.
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar
(ZAR)— South African Rand

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     30,548,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/18/15         $ 24,715,811         $ 93,700   
EUR     348,914      

UBS AG

       01/09/15           424,956           (2,735
EUR     58,396,000      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           71,464,616           (755,809
EUR     14,730,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/18/15           18,334,284           (498,461
GBP     6,387,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       03/18/15           9,981,284           (32,244
GBP     10,063,000      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           15,706,642           (31,491
JPY     624,937,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       03/18/15           5,299,575           (78,860
JPY     7,146,859,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       03/18/15           59,836,225           (131,464
JPY     2,132,677,000      

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

       03/18/15           18,110,830           (294,476
SEK     21,521,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/18/15           2,844,849           (83,443

Contracts to Deliver

                          
AUD     4,464,845      

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

       01/30/15         $ 3,698,410         $ 59,939   
AUD     30,712,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       03/18/15           25,385,986           443,283   
AUD     26,528,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       03/18/15           22,652,604           1,107,930   
AUD     27,584,000      

Goldman Sachs International

       03/18/15           22,745,215           342,912   
CAD     389,159      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/14/15           344,152           9,275   
CAD     296,565      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/14/15           254,523           (675
CAD     5,820,034      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/14/15           5,124,081           115,869   
CAD     6,530,000      

Goldman Sachs International

       03/18/15           5,600,823           (10,405
CHF     550,170      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/29/15           567,606           14,024   
CHF     36,909,000      

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

       03/18/15           37,877,917           704,147   
DKK     1,455,192      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/22/15           243,321           6,834   
DKK     8,704,057      

Credit Suisse International

       01/22/15           1,451,257           36,738   
EUR     180,359      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/09/15           225,065           6,813   
EUR     470,611      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           582,767           13,279   
EUR     83,033,794      

Goldman Sachs International

       01/09/15           104,248,679           3,769,336   
EUR     3,723,458      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/09/15           4,578,424           72,660   
EUR     913,660      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/09/15           1,139,300           33,679   
EUR     608,446      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/09/15           761,279           24,997   
EUR     500,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/09/15           621,965           16,914   
EUR     476,493      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/09/15           591,303           14,699   
EUR     464,041      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/09/15           568,967           7,430   
EUR     52,504,000      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           65,208,760           1,634,283   
EUR     8,504,000      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           10,456,136           159,066   
EUR     42,684,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/18/15           53,157,715           1,473,786   
EUR     4,403,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/18/15           5,529,081           197,707   
EUR     2,390,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/18/15           2,940,869           46,937   
GBP     13,604,508      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/27/15           21,390,028           189,696   
GBP     370,015      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/27/15           578,833           2,227   
GBP     34,810,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/18/15           54,354,457           130,863   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
GBP     4,406,000      

Goldman Sachs International

       03/18/15         $ 6,832,693         $ (30,541
GBP     3,211,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/18/15           5,044,224           42,444   
JPY     71,783,642      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/23/15           599,233           (148
JPY     8,219,474,111      

Goldman Sachs International

       01/23/15           68,682,778           51,520   
JPY     98,005,475      

Standard Chartered Bank

       01/23/15           824,268           5,939   
JPY     6,853,643,000      

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

       03/18/15           56,538,413           (716,824
JPY     6,169,159,000      

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

       03/18/15           53,437,616           1,900,548   
JPY     994,532,000      

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

       03/18/15           8,251,700           (56,606
MXN     39,192,729      

Goldman Sachs International

       01/15/15           2,885,788           230,940   
MXN     6,483,696      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/15/15           450,288           11,094   
NOK     3,486,507      

Goldman Sachs International

       01/22/15           496,196           28,629   
PLN     5,428,518      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/28/15           1,614,551           82,936   
SEK     14,053,091      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/22/15           1,881,284           78,475   
SGD     881,173      

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/23/15           670,961           6,070   
ZAR     16,782,665      

Goldman Sachs International

       01/14/15           1,495,395           46,664   
                   

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 10,490,100   
                   

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Australian 10 Year Treasury Bond Futures

     03/16/15         1,041        AUD         131,751,665      $ 1,344,848   

Brent Crude Oil Futures

     02/12/15         100        USD         6,527,942        (706,942

Brent Crude Oil Futures

     10/31/18         79        USD         7,131,678        (1,091,338

Canada Government Bond Year Bond Futures

     03/20/15         730        CAD         100,327,061        682,165   

Euro Stoxx 50 Index Futures

     03/20/15         625        EUR         18,665,479        1,108,129   

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     03/20/15         194        GBP         12,366,095        448,183   

Gold 100 oz Futures

     02/25/15         121        USD         14,502,148        (174,538

MSCI EAFE Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         38        USD         3,381,690        (41,680

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         18        USD         1,787,857        59,303   

TOPIX Index Futures

     03/20/15         596        JPY         8,503,092,120        (955,019

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         4        USD         560,537        17,713   

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         425        USD         53,710,937        177,735   

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         439        USD         52,165,153        44,980   

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         189        USD         30,534,372        686,066   

United Kingdom Long Gilt Bond Futures

     03/27/15         166        GBP         19,314,264        822,498   

Futures Contracts—Short

                   

Euro Bobl Futures

     03/06/15         (204     EUR         (26,391,235   $ (224,930

Euro Buxl 30 Year Bond Fututres

     03/06/15         (70     EUR         (10,357,116     (594,720

Euro-Bund Futures

     03/06/15         (175     EUR         (26,788,790     (591,061

Hang Seng Index Futures

     01/29/15         (20     HKD         (23,404,700     (31,504

Japanese 10 Year Bond Futures

     03/12/15         (84     JPY         (12,346,264,560     (568,504

SPI 200 Futures

     03/19/15         (40     AUD         (5,151,707     (188,828
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 222,556   
            

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Swap Agreements

Total Return Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

  Floating
Rate Index
  Maturity
Date
 

Counterparty

 

Underlying
Reference
Instrument

  Notional
Amount
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Receive

  1-Month USD-LIBOR   03/16/15   UBS AG   Russell 2000 Total Return Index     USD        75,409,889      $ 4,338,737      $      $ 4,338,737   

Receive

  1-Month USD-LIBOR   04/15/15   UBS AG   Russell 2000 Total Return Index     USD        257,922        14,840               14,840   

Receive

  3-Month USD-LIBOR   02/26/15   Goldman Sachs International   Russell 2000 Total Return Index     USD        54,475,776        735,686               735,686   

Pay

  3-Month USD-LIBOR   02/26/15   Goldman Sachs International   S&P 400 MidCap Total Return Index     USD        339,939        92               92   

Pay

  3-Month USD-LIBOR   03/16/15   Goldman Sachs International   S&P 400 MidCap Total Return Index     USD        155,939,989        6,853,182               6,853,182   

Receive

  3-Month USD-LIBOR   03/19/15   Goldman Sachs International   Russell 2000 Total Return Index     USD        14,201,820        817,107               817,107   

Pay

  3-Month USD-LIBOR   03/19/15   Goldman Sachs International   S&P 400 Midcap Total Return Index     USD        15,620,684        686,491               686,491   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ 13,446,135      $      $ 13,446,135   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.300     12/24/24         USD         1,302,000,000       $ 1,478,812   
                

 

 

 

Securities in the amount of $5,211,990 have been received at the custodian bank as collateral for swap contracts.

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(DKK)— Danish Krone
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(HKD)— Hong Kong Dollar
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(NOK)— Norwegian Krone
(PLN)— Polish Zloty
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar
(USD)— United States Dollar
(ZAR)— South African Rand
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1- unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks            

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 27,745,313       $ 12,044,101       $ —         $ 39,789,414   

Air Freight & Logistics

     8,125,148         4,964,002         —           13,089,150   

Airlines

     4,125,964         2,893,632         —           7,019,596   

Auto Components

     4,193,527         14,903,003         —           19,096,530   

Automobiles

     6,847,391         43,832,505         —           50,679,896   

Banks

     62,649,742         160,033,642         0         222,683,384   

Beverages

     22,031,041         29,390,154         —           51,421,195   

Biotechnology

     29,838,798         4,909,148         —           34,747,946   

Building Products

     805,429         7,540,174         —           8,345,603   

Capital Markets

     29,870,621         17,235,770         —           47,106,391   

Chemicals

     24,968,495         40,752,142         —           65,720,637   

Commercial Services & Supplies

     4,605,530         6,550,433         —           11,155,963   

Communications Equipment

     17,324,274         7,321,918         —           24,646,192   

Construction & Engineering

     1,218,176         8,417,219         —           9,635,395   

Construction Materials

     870,560         7,277,968         —           8,148,528   

Consumer Finance

     9,551,027         596,092         —           10,147,119   

Containers & Packaging

     1,971,625         1,939,230         —           3,910,855   

Distributors

     918,100         327,522         —           1,245,622   

Diversified Consumer Services

     520,525         191,720         —           712,245   

Diversified Financial Services

     21,511,154         12,501,790         —           34,012,944   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     23,446,321         38,534,650         —           61,980,971   

Electric Utilities

     19,026,362         19,828,669         —           38,855,031   

Electrical Equipment

     5,840,655         15,556,833         —           21,397,488   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

     4,328,912         14,790,572         —           19,119,484   

Energy Equipment & Services

     14,019,713         3,806,532         —           17,826,245   

Food & Staples Retailing

     25,763,851         20,164,864         —           45,928,715   

Food Products

     16,616,801         47,729,982         —           64,346,783   

Gas Utilities

     366,852         6,507,991         —           6,874,843   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     22,983,102         8,819,750         —           31,802,852   

Health Care Providers & Services

     23,840,947         5,993,705         —           29,834,652   

Health Care Technology

     1,103,099         309,485         —           1,412,584   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     17,480,986         14,497,712         —           31,978,698   

Household Durables

     4,403,800         9,315,470         —           13,719,270   

Household Products

     20,441,761         8,199,352         —           28,641,113   

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers

     1,028,353         889,860         —           1,918,213   

Industrial Conglomerates

     24,131,024         17,905,100         —           42,036,124   

Insurance

     29,562,967         66,007,121         —           95,570,088   

Internet & Catalog Retail

     12,156,449         1,063,701         —           13,220,150   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Internet Software & Services

   $ 33,332,875      $ 1,362,627      $ —         $ 34,695,502   

IT Services

     34,027,001        5,608,208        —           39,635,209   

Leisure Products

     940,663        1,979,646        —           2,920,309   

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     4,393,513        1,097,914        —           5,491,427   

Machinery

     16,192,693        29,865,995        —           46,058,688   

Marine

     —          3,519,553        —           3,519,553   

Media

     36,932,420        19,522,029        —           56,454,449   

Metals & Mining

     4,032,304        37,932,205        —           41,964,509   

Multi-Utilities

     12,760,215        17,030,930        —           29,791,145   

Multiline Retail

     7,810,471        4,304,397        —           12,114,868   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     73,151,616        63,569,897        —           136,721,513   

Paper & Forest Products

     1,287,795        1,579,394        —           2,867,189   

Personal Products

     1,198,380        7,278,247        —           8,476,627   

Pharmaceuticals

     64,489,928        109,865,880        —           174,355,808   

Professional Services

     2,021,593        7,463,486        —           9,485,079   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     101,880,323        53,048,700        —           154,929,023   

Real Estate Management & Development

     1,138,982        51,042,467        —           52,181,449   

Road & Rail

     11,010,963        12,444,070        —           23,455,033   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     25,438,042        9,588,436        —           35,026,478   

Software

     39,622,814        10,666,695        —           50,289,509   

Specialty Retail

     25,103,157        12,304,521        —           37,407,678   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     48,992,995        7,623,164        —           56,616,159   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     8,895,220        19,182,980        —           28,078,200   

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

     538,156        —          —           538,156   

Tobacco

     15,066,764        17,236,508        —           32,303,272   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     2,152,624        14,227,190        —           16,379,814   

Transportation Infrastructure

     —          5,461,179        —           5,461,179   

Water Utilities

     —          1,638,504        —           1,638,504   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     —          20,867,098        —           20,867,098   

Total Common Stocks

     1,118,645,902        1,230,855,434        0         2,349,501,336   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

     —          1,408,965,753        —           1,408,965,753   

Investment Company Securities

     414,361,641        361,841        —           414,723,482   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          220,389,670        —           220,389,670   

Total Preferred Stocks*

     —          7,225,307        —           7,225,307   

Total Rights*

     54,439        —          —           54,439   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Fund

     199,953,360        —          —           199,953,360   

U.S. Treasury

     —          57,999,732        —           57,999,732   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          663,736,068        —           663,736,068   

Total Short-Term Investments

     199,953,360        721,735,800        —           921,689,160   

Total Investments

   $ 1,733,015,342      $ 3,589,533,805      $ 0       $ 5,322,549,147   
                                   

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (199,953,360   $ —         $ (199,953,360
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 13,214,282      $ —         $ 13,214,282   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (2,724,182     —           (2,724,182

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 10,490,100      $ —         $ 10,490,100   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 5,391,620      $ —        $ —         $ 5,391,620   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (5,169,064     —          —           (5,169,064

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 222,556      $ —        $ —         $ 222,556   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 1,478,812      $ —         $ 1,478,812   
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $ —        $ 13,446,135      $ —         $ 13,446,135   

 

* See Consolidated Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 in the amount of $249,701 were due to the application of a systematic fair valuation model factor.

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

   Balance as of
December 31,
2013
     Change in
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Transfers
Into
Level 3
     Balance as of
December 31,
2014
     Change in Unrealized
Depreciation from
Investments Still Held at
December 31, 2014
 
Common Stocks              

Banks

   $       $ (243,139   $ 243,139       $ 0       $ (243,139
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Transfers into level 3 were due to a decline in market activity for significant observables which resulted in a lack of available market inputs to determine price.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 4,655,385,125   

Affiliated investments at value (c)

     3,427,954   

Repurchase Agreement

     663,736,068   

Cash

     5,158,151   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (d)

     7,907,459   

Cash collateral for centrally cleared swap contracts

     54,629,830   

OTC swap contracts at market value

     13,446,135   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     13,214,282   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     26,555,331   

Fund shares sold

     125,776   

Dividends and interest

     15,893,558   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     1,027,814   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     19,307   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     1,341,914   

Prepaid expenses

     13,475   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     5,461,882,179   

Liabilities

  

Cash collateral for OTC swap contracts

     11,490,000   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     2,724,182   

Collateral for securities loaned

     199,953,360   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     46,075,919   

Open OTC swap contracts cash collateral

     1,100,000   

Fund shares redeemed

     497,787   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     364,988   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     25,308   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     2,617,469   

Distribution and service fees

     1,106,106   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     50,253   

Other expenses

     584,147   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     266,589,519   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 5,195,292,660   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 4,348,394,924   

Undistributed net investment income

     136,260,872   

Accumulated net realized gain

     155,684,239   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, affiliated investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     554,952,625   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 5,195,292,660   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 5,195,292,660   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     438,641,380   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 11.84   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement and affiliated investments, was $4,126,982,281.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $199,729,517.
(c) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $2,232,297.
(d) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $7,935,886.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 81,094,682   

Dividends from affiliated investments

     82,482   

Interest

     21,636,505   

Securities lending income

     1,874,083   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     104,687,752   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     31,478,554   

Administration fees

     167,038   

Custodian and accounting fees

     1,238,851   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     12,907,731   

Interest expense

     22,997   

Audit and tax services

     91,477   

Legal

     38,538   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     230,848   

Insurance

     31,725   

Miscellaneous

     60,316   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     46,311,836   

Less management fee waiver

     (923,928
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     45,387,908   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     59,299,844   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     20,420,790   

Futures contracts

     43,074,954   

Written options

     5,136,762   

Swap contracts

     139,660,016   

Foreign currency transactions

     57,492,539   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     265,785,061   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     37,084,776   

Affiliated investments

     7,999   

Futures contracts

     (12,883,116

Swap contracts

     12,118,776   

Foreign currency transactions

     4,347,965   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     40,676,400   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     306,461,461   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 365,761,305   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $3,365,831.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 59,299,844      $ 34,634,202   

Net realized gain

     265,785,061        127,938,562   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     40,676,400        330,712,427   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     365,761,305        493,285,191   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (100,095,595     (59,427,441

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (99,658,496     (98,772,505
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (199,754,091     (158,199,946
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (35,057,760     587,157,731   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     130,949,454        922,242,976   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     5,064,343,206        4,142,100,230   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 5,195,292,660      $ 5,064,343,206   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 136,260,872      $ 78,887,305   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     6,780,832      $ 78,462,208        53,435,232      $ 587,034,866   

Reinvestments

     17,851,125        199,754,091        14,729,977        158,199,946   

Redemptions

     (27,007,767     (313,274,059     (14,338,476     (158,077,081
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (2,375,810   $ (35,057,760     53,826,733      $ 587,157,731   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (35,057,760     $ 587,157,731   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012     2011(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.48       $ 10.70       $ 9.73      $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (b)

     0.13         0.08         0.05        0.01   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.69         1.09         0.93        (0.18 )(c) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.82         1.17         0.98        (0.17
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

          

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.23      (0.15      (0.01     (0.04

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.23      (0.24      (0.00 )(d)      (0.06
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.46      (0.39      (0.01     (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.84       $ 11.48       $ 10.70      $ 9.73   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (e)

     7.35         11.15         10.09        (1.72 )(f) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.90         0.89         0.91        1.01  (g) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (h)

     0.88         0.88         0.91        0.97  (g) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.15         0.74         0.52        0.13  (g) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     37         29         35        15  (f) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 5,195.3       $ 5,064.3       $ 4,142.1      $ 2,188.7   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was May 2, 2011.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) The per share amount may differ with the change in aggregate gains (losses) as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Operations due to the timing of purchases and sales of Portfolio shares in relation to fluctuating market values during the period.
(d) Distributions from net realized capital gains were less than $0.01.
(e) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(f) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Computed on an annualized basis.
(h) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary—AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio, Ltd. which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies. The Portfolio has obtained an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio should constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court could disagree with the legal opinion obtained by the Portfolio.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity derivatives, exchange-traded notes and total return swaps. Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by AllianceBernstein L.P. (the “Subadviser”), making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio include the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

      Inception Date
of Subsidiary
     Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio, Ltd.

     5/2/2012       $ 62,888,271         1.2

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to futures transactions, foreign currency transactions, swap transactions, premium amortization adjustments, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), controlled foreign corporations and return of capital adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $663,736,068, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Commodity Futures Contracts and Swaps on Commodity Futures Contracts - The Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

The purpose of inflation-capped options is to protect the buyer from inflation, above a specified rate, eroding the value of investments in inflation-linked products with a given notional exposure. Inflation-capped options are used to give downside protection to investments in inflation-linked products by establishing a floor on the value of such products.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

Total Return Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into total return swap agreements to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market or to transfer the risk/return of one market (e.g., fixed income) to another market (e.g., equity) (equity risk and/or interest rate risk). Total return swaps are agreements in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specific period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or floating rate or the total return from other underlying assets. When a Portfolio pays interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may be required to pay the change in value to the counterparty in addition to the interest payment; conversely, when a Portfolio receives interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may receive the change in value in addition to the interest payment. To the extent the total return of the instrument or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swaps can also be structured without an interest payment, so that one party pays the other party if the value of the underlying asset increases and receives payment from the other party if the value of the underlying asset decreases.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated
Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated
Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (a)    $ 1,478,812         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      3,776,005       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)    $ 1,979,215   
Equity    OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      13,446,135         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      1,615,615       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)      1,217,031   
Commodity          Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)      1,972,818   
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      13,214,282       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      2,724,182   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 33,530,849          $ 7,893,246   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.
  (b) Excludes OTC swap interest receivable of $19,307 and OTC swap interest payable of $25,308.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 5), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 9,061       $ (148   $      $ 8,913   

BNP Paribas S.A.

     1,753,792         (242,568            1,511,224   

Citibank N.A.

     1,793,349                       1,793,349   

Credit Suisse International

     36,738         (36,738              

Deutsche Bank AG

     1,824,910         (83,443            1,741,467   

Goldman Sachs International

     13,562,559         (40,946     (11,490,000     2,031,613   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     104,794         (675            104,119   

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

     2,664,634         (1,067,906            1,596,728   

Standard Chartered Bank

     5,939                       5,939   

State Street Bank and Trust

     551,064         (498,461            52,603   

UBS AG

     4,353,577         (2,735     (4,350,842       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 26,660,417       $ (1,973,620   $ (15,840,842   $ 8,845,955   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net Amount**  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 148       $ (148   $       $   

BNP Paribas S.A.

     242,568         (242,568               

Credit Suisse International

     787,300         (36,738             750,562   

Deutsche Bank AG

     83,443         (83,443               

Goldman Sachs International

     40,946         (40,946               

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     675         (675               

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

     1,067,906         (1,067,906               

State Street Bank and Trust

     498,461         (498,461               

UBS AG

     2,735         (2,735               
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 2,724,182       $ (1,973,620   $       $ 750,562   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—
Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Credit      Equity     Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Investments (a)

   $ (2,620,552   $       $ (15,917,911   $      $       $ (18,538,463

Forward foreign currency transactions

                                  58,824,577         58,824,577   

Futures contracts

     6,820,299                39,268,518        (3,013,863             43,074,954   

Swap contracts

     130,670,932        7,142,819         14,141,207        (12,294,942             139,660,016   

Written options

                    5,136,762                       5,136,762   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 134,870,679      $ 7,142,819       $ 42,628,576      $ (15,308,805   $ 58,824,577       $ 228,157,846   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Credit      Equity     Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Investments (a)

   $ (1,246,198   $       $      $      $       $ (1,246,198

Forward foreign currency transactions

                                  4,715,217         4,715,217   

Futures contracts

     4,108,605                (15,018,903     (1,972,818             (12,883,116

Swap contracts

     5,469,369                6,322,442        326,965                12,118,776   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 8,331,776      $       $ (8,696,461   $ (1,645,853   $ 4,715,217       $ 2,704,679   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 108,346,713   

Forward foreign currency transactions

     945,112,766   

Futures contracts long

     185,090,084   

Futures contracts short

     (101,465,598

Swap contracts

     1,732,941,017   

Written options

     (9,973

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Written Options

The Portfolio transactions in written options during the year December 31, 2014:

 

Call Options

   Notional
Amount
     Number of
Contracts
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

                   $   

Options written

     714,000         5,983         6,494,129   

Options bought back

     (714,000      (5,983      (6,494,129
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

                       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Put Options

   Notional
Amount
     Number of
Contracts
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

                   $   

Options written

     417,100                 4,488,713   

Options bought back

     (417,100              (4,488,713
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

                       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$497,946,300    $ 1,567,834,605       $ 318,119,231       $ 1,253,590,587   

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$31,478,554      0.700   First $250 million
     0.650   $250 million to $500 million
     0.625   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.600   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. The Subadvisor is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction     Average Daily Net Assets
  0.025   $500 million to $1 billion
  0.020   $2 billion to $3.5 billion
  0.030   Over $3.5 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period January 1, 2014 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

8. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Security Description

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares
sold
     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
     Realized
Gain on
shares sold
     Income For the
Year Ended
December 31, 2014
 

MetLife, Inc.

     61,775         1,600         0         63,375       $ 0       $ 82,482   

9. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

10. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$100,095,595    $ 146,724,302       $ 99,658,496       $ 11,475,644       $ 199,754,091       $ 158,199,946   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Total  
$326,269,412    $ 22,735,770       $ 497,942,808       $ 846,947,990   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

11. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

12. Subsequent Events

At a meeting held on February 12, 2015, the Board voted to approve a change to the name of the Portfolio to AB Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio. This change becomes effective on May 1, 2015.

 

MIST-45


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio and subsidiary, one of the portfolios constituting the Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-46


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-47


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (64)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-48


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-49


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-50


Met Investors Series Trust

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

AllianceBernstein Global Dynamic Allocation Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and AllianceBernstein L.P. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Blended Index for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one-year and since-inception periods ended October 31, 2014 but underperformed its benchmark for the three-year period ended October 31, 2014, and underperformed its blended index for the same periods. The Board also took into account the change in the investment management team in November 2013.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. In addition, the Board noted that the Adviser had negotiated reductions to the Portfolio’s sub-advisory fee schedule and that the Adviser agreed to waive a corresponding portion of its advisory fee in order for contractholders to benefit from the lower sub-advisory fee effective January 1, 2015. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-51


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Managed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

Since its inception on April 14, 2014, the Class B shares of the Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio returned 6.52%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 4.43%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Since the inception of the Portfolio on April 14, 2014, the global economic backdrop has been marked by a wide divergence in global growth rates. The U.S. economy has been one of the few bright spots among developed markets worldwide. For instance, the U.S. posted a third quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reading of a 5% annualized gain, while concerns grew over slowing growth in Asia and deflationary fears in Europe. The mix of strong economic growth in the U.S. and sluggish growth overseas resulted in an attractive environment for U.S. stocks and bonds. Investor concerns surrounding overseas growth resulted in accommodative monetary policies around the globe. Many economists and strategists had predicted a rise in interest rates as the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) ended their quantitative easing program and signaled to the market that they may begin raising their Federal Funds rate in the near term. However, the U.S. equity market advanced when the Fed hinted they would be in no rush to raise interest rates as inflation remained relatively subdued and risks from slowing growth overseas endured. The 10-year Treasury rallied during the reporting period, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury falling from 2.65% on April 14, 2014, to 2.17% by year end. The combination of the market pricing in a “lower for longer” accommodative monetary policy stance by the Fed and concerns over falling oil prices as well as slowing growth overseas had investors flocking to the safety of U.S. government bonds. Commodities, specifically oil, declined sharply since the inception of the Portfolio which had a corresponding effect on Energy companies. The S&P 500 Index gained 15% during the reporting period but was held back by the -8% drop in the S&P 500 Energy sector. Oil came under heavy selling pressure in the latter half of 2014 on a supply/demand imbalance. The combination of rising production from U.S. shale producers, OPEC’s (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) surprise decision to maintain current production levels, and declining demand from slowing overseas economies put the commodity under pressure. Oil declined over 50% from its mid-2014 peak.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Strategic Asset Allocation (“SAA”) sets the long term asset allocation mix for the Portfolio. Active asset allocation decisions are made around the SAA in an effort to enhance returns and mitigate risks. The SAA of the Portfolio is 40% the Russell 3000 Index, 20% the MSCI EAFE Index, and 40% the Barclays U.S. Government Index.

The Portfolio aims to deliver a superior return compared to the SAA over a market cycle, while mitigating downside risks in times of market stress. An active approach to asset allocation sits at the strategy’s core. It has three components: Market Cycle analysis, Economic Cycle and Valuation analysis, and active risk management. Market Cycle analysis uses a proprietary rule-based, disciplined asset allocation approach to capture medium-term trends across asset classes. By combining both pro-cyclical and anti-cyclical elements, it aims to invest in the best performing asset classes over time, and provide both excess returns and downside risk mitigation. Economic Cycle and Valuation analysis looks at forward-looking fundamental assessments, based on both quantitative and qualitative input factors, to better identify turning points in markets. This allows the Portfolio to tactically adjust the strategy’s asset allocation with the aim of enhancing returns. The active risk management provides the final component of the asset allocation approach, through which the Portfolio actively manages portfolio risk, targeting a significant reduction in downside risk in times of market stress.

The Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio, since its inception on April 14, 2014, outperformed the return of the Dow Jones Moderate Index. In terms of absolute performance, exposure to U.S. equities was the primary positive contributor to performance, while exposure to U.S. government bonds, opportunistic exposure to real estate, and exposure to U.S. corporate bonds all contributed positively to performance as well. Exposure to international equities detracted from absolute performance during the period.

Relative to the SAA, outperformance was driven by a positive contribution from U.S. real estate exposure and security selection within the U.S. government bond segment. The Portfolio’s overweight allocation to U.S. corporate bonds also contributed positively to relative outperformance while an underweight position to U.S. government bonds and security selection within equities detracted from the period’s relative performance.

The Portfolio utilizes derivatives to gain exposure to certain asset classes and conduct tactical views to overweight and underweight certain asset classes relative to the SAA. The Portfolio utilized derivatives to gain exposure to U.S. equities, international equities, and real estate which contributed positively to absolute performance during the reporting period. The derivatives performed as expected, enabling the Portfolio to gain exposure to the underlying asset classes in a liquid and cost effective way.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Managed by Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio was overweight U.S. equities, U.S. corporate bonds, and U.S. real estate as of the end of the 2014 calendar year. The largest active position was an underweight to U.S. government bonds.

Michael Stamos

Herold Rohweder

Giorgio Carlino

Portfolio Managers

Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

CUMULATIVE RETURNS (%) (FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

       

Since Inception2

 

Allianz Global Investor Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

      

Class B

       6.52   

Dow Jones Moderate Index

       4.43   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 4/14/2014. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

Risk Exposures by Asset Class*

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
U.S. Large Cap Equities      36.8   
U.S. Government Bonds      26.1   
International Developed Equities      19.2   
U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Bonds      6.3   
U.S. Mid Cap Equities      2.7   
U.S. Real Estate      2.3   
U.S. Small Cap Equities      1.9   

 

  * The percentages noted above are based on the notional exposures by asset class as a percentage of net assets.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

       Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
     Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
     Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)(b)

   Actual     1.20   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,014.50       $ 6.09   
   Hypothetical*     1.20   $ 1,000.00       $ 1,019.16       $ 6.11   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects an expense limitation agreement between MetLife Advisers, LLC and the Portfolio as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—22.6% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Federal Agencies—1.3%

 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
1.000%, 06/29/17

    240,000      $ 240,472   

Federal National Mortgage Association
1.375%, 11/15/16

    238,000        241,208   
   

 

 

 
      481,680   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—21.3%

   

U.S. Treasury Bonds
4.375%, 05/15/41 (a)

    1,011,000        1,340,997   

6.875%, 08/15/25

    384,000        554,850   

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.375%, 03/15/16 (a)

    580,000        580,045   

2.125%, 02/29/16

    567,000        578,606   

2.125%, 08/31/20

    1,780,000        1,811,567   

2.250%, 07/31/18 (a) (b)

    2,936,000        3,030,272   
   

 

 

 
      7,896,337   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $8,158,283)

   

    8,378,017   
   

 

 

 
Investment Company Securities—6.2%   

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF

    10,400        1,241,864   

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF

    12,500        1,076,250   
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Company Securities
(Cost $2,310,278)

      2,318,114   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investment—72.0%   

Federal Agencies—22.8%

 

Federal Home Loan Bank
2.875%, 06/12/15

    1,800,000        1,821,013   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
2.875%, 02/09/15

    1,300,000        1,302,873   

4.375%, 07/17/15

    1,700,000        1,737,992   

Federal National Mortgage Association
0.500%, 07/02/15

    1,800,000        1,801,674   

5.000%, 04/15/15

    1,750,000        1,774,246   
   

 

 

 
      8,437,798   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—9.8%

   

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.250%, 03/31/15

    3,629,000        3,630,277   
   

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds & Notes—9.7%

  

European Investment Bank
1.125%, 04/15/15

    3,600,000        3,608,568   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investment—(Continued)   
Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Foreign Government—8.4%

  

KfW
0.375%, 05/15/15

    1,800,000      $ 1,800,459   

1.000%, 01/12/15

    1,300,000        1,300,156   
   

 

 

 
      3,100,615   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—21.3%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $7,897,554 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $8,170,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $8,055,914.

    7,897,554        7,897,554   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment
(Cost $26,769,694)

      26,674,812   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.8%
(Cost $37,238,255) (c)

      37,370,943   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(0.8)%

      (313,908
   

 

 

 

Net Assets—100.0%

    $ 37,057,035   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $1,238,625.
(b) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open centrally cleared swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $516,055.
(c) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $37,351,554. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $124,799 and $(105,410), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $19,389 for federal income tax purposes.
(ETF)— Exchange Traded Fund

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index Futures

     03/20/15         29        USD         859,000      $ 10,420   

MSCI EAFE Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         81        USD         6,967,436        152,059   

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         6        USD         705,796        14,624   

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         133        USD         13,293,896        354,565   

S&P Midcap 400 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         7        USD         972,422        41,598   

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         12        USD         1,711,867        22,883   

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         5        USD         633,604        381   

Futures Contracts—Short

                   

Euro Currency Futures

     03/16/15         (4     USD         (616,688     11,338   

U.S. Treasury Note 2 Year Futures

     03/31/15         (5     USD         (1,092,881     (88
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 607,780   
            

 

 

 

Swap Agreements

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.743     04/16/24         USD         1,500,000       $ 65,115   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.577     05/19/24         USD         350,000         10,037   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.682     06/10/24         USD         400,000         14,939   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.727     06/13/24         USD         1,100,000         45,424   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.648     07/03/24         USD         800,000         27,385   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.664     07/18/24         USD         750,000         26,707   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.566     08/15/24         USD         800,000         21,323   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.541     09/10/24         USD         800,000         19,379   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.639     09/29/24         USD         800,000         26,239   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.384     10/28/24         USD         1,000,000         9,646   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.456     11/24/24         USD         1,000,000         15,693   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.401     12/10/24         USD         500,000         5,286   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.376     12/30/24         USD         1,100,000         8,921   
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 296,094   
                

 

 

 

 

(USD)— United States Dollar
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $ —        $ 8,378,017       $ —         $ 8,378,017   

Total Investment Company Securities

     2,318,114        —           —           2,318,114   

Total Short-Term Investment*

     —          26,674,812         —           26,674,812   

Total Investments

   $ 2,318,114      $ 35,052,829       $ —         $ 37,370,943   
                                    
Futures Contracts           

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 607,868      $ —         $ —         $ 607,868   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (88     —           —           (88

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 607,780      $ —         $ —         $ 607,780   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts           

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 296,094       $ —         $ 296,094   

 

* See Consolidated Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

 

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 29,473,389   

Repurchase Agreement

     7,897,554   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     340,209   

Interest

     156,922   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     209,444   

Due from investment adviser

     53,516   

Prepaid expenses

     18   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     38,131,052   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     804,053   

Fund shares redeemed

     376   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     68,788   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     19,188   

Distribution and service fees

     7,106   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     14,019   

Other expenses

     160,487   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     1,074,017   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 37,057,035   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 36,646,098   

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (14,019

Accumulated net realized loss

     (607,003

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     1,031,959   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 37,057,035   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 37,057,035   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     3,526,479   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.51   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement, was $29,340,701.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014(a)

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 38,953   

Interest

     56,421   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     95,374   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     93,076   

Administration fees

     18,321   

Custodian and accounting fees

     19,466   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     34,472   

Audit and tax services

     79,757   

Legal

     126,448   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     28,769   

Shareholder reporting

     7,502   

Insurance

     24   

Miscellaneous

     3,165   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     411,000   

Less management fee waiver

     (7,610

Less expenses reimbursed by the Adviser

     (237,922
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     165,468   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

     (70,094
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     (16,622

Futures contracts

     (145,075

Swap contracts

     93,434   

Foreign currency transactions

     (1,863

Capital gain distributions

     1,625   
  

 

 

 

Net realized loss

     (68,501
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     132,688   

Futures contracts

     607,780   

Swap contracts

     296,094   

Foreign currency transactions

     (4,603
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     1,031,959   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     963,458   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 893,364   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 14, 2014.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Period Ended
December 31,
2014(a)
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

  

From Operations

  

Net investment loss

   $ (70,094

Net realized loss

     (68,501

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     1,031,959   
  

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     893,364   
  

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

  

Net investment income

  

Class B

     (158,044

Net realized capital gains

  

Class B

     (333,268
  

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (491,312
  

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     36,654,983   
  

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     37,057,035   

Net Assets

  

Beginning of period

     0   
  

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 37,057,035   
  

 

 

 

Accumulated net investment loss

  

End of period

   $ (14,019
  

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Period Ended
December 31, 2014(a)
 
     Shares     Value  

Class B

    

Sales

     3,578,297      $ 37,197,927   

Reinvestments

     46,482        491,312   

Redemptions

     (98,300     (1,034,256
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     3,526,479      $ 36,654,983   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 36,654,983   
    

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 14, 2014.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class B  
     Period Ended
December 31,
2014(a)
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.00   
  

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

  

Net investment loss (b)

     (0.04

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.70   
  

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.66   
  

 

 

 

Less Distributions

  

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.05

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.10
  

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.15
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.51   
  

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     6.52  (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

  

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     2.98  (e) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (f)

     1.20  (e) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets (%)

     (0.51 )(e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     19  (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 37.1   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 14, 2014.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Includes the effects of management fee waivers and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) (commenced operations on April 14, 2014), which is non-diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered one class of shares: Class B shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary—Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio, Ltd., which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies.

The Portfolio has obtained an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio should constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court could disagree with the legal opinion obtained by the Portfolio.

The Subsidiary invests in commodity-related instruments such as futures, options, and swap contracts. Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by the Allianz Global Investors U.S. LLC (the “Subadviser”), making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio include the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

      Inception Date
of Subsidiary
   Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio, Ltd.,

   4/14/2014    $ 0         0.0

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, swap transactions, distribution redesignations, distribution and service fees and premium amortization. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $7,897,554, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Commodity Futures Contracts and Swaps on Commodity Futures Contracts - The Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (a)    $ 296,094         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      23,264       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)    $ 88   
Equity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      573,266         
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      11,338         
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total         $903,962          $ 88   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the period ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 17,245       $ (210,152   $ 47,832       $ (145,075

Swap contracts

     93,434                        93,434   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 110,679       $ (210,152   $ 47,832       $ (51,641
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 23,176       $ 573,266      $ 11,338       $ 607,780   

Swap contracts

     296,094                        296,094   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 319,270       $ 573,266      $ 11,338       $ 903,874   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the period ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 674,937   

Futures contracts short

     (1,122,222

Swap contracts

     5,900,000   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during the period.

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the period ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$9,295,701    $ 3,663,722       $ 0       $ 1,336,823   

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the period ended
December 31,  2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$93,076      0.675   First $250 million
     0.650   $250 million to $1 billion
     0.600   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. The Subadviser is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - The Subadviser voluntarily agreed to waive its entire subadvisory fee through July 14, 2014. Also through July 14, 2014, the Adviser voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of the management fee in an amount equal to the subadvisory fees waived. Amounts waived for the period ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Expense Limitation Agreement - The Adviser has entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) in the interest of limiting expenses of the Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Portfolio until April 30, 2015. Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Portfolio other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized or expensed in accordance with GAAP, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Portfolio’s business and acquired fund fees and expenses but including amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, are limited to the following expense ratio as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Maximum Expense Ratio under Current
Expense Limitation Agreement
Class B

   Expenses Deferred in 2014
Subject to repayment until
December 31, 2017
 
1.20%    $ 237,922   

Amounts waived for the period ended December 31, 2014 are shown as expenses reimbursed by the Adviser in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

If, in any year in which the Management Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate operating expenses of the Portfolio for the fiscal year are less than the Maximum Expense Ratio for that year, subject to approval by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Portfolio to the extent that the charge does not cause the expenses in such subsequent year to exceed the Maximum Expense Ratio as stated above. The Portfolio is not obligated to repay any expense paid by the Adviser more than five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such expense was incurred. As of December 31, 2014, there was $237,922 in expense deferrals eligible for recoupment by the Adviser.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the period ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the period ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

   Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  
$247,374    $ 243,938       $ 491,312   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$41,496    $ 72,580       $ 310,880       $       $ 424,956   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations, the consolidated statement of changes in net assets, and the consolidated financial highlights for the period April 14, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedure. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Allianz Global Investors Dynamic Multi-Asset Plus Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets, and the consolidated financial highlights for the period April 14, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B and C shares of the American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio returned 6.38% and 6.05%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

After a sharp weather-related contraction in the first quarter, the U.S. economy turned the corner and ended 2014 on a strong note, with the majority of leading economic indicators pointing to continued strength. U.S. Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) grew healthily in the second and third quarters, the strongest two quarters of expansion since 2003. Solid economic growth domestically combined with the Federal Reserve Bank’s (the “Fed”) accommodative stance with respect to interest rates provided ample support for the U.S. stock market, which delivered another strong year of performance in 2014. Economic growth around the world became increasingly divergent in 2014. While the U.S. economy was on the rise, renewed concerns over economic growth in Europe and Asia weighed on the equity markets outside the U.S. Furthermore, geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe and Iraq added to short term volatility. As the Fed finally wound down its quantitative easing program as planned, the European Central Bank initiated an easing strategy, and the Bank of Japan increased its asset purchasing program. In November, China cut interest rates unexpectedly, stepping up a campaign to prop up growth in the world’s second-largest economy as it headed toward its slowest growth in nearly a quarter century. As other central banks moved towards further stimulus, the U.S. dollar rallied strongly, which further dented the returns of international stocks in U.S. dollar terms.

The U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, was the bright spot in the global equity market, advancing 13.7% over the twelve month period. Small cap stocks, represented by the S&P Small Cap 600 Index, trailed their large cap counterparts at 5.8%, despite an outperformance in the fourth quarter. Energy stocks were the bottom performing sector and the only sector that produced a negative return for the year, driven by plummeting oil prices as a result of increased production in the U.S. and a slower demand worldwide. On the other side of the spectrum, the Utilities sector delivered the best results, as investors were hungry for yields in an extended low interest rate environment. The Health Care sector followed closely behind, gaining on strong earnings reports and forward guidance. Technology stocks performed strongly as well, with semiconductor manufacturers and software firms benefitting from order expansions and merger activities. The equity markets outside the U.S., however, ended the year in negative territory in both the developed world and emerging markets. The MSCI EAFE Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 4.9% and 2.2% in U.S. dollar terms, respectively.

Contrary to many investors’ expectations of rising yields in the U.S., Treasury yields declined across the maturity spectrum in 2014. The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to 2.17% at the end of the year. As a result, the bond market rallied over the course of the past year. The yield curve continued to flatten with yields on the long end of the curve coming down significantly more than yields on the short end. While Investment Grade credit outperformed Treasuries, the High Yield sector underperformed. For the twelve month period, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index advanced 6.0%. The Barclays Corporate High Yield Index was up 2.5%. As yields across the world declined due to further monetary easing implemented by a number of central banks, bond markets outside the U.S. on average delivered strong returns in local currency terms. However, the positive local returns were erased by a depreciation in many currencies against the U.S. dollar. The Barclays Global Aggregate ex-U.S. Index lost 3.1% in U.S. dollar terms for the year.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio invested all of its assets in funds of the American Funds Insurance Series (AFIS) and retail mutual funds to maintain a broad asset allocation of approximately 35% to fixed income and 65% to equities.

Over the twelve month period, the Portfolio outpaced the Dow Jones Moderate Index. Outperformance was primarily attributable to a domestic orientation on the equity side compared to the index as U.S. markets significantly outperformed the majority of other markets in 2014. In addition, solid security selection in a number of underlying portfolios further enhanced relative performance.

Within the equity segment, the AFIS Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund was the top performance contributor. The portfolio produced the best result in the Health Care sector, where both stock selection and an overweight position added value, as Health Care was the second best performing sector in 2014. A number of biotech stocks, such as Amgen and Gilead Sciences, made meaningful contributions to the portfolio. In addition, an underweight position in the Energy sector proved beneficial as energy stocks struggled amid plummeting oil prices, particularly in the second half of the year. Similar themes, namely strong stock selection combined with an overweight position in the Health Care sector and an underweight position in the Energy sector, also benefited the AMCAP Fund. However, a large cash position weighed on AMCAP relative performance. On the negative side, the Fundamental Investors and AFIS Growth Funds detracted from the Allocation Portfolio’s relative result. The Fundamental Investors Fund’s performance was hindered by a sizable exposure to stocks outside the U.S., which substantially underperformed domestic stocks in general. Moreover, a number of strong performers in 2013 in the portfolio, e.g., Amazon, Boeing and Airbus, gave back some of their gains in 2014, and negatively impacted the fund’s return. For the AFIS Growth Fund, underperformance was primarily attributable to unfavorable stock selection in the Energy and Consumer sectors. Within the Energy sector, the portfolio’s holdings in a number of oil & gas exploration and production stocks fell more than some other energy stocks such as integrated oil & gas and oil storage and

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

transportation names. Within the Consumer sector, Amazon, which was one of the portfolio’s top holdings, detracted most from performance. Among underlying portfolios that invest outside the U.S., the AFIS International Fund contributed positively, driven largely by solid stock selection in the Financial sector in Asia. In contrast, the AFIS New World Fund underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index, due to a larger weight in emerging markets, which significantly underperformed developed markets, particularly when compared to the U.S.

On the fixed income side, the AFIS Global Bond Fund outperformed its benchmark and contributed positively to the Allocation Portfolio. A considerable underweight position in the euro and the Japanese yen was the largest contributor for the Global Bond Fund’s strong performance for the past year. The AFIS Bond Fund performed relatively in line with the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Despite being held back by a sizable exposure in non-U.S. bonds, the portfolio’s overweight to the long end of the yield curve proved to be beneficial as the curve continued to flatten throughout the year. Additionally, security selection modestly added to the performance. On the detracting side, the AFIS High-Income Bond Fund underperformed its high yield benchmark, driven largely by company specific problems on two issuers: Revel and NII. Revel went through a financial restructuring earlier in the year, and NII fell behind in its construction process in Central America, which stirred up some worries in the marketplace.

Investment Committee

MetLife Advisers, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the advisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio                 

Class B

       6.38           9.70           5.86   

Class C

       6.05           9.39           5.55   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           8.92           5.70   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B and Class C shares is 4/28/2008. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1)      12.0   
American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund (Class 1)      11.9   
American Funds Growth Fund (Class 1)      9.3   
American Funds Growth-Income Fund (Class 1)      9.2   
American Funds American Mutual Fund (Class R-6)      8.3   
American Funds Fundamental Investors Fund (Class R-6)      8.2   
American Funds AMCAP Fund (Class R-6)      8.2   
American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1)      8.2   
American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)      6.5   
American Funds International Fund (Class 1)      5.8   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.73    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,006.50         $ 3.69   
   Hypothetical*      0.73    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.53         $ 3.72   

Class C(a)

   Actual      1.03    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,005.60         $ 5.21   
   Hypothetical*      1.03    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.01         $ 5.24   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio reflects the expenses of both the Portfolio and the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Funds—100.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Investment Company Securities—100.1%

  

American Funds AMCAP Fund (Class R-6)

    14,336,154      $ 403,276,014   

American Funds American Mutual Fund
(Class R-6)

    10,927,720        405,964,807   

American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1) (a)

    27,369,013        402,050,797   

American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1) (a)

    53,064,604        587,955,807   

American Funds Fundamental Investors Fund (Class R-6)

    7,750,513        403,491,700   

American Funds Global Bond Fund
(Class 1) (a)

    12,073,615        142,106,454   

American Funds Global Small Capitalization Fund (Class 1)

    5,605,832        146,256,154   

American Funds Growth Fund (Class 1)

    5,673,895        454,762,719   

American Funds Growth-Income Fund
(Class 1)

    8,564,295        451,852,198   

American Funds High-Income Bond Fund
(Class 1) (a)

    18,217,302        192,010,363   

American Funds International Fund (Class 1)

    14,052,149        285,961,223   

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1) (a)

    19,720,199        320,847,644   

Investment Company Securities—(Continued)

  

American Funds New World Fund
(Class 1) (a)

    6,514,754      134,985,712   

American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund (Class 1) (a)

    47,270,930        586,159,530   
   

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds
(Cost $4,237,866,148)

      4,917,681,122   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.1%
(Cost $4,237,866,148) (b)

      4,917,681,122   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(0.1)%

      (2,703,506
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 4,914,977,616   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated Underlying Portfolios.)
(b) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $4,244,892,454. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $688,819,916 and $(16,031,248), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $672,788,668 for federal income tax purposes.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Mutual Funds            

Investment Company Securities

   $ 4,917,681,122       $ —         $ —         $ 4,917,681,122   

Total Investments

   $ 4,917,681,122       $ —         $ —         $ 4,917,681,122   
                                     

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 2,551,564,815   

Affiliated investments at value (b)

     2,366,116,307   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     2,695,435   

Fund shares sold

     178,900   

Prepaid expenses

     12,778   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     4,920,568,235   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     37,205   

Fund shares redeemed

     2,837,130   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     241,778   

Distribution and service fees

     2,307,731   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     99,351   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     5,590,619   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 4,914,977,616   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 3,924,662,749   

Undistributed net investment income

     66,462,112   

Accumulated net realized gain

     244,037,781   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and affiliated investments

     679,814,974   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 4,914,977,616   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 5,834,006   

Class C

     4,909,143,610   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     538,320   

Class C

     456,388,479   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.84   

Class C

     10.76   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $1,984,984,783.
(b) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $2,252,881,365.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Underlying Portfolios

   $ 37,675,610   

Dividends from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     59,412,533   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     97,088,143   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     2,840,569   

Administration fees

     22,308   

Custodian and accounting fees

     25,276   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     13,030   

Distribution and service fees—Class C

     27,092,594   

Audit and tax services

     29,144   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     85,311   

Insurance

     30,695   

Miscellaneous

     30,128   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     30,247,135   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     66,841,008   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     91,093,565   

Affiliated investments

     22,544,934   

Capital gain distributions from Underlying Portfolios

     120,254,930   

Capital gain distributions from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     18,827,691   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     252,721,120   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (33,019,558

Affiliated investments

     215,877   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (32,803,681
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     219,917,439   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 286,758,447   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 66,841,008      $ 54,207,601   

Net realized gain

     252,721,120        509,633,504   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (32,803,681     226,757,994   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     286,758,447        790,599,099   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (78,777     (56,869

Class C

     (62,411,676     (63,507,458

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (476,033     (207,017

Class C

     (476,521,577     (285,576,021
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (539,488,063     (349,347,365
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     268,936,312        69,598,827   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     16,206,696        510,850,561   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     4,898,770,920        4,387,920,359   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 4,914,977,616      $ 4,898,770,920   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 66,462,112      $ 62,120,855   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     113,711      $ 1,246,947        98,818      $ 1,070,032   

Reinvestments

     54,181        554,810        26,102        263,886   

Redemptions

     (19,764     (215,085     (15,412     (166,513
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     148,128      $ 1,586,672        109,508      $ 1,167,405   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C

        

Sales

     17,784,746      $ 192,765,523        16,651,335      $ 179,033,438   

Reinvestments

     52,940,398        538,933,253        34,700,147        349,083,479   

Redemptions

     (42,868,891     (464,349,136     (42,956,400     (459,685,495
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     27,856,253      $ 267,349,640        8,395,082      $ 68,431,422   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 268,936,312        $ 69,598,827   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.50       $ 10.51       $ 9.52       $ 9.84       $ 8.87   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.20         0.16         0.18         0.20         0.22   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.46         1.71         1.11         (0.36      0.87   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.66         1.87         1.29         (0.16      1.09   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.19      (0.19      (0.20      (0.15      (0.12

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.13      (0.69      (0.10      (0.01      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.32      (0.88      (0.30      (0.16      (0.12
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.84       $ 11.50       $ 10.51       $ 9.52       $ 9.84   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     6.38         18.91         13.80         (1.79      12.40   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.31         0.31         0.32         0.32         0.33   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.31         0.31         0.32         0.32         0.33  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (f)

     1.81         1.52         1.78         2.06         2.38   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     7         33         14         7         6   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 5.8       $ 4.5       $ 3.0       $ 2.1       $ 1.5   
     Class C  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.42       $ 10.44       $ 9.45       $ 9.78       $ 8.82   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.15         0.13         0.13         0.16         0.17   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.47         1.69         1.13         (0.36      0.89   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.62         1.82         1.26         (0.20      1.06   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.15      (0.15      (0.17      (0.12      (0.10

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.13      (0.69      (0.10      (0.01      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.28      (0.84      (0.27      (0.13      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.76       $ 11.42       $ 10.44       $ 9.45       $ 9.78   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     6.05         18.53         13.53         (2.13      12.16   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.61         0.61         0.62         0.62         0.63   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.61         0.61         0.62         0.62         0.63  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (f)

     1.36         1.17         1.30         1.60         1.85   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     7         33         14         7         6   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 4,909.1       $ 4,894.3       $ 4,385.0       $ 4,079.5       $ 3,568.7   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Distributions from net realized capital gains were less than $0.01.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.
(e) Includes the effects of expenses reimbursed by the Adviser.
(f) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B and C shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

The Portfolio is designed on established principles of asset allocation to achieve a specific risk profile. The Portfolio will invest substantially all of its assets in certain funds of the American Funds Insurance Series (“AFIS”) and other funds within the American Funds family not part of AFIS (“Underlying Portfolios”). AFIS is an open-end diversified investment management company advised by Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Valuation - Investments in the Underlying Portfolios are valued at their closing daily net asset value. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the net asset values of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying Portfolios, please refer to the prospectus of the Underlying Portfolios.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - The Portfolio’s security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Capital gains distributions received from the Underlying Portfolios are recorded as Net realized gain in the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to short-term capital gain distributions received from underlying portfolios. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Underlying Portfolios invest in securities and enter into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Underlying Portfolios may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Underlying Portfolios; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Underlying Portfolios may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Underlying Portfolios have unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Underlying Portfolios to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Underlying Portfolios manage counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Underlying Portfolios’ investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of their trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of their net exposure to each individual counterparty based on the adviser’s assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Underlying Portfolios restrict their exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom the Underlying Portfolios undertake a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio and in the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 337,383,630       $ 0       $ 401,923,661   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$2,840,569      0.100   First $500 million
     0.075   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.050   Over $1 billion

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B and Class C Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class C distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 1.00% respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class C Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class C

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Shares. However, under the Class B and Class C distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class C distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.55% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class C Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and services fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class C distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class C Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated Underlying Portfolios during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1)

     30,941,549         903,402         (4,475,938     27,369,013   

American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1)

     50,681,445         3,296,275         (913,116     53,064,604   

American Funds Global Bond Fund (Class 1)

     11,451,929         763,040         (141,354     12,073,615   

American Funds High-Income Bond Fund (Class 1)

     17,211,618         1,248,335         (242,651     18,217,302   

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)*

     17,122,653         3,127,185         (529,639     19,720,199   

American Funds New World Fund (Class 1)

     5,915,100         729,837         (130,183     6,514,754   

American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund
(Class 1)

     45,364,462         2,748,026         (841,558     47,270,930   

*      The Portfolio had ownership of at least 25% of the outstanding voting securities of the Underlying Portfolio as of December 31, 2014. The most recent Annual Report of the Underlying Portfolio is available without charge, upon request, on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http:// www.sec.gov.

          

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
     Capital Gain
Distributions
from Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1)

   $ 17,859,180       $ 1,227,657       $ 11,691,942      $ 402,050,797   

American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1)

     1,363,115         205,181         12,680,717        587,955,807   

American Funds Global Bond Fund (Class 1)

     260,986                 3,737,651        142,106,454   

American Funds High-Income Bond Fund (Class 1)

     355,721                 11,599,704        192,010,363   

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)

     1,179,156         3,091,726         10,172,055        320,847,644   

American Funds New World Fund (Class 1)

     1,451,687         14,303,127         1,835,740        134,985,712   

American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund
(Class 1)

     75,089                 7,694,724        586,159,530   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 22,544,934       $ 18,827,691       $ 59,412,533      $ 2,366,116,307   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$79,797,446    $ 63,564,327       $ 459,690,617       $ 285,783,038       $ 539,488,063       $ 349,347,365   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$66,529,537    $ 251,064,086       $ 672,788,669       $       $ 990,382,292   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the transfer agent; when replies were not received from the transfer agent, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (the “Advisory Agreements” or “Agreements”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser that the Adviser had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser has provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance program, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser regularly review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding material information related to those reviews and assessments.

The Board further considered the provision of investment advisory services by the Adviser to the Asset Allocation Portfolios (i.e., MetLife Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio and MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio) and the American Funds of Funds (i.e., American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio, American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio and American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio). With respect to the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board noted that the Adviser has hired an independent consultant to provide research and consulting services with respect to the periodic asset allocation targets for each of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and to investments

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

in other Portfolios of the Trusts (the “Underlying Portfolios”), which may assist the Adviser with the selection of Underlying Portfolios for inclusion in each Asset Allocation Portfolio. Additionally, the Board considered that a committee, consisting of investment professionals from across the Adviser, meets periodically to review the asset allocations and discuss the performance of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and the American Funds of Funds.

The Board further considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to each Asset Allocation Portfolio and American Fund of Funds was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance. The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”) and a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report.

The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. In the case of the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board also considered the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability that was attributable to its management of the Underlying Portfolios of the Trust in which the Asset Allocation Portfolios invest. The Board further considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Portfolios, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreement with the Adviser regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its Lipper Index for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board noted that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Balanced AA Broad Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its other benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median and Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and were the lowest in the Expense Group.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B and C shares of the American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio returned 6.72% and 6.39%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderately Aggressive Index1, returned 5.90%.

ECONOMIC AND MARKET REVIEW

After a sharp weather-related contraction in the first quarter, the U.S. economy turned the corner and ended 2014 on a strong note, with the majority of leading economic indicators pointing to continued strength. U.S. Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) grew healthily in the second and third quarters, the strongest two quarters of expansion since 2003. Solid economic growth domestically combined with the Federal Reserve Bank’s (the “Fed”) accommodative stance with respect to interest rates provided ample support for the U.S. stock market, which delivered another strong year of performance in 2014. Economic growth around the world became increasingly divergent in 2014. While the U.S. economy was on the rise, renewed concerns over economic growth in Europe and Asia weighed on the equity markets outside the U.S. Furthermore, geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe and Iraq added to short term volatility. As the Fed finally wound down its quantitative easing program as planned, the European Central Bank initiated an easing strategy, and the Bank of Japan increased its asset purchasing program. In November, China cut interest rates unexpectedly, stepping up a campaign to prop up growth in the world’s second-largest economy as it headed toward its slowest growth in nearly a quarter century. As other central banks moved towards further stimulus, the U.S. dollar rallied strongly, which further dented the returns of international stocks in U.S. dollar terms.

The U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, was the bright spot in the global equity market, advancing 13.7% over the twelve month period. Small cap stocks, represented by the S&P Small Cap 600 Index, trailed their large cap counterparts at 5.8%, despite an outperformance in the fourth quarter. Energy stocks were the bottom performing sector and the only sector that produced a negative return for the year, driven by plummeting oil prices as a result of increased production in the U.S. and a slower demand worldwide. On the other side of the spectrum, the Utilities sector delivered the best results, as investors were hungry for yields in an extended low interest rate environment. The Health Care sector followed closely behind, gaining on strong earnings reports and forward guidance. Technology stocks performed strongly as well, with semiconductor manufacturers and software firms benefitting from order expansions and merger activities. The equity markets outside the U.S., however, ended the year in negative territory in both the developed world and emerging markets. The MSCI EAFE Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 4.9% and 2.2% in U.S. dollar terms, respectively.

Contrary to many investors’ expectations of rising yields in the U.S., Treasury yields declined across the maturity spectrum in 2014. The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to 2.17% at the end of the year. As a result, the bond market rallied over the course of the past year. The yield curve continued to flatten with yields on the long end of the curve coming down significantly more than yields on the short end. While Investment Grade credit outperformed Treasuries, the High Yield sector underperformed. For the twelve month period, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index advanced 6.0%. The Barclays Corporate High Yield Index was up 2.5%. As yields across the world declined due to further monetary easing implemented by a number of central banks, bond markets outside the U.S. on average delivered strong returns in local currency terms. However, the positive local returns were erased by a depreciation in many currencies against the U.S. dollar. The Barclays Global Aggregate ex-U.S. Index lost 3.1% in U.S. dollar terms for the year.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio invested all of its assets in funds of the American Funds Insurance Series (AFIS) and American Funds retail mutual funds to maintain a broad asset allocation of approximately 15% to fixed income and 85% to equities.

Over the twelve month period, the Portfolio outpaced the Dow Jones Moderately Aggressive Index. Outperformance was primarily attributable to a domestic orientation on both the equity and bond sides compared to the index as U.S. markets significantly outperformed the majority of other markets in 2014. In addition, solid security selection in a number of underlying portfolios further enhanced relative performance.

Within the equity segment, the AFIS Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund was the top performance contributor. The portfolio produced the best result in the Health Care sector, where both stock selection and an overweight position added value, as Health Care was the second best performing sector in 2014. A number of biotech stocks, such as Amgen and Gilead Sciences, made meaningful contributions to the portfolio. In addition, an underweight position in the Energy sector proved beneficial as energy stocks struggled amid plummeting oil prices, particularly in the second half of the year. Similar themes, namely strong stock selection combined with an overweight position in the Health Care sector and an underweight position in the Energy sector, also benefited the AMCAP Fund. However, a large cash position weighed on AMCAP relative performance. On the negative side, the Fundamental Investors and AFIS Growth Funds detracted from

the Allocation Portfolio’s relative result. The Fundamental Investors Fund’s performance was hindered by a sizable exposure to stocks outside the U.S., which substantially underperformed domestic stocks in general. Moreover, a number of strong performers in 2013 in the portfolio, e.g., Amazon, Boeing and Airbus, gave back some of their gains in 2014, and negatively impacted the fund’s return. For the AFIS Growth Fund, underperformance was primarily attributable to unfavorable stock selection in the Energy and Consumer sectors. Within the Energy sector, the portfolio’s holdings in a number of oil & gas exploration and production stocks fell more than some

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

other energy stocks such as integrated oil & gas and oil storage and transportation names. Within the Consumer sector, Amazon, which was one of the portfolio’s top holdings, detracted most from performance. Among underlying portfolios that invest outside the U.S., the AFIS International Fund contributed positively, driven largely by solid stock selection in the Financial sector in Asia. In contrast, the AFIS New World Fund underperformed its benchmark, MSCI All Country World Index, due to a larger weight in emerging markets, which significantly underperformed developed markets, particularly when compared to the U.S.

On the fixed income side, the AFIS Global Bond Fund outperformed its benchmark and contributed positively to the Allocation Portfolio. A considerable underweight position in the euro and the Japanese yen was the largest contributor for the Global Bond Fund’s strong performance for the past year. The AFIS Bond Fund performed relatively in line with the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Despite being held back by a sizable exposure in non-U.S. bonds, the portfolio’s overweight to the long end of the yield curve proved to be beneficial as the curve continued to flatten throughout the year. Additionally, security selection modestly added to the performance. On the detracting side, the AFIS High-Income Bond Fund underperformed its high yield benchmark, driven largely by company specific problems on two issuers: Revel and NII. Revel went through a financial restructuring earlier in the year, and NII fell behind in its construction process in Central America, which stirred up some worries in the marketplace.

Investment Committee

MetLife Advisers, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the advisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATELY AGGRESSIVE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio                 

Class B

       6.72           11.16           5.96   

Class C

       6.39           10.82           5.60   
Dow Jones Moderately Aggressive Index        5.90           10.60           6.19   

1 The Dow Jones Moderately Aggressive Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 80% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B and Class C shares is 4/28/2008. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
American Funds AMCAP Fund (Class R-6)      12.3   
American Funds Growth Fund (Class 1)      11.3   
American Funds Fundamental Investors Fund (Class R-6)      11.3   
American Funds American Mutual Fund (Class R-6)      10.3   
American Funds Growth-Income Fund (Class 1)      10.2   
American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1)      10.2   
American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)      8.4   
American Funds International Fund (Class 1)      7.7   
American Funds Global Small Capitalization Fund (Class 1)      4.9   
American Funds New World Fund (Class 1)      3.7   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.76    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,005.80         $ 3.84   
   Hypothetical*      0.76    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.37         $ 3.87   

Class C(a)

   Actual      1.06    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,003.90         $ 5.35   
   Hypothetical*      1.06    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,019.86         $ 5.40   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio reflects the expenses of both the Portfolio and the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Funds—100.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Investment Company Securities—100.1%

  

American Funds AMCAP Fund (Class R-6)

    13,177,849      $ 370,692,882   

American Funds American Mutual Fund
(Class R-6)

    8,356,182        310,432,156   

American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1)

    20,951,711        307,780,640   

American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1)

    8,031,097        88,984,560   

American Funds Fundamental Investors Fund (Class R-6)

    6,539,508        340,446,788   

American Funds Global Bond Fund (Class 1)

    4,905,437        57,736,992   

American Funds Global Small Capitalization Fund (Class 1)

    5,711,106        149,002,764   

American Funds Growth Fund (Class 1)

    4,258,380        341,309,142   

American Funds Growth-Income Fund
(Class 1)

    5,838,013        308,013,557   

American Funds High-Income Bond Fund
(Class 1)

    8,267,338        87,137,739   

American Funds International Fund (Class 1)

    11,453,246        233,073,555   

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1) (a)

    15,599,377        253,801,857   

Investment Company Securities—(Continued)

  

American Funds New World Fund (Class 1)

    5,350,187      110,855,868   

American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund (Class 1)

    4,768,131        59,124,828   
   

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds
(Cost $2,444,330,751)

      3,018,393,328   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.1%
(Cost $2,444,330,751) (b)

      3,018,393,328   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(0.1)%

      (1,712,281
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 3,016,681,047   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated Underlying Portfolios.)
(b) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,487,980,878. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $537,246,646 and $(6,834,196), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $530,412,450 for federal income tax purposes.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Mutual Funds            

Investment Company Securities

   $ 3,018,393,328       $ —         $ —         $ 3,018,393,328   

Total Investments

   $ 3,018,393,328       $ —         $ —         $ 3,018,393,328   
                                     

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 2,764,591,471   

Affiliated investments at value (b)

     253,801,857   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     343,560   

Fund shares sold

     497,575   

Prepaid expenses

     7,808   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     3,019,242,271   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     140,510   

Fund shares redeemed

     700,624   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     160,596   

Distribution and service fees

     1,411,998   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     80,072   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     2,561,224   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,016,681,047   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 2,256,161,652   

Undistributed net investment income

     38,716,708   

Accumulated net realized gain

     147,740,110   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and affiliated investments

     574,062,577   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,016,681,047   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 17,504,688   

Class C

     2,999,176,359   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     1,678,468   

Class C

     289,926,999   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.43   

Class C

     10.34   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $2,191,324,179.
(b) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $253,006,572.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Underlying Portfolios

   $ 49,433,791   

Dividends from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     8,029,674   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     57,463,465   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     1,877,597   

Administration fees

     22,308   

Custodian and accounting fees

     25,276   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     38,710   

Distribution and service fees—Class C

     16,443,405   

Audit and tax services

     29,144   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     62,519   

Insurance

     18,272   

Miscellaneous

     19,498   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     18,614,809   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     38,848,656   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     84,270,838   

Affiliated investments

     585,324   

Capital gain distributions from Underlying Portfolios

     109,068,931   

Capital gain distributions from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     2,391,336   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     196,316,429   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     10,381,185   

Affiliated investments

     (59,823,705
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (49,442,520
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     146,873,909   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 185,722,565   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 38,848,656      $ 29,622,724   

Net realized gain

     196,316,429        494,731,109   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (49,442,520     78,542,884   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     185,722,565        602,896,717   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (199,175     (151,358

Class C

     (30,724,579     (26,841,832

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (2,299,337     (636,323

Class C

     (455,623,023     (148,109,393
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (488,846,114     (175,738,906
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     354,454,505        93,301,703   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     51,330,956        520,459,514   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     2,965,350,091        2,444,890,577   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 3,016,681,047      $ 2,965,350,091   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 38,716,708      $ 30,731,014   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     299,153      $ 3,176,586        232,427      $ 2,471,443   

Reinvestments

     256,258        2,498,512        79,644        787,681   

Redemptions

     (81,407     (854,196     (70,206     (746,770
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     474,004      $ 4,820,902        241,865      $ 2,512,354   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C

        

Sales

     18,238,868      $ 193,951,377        20,890,362      $ 222,542,772   

Reinvestments

     50,138,928        486,347,602        17,779,596        174,951,225   

Redemptions

     (31,252,795     (330,665,376     (28,791,943     (306,704,648
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     37,125,001      $ 349,633,603        9,878,015      $ 90,789,349   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 354,454,505        $ 93,301,703   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.76       $ 10.10       $ 8.80       $ 9.33       $ 8.29   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.18         0.16         0.15         0.16         0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.47         2.27         1.30         (0.56      0.98   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.65         2.43         1.45         (0.40      1.14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.16      (0.15      (0.15      (0.13      (0.10

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.82      (0.62      0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.98      (0.77      (0.15      (0.13      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.43       $ 11.76       $ 10.10       $ 8.80       $ 9.33   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     6.72         25.44         16.54         (4.41      13.78   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.32         0.32         0.33         0.33         0.34   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.32         0.32         0.33         0.33         0.34  (d) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     1.67         1.44         1.57         1.70         1.90   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     9         42         17         8         13   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 17.5       $ 14.2       $ 9.7       $ 6.8       $ 5.1   
     Class C  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.67       $ 10.02       $ 8.73       $ 9.26       $ 8.23   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.14         0.12         0.10         0.11         0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.47         2.26         1.30         (0.54      1.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.61         2.38         1.40         (0.43      1.10   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.12      (0.11      (0.11      (0.10      (0.07

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.82      (0.62      0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.94      (0.73      (0.11      (0.10      (0.07
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.34       $ 11.67       $ 10.02       $ 8.73       $ 9.26   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     6.39         25.11         16.16         (4.73      13.48   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.62         0.62         0.63         0.63         0.64   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.62         0.62         0.63         0.63         0.64  (d) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     1.29         1.10         1.07         1.17         1.25   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     9         42         17         8         13   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 2,999.2       $ 2,951.2       $ 2,435.2       $ 2,237.3       $ 2,360.4   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.
(d) Includes the effects of expenses reimbursed by the Adviser.
(e) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B and C shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

The Portfolio is designed on established principles of asset allocation to achieve a specific risk profile. The Portfolio will invest substantially all of its assets in certain funds of the American Funds Insurance Series (“AFIS”) and other funds within the American Funds family not part of AFIS (“Underlying Portfolios”). AFIS is an open-end diversified investment management company advised by Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Valuation - Investments in the Underlying Portfolios are valued at their closing daily net asset value. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the net asset values of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying Portfolios, please refer to the prospectus of the Underlying Portfolios.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - The Portfolio’s security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Capital gains distributions received from the Underlying Portfolios are recorded as Net realized gain in the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to short-term capital gain distributions received from underlying portfolios. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Underlying Portfolios invest in securities and enter into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Underlying Portfolios may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Underlying Portfolios; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Underlying Portfolios may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Underlying Portfolios have unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Underlying Portfolios to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Underlying Portfolios manage counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Underlying Portfolios’ investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of their trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of their net exposure to each individual counterparty based on the adviser’s assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Underlying Portfolios restrict their exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom the Underlying Portfolios undertake a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio and in the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 293,217,640       $ 0       $ 277,207,070   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$1,877,597      0.100   First $500 million
     0.075   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.050   Over $1 billion

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B and Class C Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class C distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 1.00% respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class C Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class C

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Shares. However, under the Class B and Class C distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class C distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.55% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class C Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and services fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class C distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class C Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated Underlying Portfolios during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)*

     11,877,502         3,971,409         (249,534     15,599,377   

*      The Portfolio had ownership of at least 25% of the outstanding voting securities of the Underlying Portfolio as of December 31, 2014. The most recent Annual Report of the Underlying Portfolio is available without charge, upon request, on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http:// www.sec.gov.

          

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
     Capital Gain
Distributions
from Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)

   $ 585,324       $ 2,391,336       $ 8,029,674      $ 253,801,857   

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$38,706,425    $ 26,993,190       $ 450,139,689       $ 148,745,716       $ 488,846,114       $ 175,738,906   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$38,784,133    $ 191,390,237       $ 530,412,449       $       $ 760,586,819   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

(the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the transfer agent; when replies were not received from the transfer agent, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (the “Advisory Agreements” or “Agreements”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser that the Adviser had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser has provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance program, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser regularly review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding material information related to those reviews and assessments.

The Board further considered the provision of investment advisory services by the Adviser to the Asset Allocation Portfolios (i.e., MetLife Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio and MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio) and the American Funds of Funds (i.e., American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio, American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio and American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio). With respect to the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board noted that the Adviser has hired an independent consultant to provide research and consulting services with respect to the periodic asset allocation targets for each of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and to investments

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

in other Portfolios of the Trusts (the “Underlying Portfolios”), which may assist the Adviser with the selection of Underlying Portfolios for inclusion in each Asset Allocation Portfolio. Additionally, the Board considered that a committee, consisting of investment professionals from across the Adviser, meets periodically to review the asset allocations and discuss the performance of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and the American Funds of Funds.

The Board further considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to each Asset Allocation Portfolio and American Fund of Funds was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance. The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”) and a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report.

The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. In the case of the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board also considered the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability that was attributable to its management of the Underlying Portfolios of the Trust in which the Asset Allocation Portfolios invest. The Board further considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Portfolios, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreement with the Adviser regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed both the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board noted that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Growth AA Broad Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its other benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderately Aggressive Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were below the Expense Group median and Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median and equal to the Expense Universe median. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and were the lowest in the Expense Group.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the American Funds Growth Portfolio had a return of 8.18% for Class C versus 13.69% for its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index1.

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE S&P 500 INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year2  
American Funds Growth Portfolio                 

Class C

       8.18           13.23           7.39   
S&P 500 Index        13.69           15.45           7.67   

1 The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a marketweighted index (stock price times number of shares outstanding) with each stock’s weight in the Index proportionate to its market value.

2 The Portfolio and its corresponding Master Fund have essentially the same investment objectives, policies, and strategies. Since the Portfolio commenced operations on April 28, 2008, the ten year returns disclosed in the table above are based on the performance of the Master Fund adjusted to reflect for the Portfolio’s expenses. Similarly, the historical performance shown in the line graph above for periods prior to April 28, 2008 is the performance of the Master Fund, adjusted to reflect the Portfolio’s expenses.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

American Funds Growth Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class C(a)

   Actual      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,026.90         $ 4.75   
   Hypothetical*      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.52         $ 4.74   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio reflects the expenses of both the Portfolio and the Master Fund in which it invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Fund—100.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Investment Company Security—100.1%

  

American Funds Growth Fund (Class 1)
(Cost $749,426,102)

    13,838,734      $ 1,109,174,522   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.1%
(Cost $749,426,102) (a)

      1,109,174,522   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(0.1)%

      (654,766
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,108,519,756   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $753,814,294. The aggregate and net unrealized appreciation of investments was $355,360,228 for federal income tax purposes.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Mutual Fund            

Investment Company Security

   $ 1,109,174,522       $ —         $ —         $ 1,109,174,522   

Total Investments

   $ 1,109,174,522       $ —         $ —         $ 1,109,174,522   
                                     

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 1,109,174,522   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     163,850   

Prepaid expenses

     2,800   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,109,341,172   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     37,576   

Fund shares redeemed

     126,274   

Accrued expenses:

  

Distribution and service fees

     516,036   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     74,106   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     821,416   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,108,519,756   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 645,083,399   

Undistributed net investment income

     9,449,701   

Accumulated net realized gain

     94,238,236   

Unrealized appreciation on investments

     359,748,420   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,108,519,756   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class C

   $ 1,108,519,756   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class C

     88,137,930   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class C

   $ 12.58   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $749,426,102.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Master Fund

   $ 15,812,080   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     15,812,080   

Expenses

  

Administration fees

     22,308   

Custodian and accounting fees

     25,276   

Distribution and service fees—Class C

     5,971,097   

Audit and tax services

     29,144   

Legal

     34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     55,367   

Insurance

     6,704   

Miscellaneous

     10,636   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     6,198,611   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     9,613,469   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     46,559,260   

Capital gain distributions from Master Fund

     52,782,150   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     99,341,410   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments      (23,135,590
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     76,205,820   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 85,819,289   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 9,613,469      $ 6,027,957   

Net realized gain

     99,341,410        63,664,061   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (23,135,590     192,899,387   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     85,819,289        262,591,405   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class C

     (6,012,488     (4,465,930

Net realized capital gains

    

Class C

     (63,646,483     (49,661,136
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (69,658,971     (54,127,066
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     5,990,824        (49,860,342
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     22,151,142        158,603,997   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,086,368,614        927,764,617   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,108,519,756      $ 1,086,368,614   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 9,449,701      $ 5,848,720   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class C

        

Sales

     7,577,730      $ 92,867,502        7,497,274      $ 83,178,434   

Reinvestments

     6,142,767        69,658,971        5,391,142        54,127,066   

Redemptions

     (12,782,594     (156,535,649     (16,782,658     (187,165,842
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     937,903      $ 5,990,824        (3,894,242   $ (49,860,342
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 5,990,824        $ (49,860,342
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                  
     Class C  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.46       $ 10.18       $ 8.70      $ 9.15       $ 7.75   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.11         0.07         0.04        0.03         0.05   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.82         2.82         1.47        (0.45      1.37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.93         2.89         1.51        (0.42      1.42   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.07      (0.05      (0.03     (0.03      (0.02

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.74      (0.56      (0.00 )(b)      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.81      (0.61      (0.03     (0.03      (0.02
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.58       $ 12.46       $ 10.18      $ 8.70       $ 9.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     8.18         29.78         17.41        (4.60      18.33   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.57         0.57         0.57        0.57         0.59   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.89         0.60         0.46        0.35         0.59   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     9         4         3        3         2   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,108.5       $ 1,086.4       $ 927.8      $ 885.9       $ 748.2   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Distributions from net realized capital gains were less than $0.01.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is American Funds Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class C shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio, a feeder fund, seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing all of its investable assets in a master fund, the Growth Fund (the “Master Fund”), a fund of the American Funds Insurance Series (“AFIS”). AFIS is an open-end diversified investment management company advised by Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. The financial statements of the Master Fund accompany the Portfolio’s financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Portfolio’s financial statements. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio owned approximately 4.87% of the Master Fund.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Valuation - Investments in the Master Fund are valued at its closing daily net asset value. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the net asset value of the Master Fund in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Master Fund, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements for the Master Fund.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - The Portfolio’s security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. The Portfolio has no permanent book-tax differences at December 31, 2014.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Master Fund invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Master Fund may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Master Fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Master Fund may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Master Fund has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Master Fund to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Master Fund manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Master Fund’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Master Fund restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Master Fund in which it invests.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment in the Master Fund for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 98,782,734       $ 0       $ 100,004,549   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - The Trust has entered into a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) with the Adviser for investment management services in connection with the investment management of the Portfolio. The Adviser is subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Trust. The Adviser selects the Master Fund in which the Portfolio will invest and monitors the Master Fund investment program. The Adviser is an affiliate of MetLife. The Adviser currently receives no compensation for its services to the Portfolio. In the event that the Portfolio were to withdraw from the Master Fund and invest its assets directly in investment securities, the Adviser would retain the services of an investment subadviser and would receive a management fee at an annual rate of percentage of the assets of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum

   Average Daily Net Assets  
0.750%      ALL   

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class C Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class C distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class C Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class C Shares. However, under the Class C distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class C distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.55% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class C Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class C distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class C Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

7. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$6,012,488    $ 4,465,930       $ 63,646,483       $ 49,661,136       $ 69,658,971       $ 54,127,066   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$9,517,126    $ 98,626,429       $ 355,360,227       $       $ 463,503,782   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of American Funds Growth Portfolio and the Board of Directors of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of American Funds Growth Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the transfer agent; when replies were not received from the transfer agent, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American Funds Growth Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (the “Advisory Agreements” or “Agreements”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”). The American Funds Growth Portfolio is a “feeder fund” that invests all of its assets in an American Funds Insurance Series “master fund,” and the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the renewal of the stand-by Advisory Agreement with the Adviser (the “Stand-by Agreement”) whereby the Adviser will manage the Portfolio’s assets and receive a fee in the event the Portfolio no longer invests all of its assets in its master fund.

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year relating to the provision of asset management services by the Adviser. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser that the Adviser had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, determined to approve the renewal of the Stand-by Agreement based upon the following factors: (i) its experience with the Adviser and the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser to the Trusts; and (ii) the investment performance of the Portfolio. The Board further noted that because the Stand-by Agreement is not currently in effect: (i) the fees and expenses of the Portfolio were not affected by the Stand-by Agreement; (ii) the Adviser’s profitability from the provision of investment management services under the Agreement was not affected by the Agreement; and (iii) economies of scale in the provision of asset management services by the Adviser were not implicated by the Agreement. In approving the renewal of the Stand-by Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B and C shares of the American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio returned 6.44% and 6.09%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

After a sharp weather-related contraction in the first quarter, the U.S. economy turned the corner and ended 2014 on a strong note, with the majority of leading economic indicators pointing to continued strength. U.S. Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) grew healthily in the second and third quarters, the strongest two quarters of expansion since 2003. Solid economic growth domestically combined with the Federal Reserve Bank’s (the “Fed”) accommodative stance with respect to interest rates provided ample support for the U.S. stock market, which delivered another strong year of performance in 2014. Economic growth around the world became increasingly divergent in 2014. While the U.S. economy was on the rise, renewed concerns over economic growth in Europe and Asia weighed on the equity markets outside the U.S. Furthermore, geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe and Iraq added to short term volatility. As the Fed finally wound down its quantitative easing program as planned, the European Central Bank initiated an easing strategy, and the Bank of Japan increased its asset purchasing program. In November, China cut interest rates unexpectedly, stepping up a campaign to prop up growth in the world’s second-largest economy as it headed toward its slowest growth in nearly a quarter century. As other central banks moved towards further stimulus, the U.S. dollar rallied strongly, which further dented the returns of international stocks in U.S. dollar terms.

The U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, was the bright spot in the global equity market, advancing 13.7% over the twelve month period. Small cap stocks, represented by the S&P Small Cap 600 Index, trailed their large cap counterparts at 5.8%, despite an outperformance in the fourth quarter. Energy stocks were the bottom performing sector and the only sector that produced a negative return for the year, driven by plummeting oil prices as a result of increased production in the U.S. and a slower demand worldwide. On the other side of the spectrum, the Utilities sector delivered the best results, as investors were hungry for yields in an extended low interest rate environment. The Health Care sector followed closely behind, gaining on strong earnings reports and forward guidance. Technology stocks performed strongly as well, with semiconductor manufacturers and software firms benefitting from order expansions and merger activities. The equity markets outside the U.S., however, ended the year in negative territory in both the developed world and emerging markets. The MSCI EAFE Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 4.9% and 2.2% in U.S. dollar terms, respectively.

Contrary to many investors’ expectations of rising yields in the U.S., Treasury yields declined across the maturity spectrum in 2014. The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to 2.17% at the end of the year. As a result, the bond market rallied over the course of the past year. The yield curve continued to flatten with yields on the long end of the curve coming down significantly more than yields on the short end. While Investment Grade credit outperformed Treasuries, the High Yield sector underperformed. For the twelve month period, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index advanced 6.0%. The Barclays Corporate High Yield Index was up 2.5%. As yields across the world declined due to further monetary easing implemented by a number of central banks, bond markets outside the U.S. on average delivered strong returns in local currency terms. However, the positive local returns were erased by a depreciation in many currencies against the U.S. dollar. The Barclays Global Aggregate ex-U.S. Index lost 3.1% in U.S. dollar terms for the year.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio invested all of its assets in funds of the American Funds Insurance Series (AFIS) and American Funds retail mutual funds to maintain a broad asset allocation of approximately 50% to fixed income and 50% to equities.

Over the twelve month period, the Portfolio outpaced the Dow Jones Moderate Index. From an asset allocation perspective, while performance was hurt to some extent by a lower equity target allocation than the Index (50% versus 60%) during a period when equity markets generally outperformed the fixed income markets, a domestic orientation on both the equity and bond sides compared to the index added strongly to performance as U.S. markets significantly outperformed the majority of other markets in 2014. In addition, solid security selection in a number of underlying portfolios further enhanced relative performance.

Within the fixed income segment, the AFIS Global Bond Fund outperformed its benchmark and contributed positively to the Allocation Portfolio. A considerable underweight position to the euro and the Japanese yen was the largest contributor for the Global Bond Fund’s strong performance for the past year. The AFIS Bond Fund performed relatively in line with the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Despite being held back by a sizable exposure in non-U.S. bonds, the portfolio’s overweight to the long end of the yield curve proved to be beneficial as the curve continued to flatten throughout the year. Additionally, security selection modestly added to the performance. On the detracting side, the AFIS High-Income Bond Fund underperformed its high yield benchmark, driven largely by company specific problems on two issuers: Revel and NII. Revel went through a financial restructuring earlier in the year, and NII fell behind in its construction process in Central America, which stirred up some worries in the marketplace.

On the equity side, the AFIS Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund was the top performance contributor. The portfolio produced the best result in the Health Care sector, where both stock selection and an overweight position added value, as Health Care was the second

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary* — (Continued)

 

best performing sector in 2014. A number of bio tech stocks, such as Amgen and Gilead Sciences, made meaningful contributions to the portfolio. In addition, an underweight position in the Energy sector proved beneficial as energy stocks struggled amid plummeting oil prices, particularly in the second half of the year. Similar themes, namely strong stock selection combined with an overweight position in the Health Care sector and an underweight position in the Energy sector, also benefited the AMCAP Fund. However, a large cash position weighed on AMCAP relative performance. On the negative side, the Fundamental Investors and AFIS Growth Funds detracted from the Allocation Portfolio’s relative result. The Fundamental Investors Fund’s performance was hindered by a sizable exposure to stocks outside the U.S., which substantially underperformed domestic stocks in general. Moreover, a number of strong performers in 2013 in the portfolio, e.g., Amazon, Boeing and Airbus, gave back some of their gains in 2014, and negatively impacted the fund’s return. For the AFIS Growth Fund, underperformance was primarily attributable to unfavorable stock selection in the Energy and Consumer sectors. Within the Energy sector, the portfolio’s holdings in a number of oil & gas exploration and production stocks fell more than some other energy stocks such as integrated oil & gas and oil storage and transportation names. Within the Consumer sector, Amazon, which was one of the portfolio’s top holdings, detracted most from performance. Among underlying portfolios that invest outside the U.S., the AFIS International Fund contributed positively, driven largely by solid stock selection in the Financial sector in Asia. In contrast, the AFIS New World Fund underperformed its benchmark, MSCI All Country World Index, due to a larger weight in emerging markets, which significantly underperformed developed markets, particularly when compared to the U.S. However, the fund’s position size in the Allocation Portfolio was fairly small, and therefore the negative impact was modest.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

MetLife Advisers, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the advisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

 


A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio                 

Class B

       6.44           8.31           5.56   

Class C

       6.09           8.01           5.25   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           8.92           5.70   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B and Class C shares is 4/28/2008. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund (Class 1)      22.0   
American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1)      17.1   
American Funds American Mutual Fund (Class R-6)      9.1   
American Funds Growth-Income Fund (Class 1)      9.1   
American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1)      8.1   
American Funds Growth Fund (Class 1)      5.1   
American Funds Fundamental Investors Fund (Class R-6)      5.1   
American Funds AMCAP Fund (Class R-6)      5.1   
American Funds High-Income Bond Fund (Class 1)      4.9   
American Funds International Fund (Class 1)      4.9   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,

2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014

to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.72    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,010.50         $ 3.65   
   Hypothetical*      0.72    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.58         $ 3.67   

Class C(a)

   Actual      1.02    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,009.60         $ 5.17   
   Hypothetical*      1.02    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.06         $ 5.19   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio reflects the expenses of both the Portfolio and the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Funds—100.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Investment Company Securities—100.1%

  

American Funds AMCAP Fund (Class R-6)

    5,641,392      $ 158,692,350   

American Funds American Mutual Fund
(Class R-6)

    7,687,529        285,591,720   

American Funds Blue Chip Income and Growth Fund (Class 1)

    17,179,212        252,362,630   

American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1) (a)

    48,230,462        534,393,515   

American Funds Fundamental Investors Fund (Class R-6)

    3,050,902        158,829,962   

American Funds Global Bond Fund (Class 1)

    7,794,550        91,741,849   

American Funds Global Small Capitalization Fund (Class 1)

    1,194,015        31,151,840   

American Funds Growth Fund (Class 1)

    1,986,183        159,192,591   

American Funds Growth-Income Fund (Class 1)

    5,398,355        284,817,205   

American Funds High-Income Bond Fund (Class 1) (a)

    14,576,399        153,635,244   

American Funds International Fund (Class 1)

    7,507,443        152,776,473   

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1) (a)

    9,065,122        147,489,536   

Investment Company Securities—(Continued)

  

American Funds New World Fund (Class 1)

    1,387,720      28,753,555   

American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund (Class 1) (a)

    55,590,909        689,327,267   
   

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds
(Cost $2,786,138,942)

      3,128,755,737   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.1%
(Cost $2,786,138,942) (b)

      3,128,755,737   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(0.1)%

      (1,777,355
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 3,126,978,382   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated Underlying Portfolios.)
(b) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,789,042,966. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $353,637,597 and $(13,924,826), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $339,712,771 for federal income tax purposes.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Mutual Funds            

Investment Company Securities

   $ 3,128,755,737       $ —         $ —         $ 3,128,755,737   

Total Investments

   $ 3,128,755,737       $ —         $ —         $ 3,128,755,737   
                                     

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 1,603,910,175   

Affiliated investments at value (b)

     1,524,845,562   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     495,660   

Fund shares sold

     96,957   

Prepaid expenses

     8,196   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     3,129,356,550   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     592,616   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     165,287   

Distribution and service fees

     1,465,628   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     87,213   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     2,378,168   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,126,978,382   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 2,610,560,301   

Undistributed net investment income

     44,535,573   

Accumulated net realized gain

     129,265,713   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and affiliated investments

     342,616,795   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,126,978,382   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 8,609,067   

Class C

     3,118,369,315   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     811,048   

Class C

     295,593,612   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.61   

Class C

     10.55   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $1,274,031,930.
(b) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $1,512,107,012.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Underlying Portfolios

   $ 29,933,405   

Dividends from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     34,633,271   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     64,566,676   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     1,953,432   

Administration fees

     22,308   

Custodian and accounting fees

     25,276   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     18,531   

Distribution and service fees—Class C

     17,321,981   

Audit and tax services

     29,144   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     69,908   

Insurance

     20,035   

Miscellaneous

     22,272   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     19,560,967   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     45,005,709   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     67,630,928   

Affiliated investments

     4,243,311   

Capital gain distributions from Underlying Portfolios

     59,688,247   

Capital gain distributions from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     1,605,296   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     133,167,782   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (9,623,029

Affiliated investments

     19,408,167   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     9,785,138   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     142,952,920   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 187,958,629   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 45,005,709      $ 37,110,886   

Net realized gain

     133,167,782        297,583,275   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     9,785,138        57,225,634   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     187,958,629        391,919,795   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (119,514     (100,822

Class C

     (45,897,856     (50,974,271

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (578,139     (273,594

Class C

     (273,161,783     (168,130,607
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (319,757,292     (219,479,294
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     96,403,643        (42,251,146
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (35,395,020     130,189,355   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     3,162,373,402        3,032,184,047   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 3,126,978,382      $ 3,162,373,402   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 44,535,573      $ 45,749,593   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     212,494      $ 2,250,114        143,146      $ 1,532,996   

Reinvestments

     69,212        697,653        36,816        374,416   

Redemptions

     (31,301     (330,340     (35,353     (381,371
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     250,405      $ 2,617,427        144,609      $ 1,526,041   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C

        

Sales

     8,892,006      $ 93,986,323        7,116,144      $ 75,441,697   

Reinvestments

     31,778,849        319,059,639        21,629,307        219,104,878   

Redemptions

     (30,052,100     (319,259,746     (31,881,827     (338,323,762
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     10,618,755      $ 93,786,216        (3,136,376   $ (43,777,187
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 96,403,643        $ (42,251,146
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.14       $ 10.58       $ 9.87       $ 10.05       $ 9.28   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.21         0.17         0.20         0.25         0.24   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.44         1.21         0.90         (0.20      0.69   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.65         1.38         1.10         0.05         0.93   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.20      (0.22      (0.25      (0.18      (0.16

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.98      (0.60      (0.14      (0.05      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.18      (0.82      (0.39      (0.23      (0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.61       $ 11.14       $ 10.58       $ 9.87       $ 10.05   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     6.44         13.75         11.28         0.44         10.15   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.32         0.32         0.32         0.32         0.34   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.32         0.32         0.32         0.32         0.34  (d) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     1.97         1.56         1.93         2.51         2.56   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     5         27         12         7         7   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 8.6       $ 6.2       $ 4.4       $ 2.8       $ 1.6   
     Class C  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.08       $ 10.51       $ 9.81       $ 9.99       $ 9.23   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.15         0.13         0.14         0.18         0.19   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.47         1.22         0.91         (0.15      0.72   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.62         1.35         1.05         0.03         0.91   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.17      (0.18      (0.21      (0.16      (0.15

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.98      (0.60      (0.14      (0.05      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.15      (0.78      (0.35      (0.21      (0.15
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.55       $ 11.08       $ 10.51       $ 9.81       $ 9.99   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     6.09         13.52         10.84         0.19         9.91   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.62         0.62         0.62         0.62         0.64   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.62         0.62         0.62         0.62         0.64  (d) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     1.42         1.20         1.36         1.79         2.04   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     5         27         12         7         7   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 3,118.4       $ 3,156.1       $ 3,027.8       $ 2,913.1       $ 2,590.2   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.
(d) Includes the effects of expenses reimbursed by the Adviser.
(e) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B and C shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

The Portfolio is designed on established principles of asset allocation to achieve a specific risk profile. The Portfolio will invest substantially all of its assets in certain funds of the American Funds Insurance Series (“AFIS”) and other funds within the American Funds family not part of AFIS (“Underlying Portfolios”). AFIS is an open-end diversified investment management company advised by Capital Research and Management Company (“CRMC”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Valuation - Investments in the Underlying Portfolios are valued at their closing daily net asset value. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the net asset values of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying Portfolios, please refer to the prospectus of the Underlying Portfolios.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - The Portfolio’s security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Capital gains distributions received from the Underlying Portfolios are recorded as Net realized gain in the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to short-term capital gain distributions received from underlying portfolios. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Underlying Portfolios invest in securities and enter into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Underlying Portfolios may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Underlying Portfolios; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Underlying Portfolios may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Underlying Portfolios have unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Underlying Portfolios to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Underlying Portfolios manage counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Underlying Portfolios’ investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of their trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of their net exposure to each individual counterparty based on the adviser’s assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Underlying Portfolios restrict their exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom the Underlying Portfolios undertake a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio and in the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 164,223,474       $ 0       $ 281,240,634   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers

for the year ended

December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$1,953,432      0.100   First $500 million
     0.075   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.050   Over $1 billion

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B and Class C Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class C distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 1.00% respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class C Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class C

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Shares. However, under the Class B and Class C distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class C distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.55% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class C Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and services fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class C distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class C Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated Underlying Portfolios during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1)

     48,230,064         1,237,076         (1,236,678     48,230,462   

American Funds High-Income Bond Fund (Class 1)

     14,195,596         903,553         (522,750     14,576,399   

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)

     7,427,913         2,030,474         (393,265     9,065,122   

American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund
(Class 1)

     55,820,947         1,045,148         (1,275,186     55,590,909   

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
     Capital Gain
Distributions
from Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Affiliated
Underlying
Portfolios
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

American Funds Bond Fund (Class 1)

   $ 2,153,755       $ 191,832       $ 11,580,344      $ 534,393,515   

American Funds High-Income Bond Fund (Class 1)

     979,274                 9,288,896        153,635,244   

American Funds International Growth and Income Fund (Class 1)

     888,710         1,413,464         4,673,412        147,489,536   

American Funds U.S. Government/AAA - Rated Securities Fund
(Class 1)

     221,572                 9,090,619        689,327,267   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 4,243,311       $ 1,605,296       $ 34,633,271      $ 1,524,845,562   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$60,512,763    $ 51,075,093       $ 259,244,529       $ 168,404,201       $ 319,757,292       $ 219,479,294   

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$44,602,998    $ 132,169,737       $ 339,712,770       $       $ 516,485,505   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the transfer agent; when replies were not received from the transfer agent, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (the “Advisory Agreements” or “Agreements”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser that the Adviser had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser has provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance program, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser regularly review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding material information related to those reviews and assessments.

The Board further considered the provision of investment advisory services by the Adviser to the Asset Allocation Portfolios (i.e., MetLife Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio and MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio) and the American Funds of Funds (i.e., American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio, American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio and American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio). With respect to the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board noted that the Adviser has hired an independent consultant to provide research and consulting services with respect to the periodic asset allocation targets for each of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and to investments

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

in other Portfolios of the Trusts (the “Underlying Portfolios”), which may assist the Adviser with the selection of Underlying Portfolios for inclusion in each Asset Allocation Portfolio. Additionally, the Board considered that a committee, consisting of investment professionals from across the Adviser, meets periodically to review the asset allocations and discuss the performance of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and the American Funds of Funds.

The Board further considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to each Asset Allocation Portfolio and American Fund of Funds was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance. The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”) and a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report.

The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. In the case of the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board also considered the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability that was attributable to its management of the Underlying Portfolios of the Trust in which the Asset Allocation Portfolios invest. The Board further considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Portfolios, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreement with the Adviser regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the three-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board noted that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Moderate AA Broad Index, for the one- and three-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed this benchmark for the five-year period ended October 31, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its other benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one- and three-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed this benchmark for the five-year period ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median and Expense Universe median. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and were the lowest in the Expense Group.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Managed by AQR Capital Management, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio returned 4.00%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Developed equities were positive on the year, driven primarily by the U.S. where economic data continued to improve throughout the year. International equity markets also finished the year modestly positive but economic fundamentals diverged from the U.S. amid the threat of recession in Europe and Japan. Emerging markets equities ended slightly positive for the year with mixed performance across countries. Commodity exporters like Brazil suffered losses, while China outperformed emerging markets after policymakers took steps to boost credit growth and signaled a commitment to market reforms by increasing foreign access to domestic equity markets.

Developed bond markets saw strong positive returns over the year, registering gains in each quarter. Entering 2014, most forecasters expected U.S. rates to rise during the year due to the Federal Reserve Bank tapering asset purchases. Instead, falling inflation, slowing global growth, geopolitical uncertainty in Russia and the Middle East, and accommodative monetary policies outside the U.S. resulted in falling bond yields. German Bund yields also fell as the European Central Bank increased efforts to help the struggling Eurozone economy. Japanese bonds rallied as the economy slipped into a recession prompting additional stimulus.

The story was similar for inflation-linked bonds which provided solid returns over the year as slow economic activity and quantitative easing from central banks of G4 nations—Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan—persisted, resulting in lowering of real yields. However, unlike nominal bonds, lower than expected realized inflation and declining inflation expectations limited gains.

Commodities were the largest drag on performance this year, led by the energy sector which suffered from excess supply and weak demand. In the first half of the year, bad weather and geopolitical risks drove up commodity prices, but record harvests and increased energy production in the U.S. sent prices down in the second half. As oil prices were falling, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced that it would not be cutting production, triggering a significant sell-off in Brent and WTI crude oil. Metals were also down modestly this year on soft demand from Europe and China.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio is a globally diversified asset-allocation portfolio. The Portfolio seeks to provide diversification across three primary sources of risk: equities, government bonds, and inflation-related assets (global inflation-linked bonds and commodities). The Portfolio diversifies by risk rather than dollars and targets equal risk contributions from each source of risk. Diversifying risk means creating a portfolio where each asset class is expected to matter about the same amount, not where each is allocated the same number of dollars. To achieve equal risk weighting, low-risk assets are given higher dollar allocations, than high-risk assets, which are given lower dollar allocations. In this way, each asset class is expected to contribute meaningfully to the size and variability of returns of the Portfolio.

To achieve its target annualized volatility level of 10%, the Portfolio is moderately levered through investments in equity, fixed income and commodity futures. The Portfolio management process adjusts exposures to each of the three risk categories using a proprietary risk-forecasting model. The process seeks to realize a steady risk contribution from each of the Portfolio’s three categories and for the Portfolio as a whole. Exposures are primarily attained through equity, fixed income, and commodity futures and the purchase of global inflation-linked bonds. Our objective is to keep the Portfolio diversified not only across asset classes, but also through time so no single period has a disproportionate impact on the Portfolio’s long-term results. Our research has shown that targeting a steady level of risk and maintaining a consistently diversified portfolio can help manage risk during periods of market stress and improve long-term risk-adjusted returns.

The Portfolio uses futures, swaps on futures, and government bonds to gain its exposures. Futures were used to gain exposure in the Equity, Inflation Risk, and Nominal Interest Rate buckets. Swaps on futures were used in both the Equity Risk and Nominal Interest Rate buckets to gain exposure when holding limit, local regulation or asset coverage rules restricted investment in futures in those markets. The Portfolio does not use derivatives to gain exposure to the global inflation-linked bond market but instead buys cash bonds. Currency hedges are used to minimize currency exposures gained from non-U.S. investments. During the period, the derivatives performed as expected and facilitated Portfolio return by providing a cost-effective and liquid access to the desired market exposures.

The Portfolio returned +4.0% for the year ending December 31, 2014, underperforming the Dow Jones Moderate Index by 1.35%. Returns for the three risk categories in the Portfolio were mixed for the one year period: equities contributed +2.6%, fixed income contributed +9.6%, and inflation-sensitive assets detracted -8.2%. The Portfolio benefited from gains in equities driven by improved U.S. economic data and from the strong performance of fixed income securities. Falling inflation and slowing global growth buoyed nominal bonds. Inflation-linked bonds also benefited from the fall in real yields, but gains were limited by lower than expected realized inflation and declining inflation expectations. Late in the year, higher than expected supply in the Energy sector and weaker global demand produced one of the worst years on record for commodities, hurting Portfolio returns.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Managed by AQR Capital Management, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

AQR’s systematic portfolio management process dynamically adjusts position sizes in inverse proportion to the volatility of the underlying assets. At the beginning of 2014, asset volatilities were close to their historical lows. As a result, the Portfolio’s positions were at or close to the maximum exposure for each asset class. As markets evolved over the year, volatility in most asset classes increased, particularly in commodities markets, causing a reduction in exposures.

The Portfolio entered the beginning of 2014 with a total market exposure of 252%, which is above our long-term average, as a result of historically low volatility across all asset classes. Portfolio exposures ranged from 209% to 260% over the year. The average asset class exposure was 42% equities, 119% nominal bonds, 48% inflation-linked bonds, and 29% commodities. At the end of the year, exposures were 39% equities, 117% nominal bonds, 36% inflation-linked bonds, and 18% commodities, for a total Portfolio exposure of 209%.

Brian Hurst

Michael Mendelson

Yao Hua Ooi

Portfolio Managers

AQR Capital Management, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

       

1 Year

      

Since Inception2

 

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

           

Class B

       4.00           3.84   

Dow Jones Moderate Index

       5.35           6.70   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 5/2/2011. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Risk Exposures by Asset Class*

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Global Developed Bonds      116.5   
Global Inflation-Linked Bonds      35.9   
Global Developed Equities      30.3   
Commodities - Production Weighted      17.8   
Global Emerging Equities      4.8   
U.S. Mid Cap Equities      2.0   
U.S. Small Cap Equities      1.6   

 

  * The percentages noted above are based on the notional exposures by asset class as a percentage of net assets.

 

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.87    $ 1,000.00         $ 932.30         $ 4.24   
   Hypothetical*      0.87    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.82         $ 4.43   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—22.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description  

Shares/

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

U.S. Treasury—22.1%

   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes
0.125%, 04/15/18

    330,353,952      $ 329,115,125   

0.125%, 04/15/19

    188,892,168        186,811,332   

0.125%, 01/15/23

    148,650,040        143,737,602   

0.125%, 07/15/24

    89,102,673        85,810,062   

0.375%, 07/15/23

    145,296,416        143,650,498   

0.625%, 01/15/24

    97,695,360        98,115,157   

2.125%, 01/15/19

    60,054,171        64,530,068   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies (Cost $1,061,727,472)

      1,051,769,844   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—18.6%                

Sovereign—18.6%

   

Bundesrepublik Deutschland Bundesobligation Inflation Linked Bond
0.750%, 04/15/18 (EUR)

    76,480,030        95,048,934   

Deutsche Bundesrepublik Inflation Linked Bonds 0.100%, 04/15/23 (EUR)

    106,641,444        134,786,427   

1.750%, 04/15/20 (EUR)

    46,491,176        62,731,798   

France Government Bond OAT
0.250%, 07/25/18 (EUR)

    35,494,349        43,725,620   

0.250%, 07/25/24 (EUR)

    23,690,042        29,890,815   

1.100%, 07/25/22 (EUR)

    56,240,814        75,095,096   

1.300%, 07/25/19 (EUR)

    81,324,355        106,028,532   

2.100%, 07/25/23 (EUR)

    23,825,732        34,853,132   

United Kingdom Gilt Inflation Linked
0.125%, 03/22/24 (GBP)

    38,375,022        65,764,374   

1.875%, 11/22/22 (GBP)

    123,048,528        238,463,687   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $945,773,315)

      886,388,415   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—58.9%   

Mutual Funds—42.5%

   

BlackRock Liquidity Funds T-Fund Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.010% (a)

    476,058,114        476,058,114   

Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management, Institutional Class, 0.010% (a)

    476,051,614        476,051,614   

State Street Institutional Liquid Reserve Fund, Class I, 0.060% (a) (b)

    206,857,711        206,857,711   

Mutual Funds—(Continued)

   

State Street Institutional Treasury Plus Money Market Fund, Class I, 0.000% (a) (b)

    386,794,402      386,794,402   

UBS Select Treasury Preferred Fund, Institutional Class, 0.010% (a)

    478,767,988        478,767,988   
   

 

 

 
      2,024,529,829   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—16.4%

   

U.S. Treasury Bills
0.037%, 04/09/15 (c)

    260,457,000        260,437,726   

0.045%, 02/05/15 (c)

    266,467,000        266,460,605   

0.055%, 01/29/15 (c)

    102,923,000        102,921,045   

0.067%, 05/28/15 (c) (d)

    96,503,000        96,477,523   

0.071%, 06/04/15 (c)

    54,455,000        54,438,827   
   

 

 

 
      780,735,726   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $2,805,249,481)

      2,805,265,555   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments— 99.6%
(Cost $4,812,750,268) (e)

      4,743,423,814   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—0.4%

      18,693,068   
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 4,762,116,882   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) The rate shown represents the annualized seven-day yield as of December 31, 2014.
(b) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $206,839,361.
(c) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(d) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $12,566,878.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $4,845,532,458. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $581,315,110 and $(683,423,754), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(102,108,644) for federal income tax purposes.
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR     3,840,000      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15         $ 4,790,948         $ (141,283
EUR     3,840,000      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           4,790,924           (141,260

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR     65,261,627      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15         $ 80,030,790         $ 1,008,738   
EUR     62,444,627      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           76,794,465           1,183,377   
EUR     61,650,259      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           76,623,257           1,974,031   
EUR     55,881,172      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           68,959,881           1,296,154   
EUR     65,261,627      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           80,030,470           1,008,417   
EUR     62,444,627      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           76,794,470           1,183,382   
EUR     61,650,260      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           76,623,261           1,974,033   
EUR     55,881,170      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           68,959,882           1,296,158   
GBP     49,478,174      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           77,359,867           287,635   
GBP     26,541,299      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           41,475,424           132,000   
GBP     22,067,879      

Citibank N.A.

       03/18/15           34,381,182           6,010   
GBP     49,478,174      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           77,360,473           288,241   
GBP     26,541,299      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           41,475,424           131,999   
GBP     22,067,879      

Credit Suisse International

       03/18/15           34,381,452           6,280   
                   

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 11,493,912   
                   

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Aluminium Futures

     01/09/15         18         USD         881,700       $ (59,370

Aluminium Futures

     01/15/15         63         USD         3,058,785         (174,960

Aluminium Futures

     01/16/15         7         USD         335,204         (14,698

Aluminium Futures

     01/22/15         13         USD         651,099         (55,131

Aluminium Futures

     02/05/15         24         USD         1,216,252         (113,866

Aluminium Futures

     03/11/15         24         USD         1,176,069         (68,271

Aluminium Futures

     03/16/15         19         USD         906,354         (28,526

Aluminium Futures

     03/17/15         20         USD         948,557         (24,357

Aluminium Futures

     03/23/15         6         USD         286,517         (8,989

Amsterdam Index Futures

     01/16/15         77         EUR         6,129,831         502,375   

Australian 10 Year Treasury Bond Futures

     03/16/15         1,277         AUD         161,517,293         1,733,939   

CAC 40 Index Futures

     01/16/15         534         EUR         21,343,741         1,809,557   

Canada Government Bond Year Bond Futures

     03/20/15         1,692         CAD         230,266,036         3,537,445   

Cattle Feeder Futures

     03/26/15         95         USD         10,258,580         64,357   

Cocoa Futures

     03/16/15         131         USD         3,821,731         (9,631

Coffee “C” Futures

     03/19/15         151         USD         10,974,060         (1,540,335

Copper Futures

     01/15/15         22         USD         3,715,297         (216,747

Copper Futures

     01/16/15         4         USD         661,935         (26,235

Copper Futures

     01/22/15         5         USD         833,021         (39,833

Copper Futures

     02/05/15         8         USD         1,313,316         (46,956

Copper Futures

     03/11/15         9         USD         1,447,451         (27,251

Copper Futures

     03/16/15         265         USD         42,418,530         (628,030

Copper Futures

     03/16/15         7         USD         1,112,145         (7,895

Copper Futures

     03/17/15         9         USD         1,420,001         (476

Copper Futures

     03/23/15         4         USD         640,511         (10,136

Corn Futures

     03/13/15         1,955         USD         37,817,691         989,059   

Cotton No. 2 Futures

     03/09/15         339         USD         10,451,267         (235,502

DAX Index Futures

     03/20/15         88         EUR         20,750,979         1,094,758   

Euro Stoxx 50 Index Futures

     03/20/15         2,044         EUR         61,436,183         3,148,959   

Euro-Bund Futures

     03/06/15         6,239         EUR         955,495,324         20,543,755   

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     03/20/15         1,174         GBP         72,432,201         6,455,647   

FTSE JSE Top 40 Index Futures

     03/19/15         666         ZAR         281,786,893         1,121,341   

FTSE MIB Index Futures

     03/20/15         64         EUR         5,996,892         127,283   

Gold 100 oz Futures

     02/25/15         244         USD         29,095,395         (203,355

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Futures Contracts—(Continued)

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

H-Shares Index Futures

     01/29/15         584        HKD         348,832,760      $ 160,683   

Hang Seng Index Futures

     01/29/15         118        HKD         139,030,588        64,286   

IBEX 35 Index Futures

     01/16/15         80        EUR         7,862,142        403,307   

Japanese Government 10 Year Bond Futures

     03/11/15         347        JPY         50,988,040,017        2,463,600   

KOSPI 200 Index Futures

     03/12/15         412        KRW         51,766,143,025        (1,366,641

Lead Futures

     01/09/15         4        USD         209,998        (25,469

Lead Futures

     01/15/15         11        USD         564,599        (56,308

Lead Futures

     01/16/15         1        USD         49,796        (3,577

Lead Futures

     01/22/15         3        USD         152,824        (13,985

Lead Futures

     02/05/15         5        USD         247,010        (15,300

Lead Futures

     03/11/15         5        USD         249,514        (17,327

Lead Futures

     03/16/15         128        USD         6,493,307        (547,707

Lead Futures

     03/16/15         4        USD         194,611        (8,825

Lead Futures

     03/17/15         3        USD         141,159        (1,814

Lead Futures

     03/23/15         3        USD         141,009        (1,659

Lean Hogs Futures

     02/13/15         665        USD         24,077,631        (2,478,431

Live Cattle Futures

     02/27/15         405        USD         27,503,951        (1,008,851

MSCI Taiwan Index Futures

     01/29/15         198        USD         6,713,029        80,351   

Nickel Futures

     01/09/15         4        USD         400,406        (38,546

Nickel Futures

     01/15/15         8        USD         784,820        (60,848

Nickel Futures

     01/16/15         2        USD         186,899        (5,896

Nickel Futures

     01/22/15         2        USD         184,096        (3,030

Nickel Futures

     02/05/15         3        USD         273,786        (1,953

Nickel Futures

     03/11/15         4        USD         389,867        (26,685

Nickel Futures

     03/16/15         88        USD         8,582,363        (588,971

Nickel Futures

     03/16/15         3        USD         290,799        (18,330

Nickel Futures

     03/17/15         2        USD         187,926        (6,269

Nickel Futures

     03/23/15         2        USD         189,258        (7,535

Primary Aluminum Futures

     03/16/15         645        USD         32,034,213        (2,223,119

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         651        USD         74,194,949        3,970,621   

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         8,514        USD         843,204,530        30,502,150   

S&P Midcap 400 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         648        USD         90,140,758        3,728,522   

S&P TSX 60 Index Futures

     03/19/15         415        CAD         66,195,153        3,862,667   

SGX CNX NIFTY Index Futures

     01/29/15         1,377        USD         22,980,331        40,356   

SPI 200 Futures

     03/19/15         390        AUD         49,973,698        2,049,614   

Silver Futures

     03/27/15         44        USD         3,587,927        (156,147

Soybean Futures

     03/13/15         528        USD         27,644,985        (624,585

Sugar No. 11 Futures

     02/27/15         980        USD         18,386,903        (2,449,751

TOPIX Index Futures

     03/12/15         1,035        JPY         14,856,515,338        (2,411,841

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         13,798        USD         1,740,996,641        8,546,640   

United Kingdom Long Gilt Bond Futures

     03/27/15         1,269        GBP         148,228,052        5,385,773   

Wheat Futures

     03/13/15         1,245        USD         33,327,375        3,384,563   

Zinc Futures

     01/09/15         5        USD         293,327        (22,421

Zinc Futures

     01/15/15         17        USD         991,562        (70,319

Zinc Futures

     01/16/15         5        USD         281,894        (10,933

Zinc Futures

     01/22/15         4        USD         223,597        (6,816

Zinc Futures

     02/05/15         6        USD         333,425        (8,387

Zinc Futures

     03/11/15         7        USD         378,895        1,856   

Zinc Futures

     03/16/15         172        USD         9,587,711        (228,761

Zinc Futures

     03/16/15         6        USD         323,567        2,951   

Zinc Futures

     03/17/15         5        USD         266,264        5,861   

Zinc Futures

     03/23/15         4        USD         218,411        (794

Futures Contracts—Short

                                

Aluminium Futures

     01/09/15         (18     USD         (882,861     60,531   

Aluminium Futures

     01/15/15         (63     USD         (3,058,747     174,922   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Futures Contracts—(Continued)

 

Futures Contracts—Short

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Aluminium Futures

     01/16/15         (7     USD         (336,466   $ 15,961   

Aluminium Futures

     01/22/15         (13     USD         (653,222     57,253   

Aluminium Futures

     02/05/15         (24     USD         (1,223,057     120,671   

Aluminium Futures

     03/11/15         (24     USD         (1,174,954     67,156   

Aluminium Futures

     03/16/15         (19     USD         (909,720     31,892   

Aluminium Futures

     03/17/15         (20     USD         (948,764     24,564   

Aluminium Futures

     03/23/15         (6     USD         (285,845     8,316   

Copper Futures

     01/15/15         (22     USD         (3,725,158     226,608   

Copper Futures

     01/16/15         (4     USD         (663,191     27,491   

Copper Futures

     01/22/15         (5     USD         (835,613     42,425   

Copper Futures

     02/05/15         (8     USD         (1,318,233     51,873   

Copper Futures

     03/11/15         (9     USD         (1,447,142     26,942   

Copper Futures

     03/16/15         (7     USD         (1,111,780     7,530   

Copper Futures

     03/16/15         (36     USD         (5,726,015     48,815   

Copper Futures

     03/17/15         (9     USD         (1,423,364     3,839   

Copper Futures

     03/23/15         (4     USD         (639,577     9,202   

Lead Futures

     01/09/15         (4     USD         (209,991     25,462   

Lead Futures

     01/15/15         (11     USD         (563,587     55,296   

Lead Futures

     01/16/15         (1     USD         (49,910     3,691   

Lead Futures

     01/22/15         (3     USD         (153,144     14,305   

Lead Futures

     02/05/15         (5     USD         (248,244     16,534   

Lead Futures

     03/11/15         (5     USD         (251,461     19,274   

Lead Futures

     03/16/15         (4     USD         (195,729     9,943   

Lead Futures

     03/16/15         (18     USD         (865,116     29,016   

Lead Futures

     03/17/15         (3     USD         (142,463     3,118   

Lead Futures

     03/23/15         (3     USD         (140,809     1,460   

Nickel Futures

     01/09/15         (4     USD         (402,423     40,563   

Nickel Futures

     01/15/15         (8     USD         (786,354     62,382   

Nickel Futures

     01/16/15         (2     USD         (187,496     6,492   

Nickel Futures

     01/22/15         (2     USD         (183,116     2,050   

Nickel Futures

     02/05/15         (3     USD         (271,551     (282

Nickel Futures

     03/11/15         (4     USD         (392,598     29,415   

Nickel Futures

     03/16/15         (3     USD         (293,996     21,527   

Nickel Futures

     03/16/15         (13     USD         (1,242,837     61,995   

Nickel Futures

     03/17/15         (2     USD         (190,273     8,617   

Nickel Futures

     03/23/15         (2     USD         (187,781     6,058   

Primary Aluminum Futures

     03/16/15         (88     USD         (4,223,998     156,748   

Zinc Futures

     01/09/15         (5     USD         (292,864     21,958   

Zinc Futures

     01/15/15         (17     USD         (991,833     70,590   

Zinc Futures

     01/16/15         (5     USD         (280,833     9,872   

Zinc Futures

     01/22/15         (4     USD         (223,121     6,340   

Zinc Futures

     02/05/15         (6     USD         (335,294     10,256   

Zinc Futures

     03/11/15         (7     USD         (381,228     477   

Zinc Futures

     03/16/15         (6     USD         (324,185     (2,334

Zinc Futures

     03/16/15         (27     USD         (1,451,490     (17,647

Zinc Futures

     03/17/15         (5     USD         (266,287     (5,838

Zinc Futures

     03/23/15         (4     USD         (218,193     576   
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 89,397,800   
            

 

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Swap Agreements

 

Total Return Swap Agreements

 

Maturity
Date

  

Counterparty

  

Underlying Reference
Instrument

   Notional
Amount
     Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

01/15/15

   Barclays Bank plc    Brent Crude Oil Futures    USD      173,031,480       $ (31,541,040   $       $ (31,541,040

01/15/15

   Citibank N.A.    Brent Crude Oil Futures    USD      27,034,668         (4,905,288             (4,905,288

01/20/15

   Barclays Bank plc    Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) Futures    USD      169,885,500         (22,061,250             (22,061,250

01/20/15

   Citibank N.A.    Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) Futures    USD      30,738,464         (3,996,924             (3,996,924

01/28/15

   Barclays Bank plc    Henry Hub Natural Gas Futures    USD      30,950,400         (6,913,920             (6,913,920

01/28/15

   Citibank N.A.    Henry Hub Natural Gas Futures    USD      5,289,810         (1,129,650             (1,129,650

01/29/15

   Bank of America N.A.    MSCI Taiwan Stock Index Futures    USD      32,349,547         450,813                450,813   

01/29/15

   Bank of America N.A.    Hang Seng China Enterprises Index Futures    HKD      170,557,832         268,712                268,712   

01/30/15

   Barclays Bank plc    NY Harbor ULSD Futures    USD      44,283,456         (4,006,598             (4,006,598

01/30/15

   Barclays Bank plc    RBOB Gasoline Futures    USD      36,915,984         (4,147,039             (4,147,039

01/30/15

   Citibank N.A.    NY Harbor ULSD Futures    USD      9,566,702         (864,436             (864,436

01/30/15

   Citibank N.A.    RBOB Gasoline Futures    USD      8,763,023         (972,670             (972,670

02/12/15

   Barclays Bank plc    Low Sulfur Gas Oil Futures    USD      61,686,000         (4,140,000             (4,140,000

02/12/15

   Merrill Lynch    Low Sulfur Gas Oil Futures    USD      6,863,400         (399,900             (399,900

02/18/15

   Bank of America N.A.    Ibovespa Futures    BRL      72,324,135         1,211,524                1,211,524   

02/27/15

   Merrill Lynch    Live Cattle Futures    USD      22,514,040         (794,600             (794,600

03/06/15

   Bank of America N.A.    Euro-Bund Futures    EUR      189,710,996         3,940,001                3,940,001   

03/11/15

   Bank of America N.A.    Japanese 10 Year Government Bond Futures    JPY      32,622,700,200         1,558,522                1,558,522   

03/13/15

   Citibank N.A.    Corn No. 2 Futures    USD      991,644         20,706                20,706   

03/13/15

   Citibank N.A.    Soybean No. 2 Yellow Futures    USD      674,586         (9,311             (9,311

03/20/15

   Bank of America N.A.    U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures    USD      892,134,664         6,601,586                6,601,586   

03/20/15

   Bank of America N.A.    Swiss Market Index Futures    CHF      51,538,576         1,018,633                1,018,633   

03/27/15

   Bank of America N.A.    United Kingdom Long Gilt Futures    GBP      48,067,046         2,024,379                2,024,379   
              

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

  

   $ (68,787,750   $       $ (68,787,750
              

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(HKD)— Hong Kong Dollar
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(KRW)— South Korea Won
(USD)— United States Dollar
(ZAR)— South African Rand

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $ —        $ 1,051,769,844      $ —         $ 1,051,769,844   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          886,388,415        —           886,388,415   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Funds

     2,024,529,829        —          —           2,024,529,829   

U.S. Treasury

     —          780,735,726        —           780,735,726   

Total Short-Term Investments

     2,024,529,829        780,735,726        —           2,805,265,555   

Total Investments

   $ 2,024,529,829      $ 2,718,893,985      $ —         $ 4,743,423,814   
                                   
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 11,776,455      $ —         $ 11,776,455   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (282,543     —           (282,543

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 11,493,912      $ —         $ 11,493,912   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 107,482,282      $ —        $ —         $ 107,482,282   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (18,084,482     —          —           (18,084,482

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 89,397,800      $ —        $ —         $ 89,397,800   
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $ —        $ 17,094,876      $ —         $ 17,094,876   

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

     —          (85,882,626     —           (85,882,626

Total OTC Swap Contracts

   $ —        $ (68,787,750   $ —         $ (68,787,750

 

* See Consolidated Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

 

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 4,743,423,814   

Cash

     5,306,949   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (b)

     2,264,214   

Cash collateral (c)

     212,992,168   

OTC swap contracts at market value

     17,094,876   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     11,776,455   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     120,138   

Interest

     4,354,026   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     220,841   

Prepaid expenses

     13,318   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     4,997,566,799   

Liabilities

  

OTC swap contracts at market value

     85,882,626   

Cash collateral for forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     80,148,574   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     282,543   

Payables for:

  

OTC swap contracts

     59,467,502   

Fund shares redeemed

     1,115,984   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     4,601,492   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     2,431,620   

Distribution and service fees

     1,022,983   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     50,253   

Other expenses

     446,340   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     235,449,917   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 4,762,116,882   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 4,235,229,218   

Undistributed net investment income

     232,928,057   

Accumulated net realized gain

     331,068,310   

Unrealized depreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     (37,108,703
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 4,762,116,882   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 4,762,116,882   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     437,694,600   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.88   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $4,812,750,268.
(b) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $2,278,961.
(c) Includes collateral of $142,651,654 for futures contracts, $10,280,514 for OTC swap contracts and $60,060,000 for forward foreign currency exchange contracts.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 1,031   

Interest (a)

     35,245,166   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     35,246,197   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     30,879,482   

Administration fees

     166,205   

Custodian and accounting fees

     715,850   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     12,658,117   

Audit and tax services

     101,554   

Legal

     32,784   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     246,092   

Insurance

     35,617   

Miscellaneous

     38,511   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     44,917,973   

Less management fee waiver

     (875,299
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     44,042,674   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

     (8,796,477
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     4,289,066   

Futures contracts

     408,234,563   

Swap contracts

     (290,400,845

Foreign currency transactions

     97,019,712   

Capital gain distributions

     4,249   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     219,146,745   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (45,267,743

Futures contracts

     71,581,359   

Swap contracts

     (45,455,110

Foreign currency transactions

     18,625,796   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (515,698
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     218,631,047   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 209,834,570   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $5,860.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment loss

   $ (8,796,477   $ (38,522,989

Net realized gain (loss)

     219,146,745        (31,061,659

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (515,698     (154,712,621
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     209,834,570        (224,297,269
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     0        (120,508,313

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (23,202,826     (224,559,543
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (23,202,826     (345,067,856
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (560,566,503     11,154,644   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (373,934,759     (558,210,481

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     5,136,051,641        5,694,262,122   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 4,762,116,882      $ 5,136,051,641   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 232,928,057      $ 6,040,407   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     5,933,583      $ 66,767,523        56,965,865      $ 655,496,837   

Reinvestments

     2,097,905        23,202,826        31,284,484        345,067,856   

Redemptions

     (59,286,512     (650,536,852     (93,775,605     (989,410,049
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (51,255,024   $ (560,566,503     (5,525,256   $ 11,154,644   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (560,566,503     $ 11,154,644   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     May 2,
2011
through
December 31,
2011(a)
    Period
April 19,
2011
through
May 2,
2011(a)
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.50      $ 11.52      $ 10.53      $ 10.36  (b)    $ 10.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (loss) (c)

     (0.02     (0.07     (0.00 )(d)      (0.01     0.51   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.45        (0.30     1.11        0.36        (0.15
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.43        (0.37     1.11        0.35        0.36   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

          

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00        (0.23     (0.06     (0.15     0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.05     (0.42     (0.06     (0.03     0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.05     (0.65     (0.12     (0.18     0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.88      $ 10.50      $ 11.52      $ 10.53      $ 10.36   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (e)

     4.00        (3.39     10.56        3.38  (f)(g)      3.60  (f)(h) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.89        0.90        0.98        1.18  (i)   

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.89        0.88        0.89        0.95  (i)   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (j)

     0.87        0.89        0.98        1.15  (i)   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%) (j)

     0.87        0.87        0.89        0.92  (i)   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     (0.17     (0.66     (0.04     (0.06 )(i)   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     30        173        79        8  (f)   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 4,762.1      $ 5,136.1      $ 5,694.3      $ 2,584.1     

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 19, 2011. Shares first became available to investors through certain separate accounts on the SEC effective date which was May 2, 2011.
(b) Net Asset Value on SEC Effective Date, May 2, 2011.
(c) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(d) Net investment income (loss) was less than $0.01.
(e) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(f) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Total return for the period May 2, 2011 to December 31, 2011.
(h) Total return for the period April 19, 2011 to May 2, 2011.
(i) Computed on an annualized basis.
(j) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is non-diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary—AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio, Ltd., which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies. The Portfolio has obtained a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service confirming that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio will constitute “qualifying income” for the purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures, but it may also invest in other commodity-related instruments and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by AQR Capital Management, LLC (the “Subadviser”), making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio include the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

      Inception Date
of Subsidiary
     Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio, Ltd.

     4/19/2011       $ 476,212,432         9.5

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to futures transactions, foreign currency transactions, swap transactions, premium amortization adjustments, controlled foreign corporation adjustments and deflationary sell adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with qualified institutions. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Portfolio transfers securities in exchange for cash to a financial institution or counterparty, concurrently with an agreement by the Portfolio to re-acquire the same securities at an agreed upon price and date. During the reverse repurchase agreement period, the Portfolio continues to receive principal and interest payments on these securities. The Portfolio will establish a segregated account with its custodian in which it will maintain liquid assets equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities transferred by the Portfolio may decline below the agreed-upon reacquisition price of the securities. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any reverse repurchase transaction, the Master Repurchase Agreement entitles the non-defaulting party with a right to set-off claims and apply property held by it in respect of any reverse repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it. Cash received in exchange for securities transferred under reverse repurchase agreements plus accrued interest payments to be made by the Portfolio to counterparties are reflected as Reverse repurchase agreements on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Commodity Futures Contracts and Swaps on Commodity Futures Contracts - The Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example,

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Currency Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into currency swap agreements to gain or mitigate exposure to currency risk. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

Equity Swaps: Equity swaps are two-party contracts that generally obligate one party to pay the positive return and the other party to pay the negative return on a specified reference security, basket of securities, security index or index component during the period of the swap. Equity swap contracts are marked to market daily based on the value of the underlying security and the change, if any, is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, a Portfolio’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile.

Total Return Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into total return swap agreements to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market or to transfer the risk/return of one market (e.g., fixed income) to another market (e.g., equity) (equity risk and/or interest rate risk). Total return swaps are agreements in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specific period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or floating rate or the total return from other underlying assets. When a Portfolio pays interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may be required to pay the change in value to the counterparty in addition to the interest payment; conversely, when a Portfolio receives interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may receive the change in value in addition to the interest payment. To the extent the total return of the instrument or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swaps can also be structured without an interest payment, so that one party pays the other party if the value of the underlying asset increases and receives payment from the other party if the value of the underlying asset decreases.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Interest Rate

   OTC swap contracts at market value    $ 14,124,488         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts * (a)      42,211,152         

Equity

   OTC swap contracts at market value      2,949,682         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts * (a)      59,122,477       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts * (a)    $ 3,778,482   

Commodity

   OTC swap contracts at market value      20,706       OTC swap contracts at market value      85,882,626   
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts * (a)      6,148,653       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts * (a)      14,306,000   

Foreign Exchange

   Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      11,776,455       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      282,543   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 136,353,613          $ 104,249,651   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 5), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
    Net
Amount*
 

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 17,074,170       $      $ (17,074,170   $   

Citibank N.A.

     5,908,651         (5,908,651              

Credit Suisse International

     5,888,510         (141,260     (4,710,000     1,037,250   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 28,871,331       $ (6,049,911   $ (21,784,170   $ 1,037,250   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
    Net
Amount**
 

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 72,809,847       $      $ (72,809,847   $   

Citibank N.A.

     12,019,562         (5,908,651     (6,110,911       

Credit Suisse International

     141,260         (141,260              

Merrill Lynch

     1,194,500                (1,194,500       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 86,165,169       $ (6,049,911   $ (80,115,258   $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net
Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $       $      $      $ 96,361,619       $ 96,361,619   

Futures contracts

     258,841,245         168,374,605        (18,981,287             408,234,563   

Swap contracts

     91,654,030         9,347,778        (391,402,653             (290,400,845
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 350,495,275       $ 177,722,383      $ (410,383,940   $ 96,361,619       $ 214,195,337   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $       $      $      $ 18,560,904       $ 18,560,904   

Futures contracts

     104,360,683         (32,776,730     (2,594             71,581,359   

Swap contracts

     44,420,087         (3,313,230     (86,561,967             (45,455,110
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 148,780,770       $ (36,089,960   $ (86,564,561   $ 18,560,904       $ 44,687,153   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 1,406,739,715   

Futures contracts long

     3,299,442,747   

Futures contracts short

     (40,258

Swap contracts

     110,730,706   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$636,252,319    $ 152,041,020       $ 1,030,674,696       $ 366,918,458   

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$30,879,482      0.675   First $250 million
     0.650   $250 million to $750 million
     0.625   $750 million to $1 billion
     0.600   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. The Subadviser is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.010%    $1 billion to $3.5 billion
0.040%    Over $3.5 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period January 1, 2014 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$—    $ 264,208,421       $ 23,202,826       $ 80,859,435       $ 23,202,826       $ 345,067,856   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$498,668,857    $ 193,030,691       $ (164,761,630   $       $ 526,937,918   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of AQR Global Balanced Risk Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio and subsidiary, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for the three years in the period then ended and for the period from April 19, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from April 19, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

AQR Global Risk Balanced Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and AQR Capital Management, LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its Blended Index for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 but underperformed its Blended Index for the three-year and since-inception periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, and its blended index for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were above the Expense Group median but below the Expense Universe median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio returned 5.92%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

After a relatively benign market environment at the onset of 2014, volatility resurfaced in the second half of the year. The shift was primarily driven by an oil-led commodity sell-off, which, in October, helped push the VIX Index to its highest level since the summer of 2012. Global equity markets broadly advanced, supported by ongoing accommodative monetary policy by central banks. However, lofty valuations in many equity markets, coupled with renewed macroeconomic and geopolitical concerns, weighed on equity returns in the second half of the year.

Equity market performance varied across regions and asset classes. The U.S. led the pack, as domestic equities outperformed international and emerging-market equities. Strong job numbers and signs of improving domestic economic momentum buoyed U.S. large cap equities, while U.S. small caps benefitted from positive investor sentiment and low financing rates as the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) remained committed to keeping interest rates low in 2014.

Outside the U.S., developed market equity performance was more of a mixed bag with Japanese equities delivering positive returns (in local currency) and Eurozone equities broadly retreating. The Japanese market was largely driven by policy-led structural and monetary reform. Given the worse-than expected deceleration in economic activity earlier in the year, policymakers in the second half of the year remained committed to reinvigorating growth and combating deflationary forces, exemplified by additional monetary easing from the Bank of Japan (the “BOJ”) and postponement of the second consumption tax. However, these efforts sent the yen to multi-year lows against a resurgent U.S. dollar, resulting in negative returns for unhedged Japanese investments.

The Eurozone similarly suffered from weak growth and deflationary forces due, in part, to high unemployment, zero wage growth, and falling oil prices. Renewed uncertainty surrounding the political situation in Greece and a lack of resolution in the Ukraine/Russia crisis also weighed on the region. Sovereign bond yields in ‘core’ countries plummeted as investors flocked to higher quality assets amidst heightened volatility, while the euro significantly depreciated against the U.S. dollar due to ongoing accommodative monetary policy by the European Central Bank (the “ECB”).

The ‘divergence’ theme also played out across emerging market equities, driven largely by central bank action and sensitivity to energy prices. China was a top performer as weakening economic data fueled speculation for further stimulus measures, while Venezuela, Russia, Brazil, and other oil exporters underperformed.

Fixed income markets were driven by central bank policy and expectations around the path of interest rates. Within the U.S., the Fed ended its bond-buying program on the back of stronger growth and employment numbers, yet rates continued to rally over the period, defying market expectations. Additionally, heightened volatility, lackluster growth outside of the U.S., and anemic sovereign bond yields lured foreign investors to the safety and relative attractiveness of U.S. bonds. Elsewhere within fixed income, high valuations and low yields, driven by the hunt for income and the energy sell-off, led extended credit sectors like high yield and bank loans to underperform core bonds for the first time since 2011.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio’s assets are allocated across a broad range of asset classes in a tactical sleeve. The volatility of the Portfolio is generally managed by transferring assets out of the tactical sleeve into cash during periods of high volatility, and back into the tactical sleeve when volatility subsides.

On a broad asset allocation level, the Portfolio remained overweight in equities relative to fixed income, consistent with our ongoing view that improving economic growth and easy global monetary policy could create a favorable backdrop for equities, particularly in the developed markets. During the period (in the second and fourth quarters), we modestly increased the Portfolio’s aggregate equity exposure, which benefitted performance as equity markets broadly advanced. Within fixed income, the Portfolio was tactically underweight duration, which detracted from performance due to the rally in interest rates over the period.

We maintained a bullish domestic growth outlook throughout the year, expressed through overweight positions in the U.S. dollar, U.S. equities, and U.S. sectors well-positioned to profit from a recovery in domestic economic momentum. This view contributed to performance as both U.S. equities and the U.S. dollar advanced, supported by contained interest rates and solid macroeconomic data. On a sector basis, the Portfolio benefitted from bets in Health Care, Technology, and Financials, all of which outperformed the S&P 500 Index. However, exposure to Energy weighed on performance later in the year, driven by a plunge in oil prices and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) decision to maintain existing production targets. Additionally, a modest underweight to Real Estate detracted from performance as the asset class posted impressive gains in the low interest rate environment.

In Europe, we retained the view that policymakers would successfully engineer an easing in financial conditions that would support European risk assets and further depreciate the currency. The Portfolio’s European equity overweight detracted from performance as soft growth and inflation data dampened European equity returns. However, European equity market losses were offset by a short euro position as the currency substantially weakened due to ongoing accommodative monetary policy by the ECB. During the period, we

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

increased the Portfolio’s European equity overweight and euro underweight positions given the combination of supportive policy and stabilizing economic momentum.

With monetary policy differentiation a key focus in our currency positioning, the Portfolio remained overweight the British pound (“GBP”) versus the euro, which supported performance as the Bank of England moved closer to policy normalization. We closed out of this position in the fourth quarter given GBP weakness, coupled with relatively dovish policy statements and disappointing growth data. Similarly, we took profits on a short position to the Swiss franc—a further proxy for the Portfolio’s euro underweight—ahead of a referendum on the ‘gold-initiative’, which, if approved, could have caused the currency to break through the Swiss National Bank’s 1.20 franc per euro cap. Overall, currency positioning had a positive impact on performance.

A constructive view on Japanese reflationary prospects (i.e., equity country overweight and yen underweight) contributed to performance. Further monetary policy easing in response to ongoing softness in growth and inflation resulted in yen depreciation and equity market strength. We took profits on the Portfolio’s yen underweight during the fourth quarter as the currency substantially weakened following the conclusion of quantitative easing in the U.S. and the BOJ’s decision to ramp up its own program in an effort to stimulate the economy. We maintained the Portfolio’s long Japan equity position on attractive valuations, currency tailwinds, and extremely accommodative policy.

As with developed markets, emerging markets exhibited increased divergence, revealing attractive opportunities in select emerging economies and developed economies tied to emerging market growth. During the second and third quarters, the Portfolio held an Australian bond overweight and modest Australian equity underweight with the belief that Australia’s mining dependent economy could face headwinds as China transitions to a lower growth model. These positions buoyed performance as mixed economic data and the central bank’s desire to maintain current rate levels led to a sharp decline in Australian bond yields and relatively muted equity market returns. Toward the end of the year, we initiated an equity overweight position in Taiwan due to attractive valuations and sentiment, as well as the country’s relatively firm macroeconomic backdrop. This position aided performance as Taiwan’s market ended the fourth quarter in positive territory, supported by solid growth and supportive earnings trends.

During the period, the Portfolio held derivatives, which, on an aggregate basis, positively impacted performance. As part of the Portfolio’s design, we use a 10-year interest rate swap to overlay 30% of total Portfolio net asset value in order to balance the sources of risk and provide diversification benefits. This position lifted performance as interest rates declined; over the period, the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate slid from 3.00% to 2.17%. Additionally, in the second quarter, the Portfolio initiated a commodity overweight position (via swaps on the S&P GSCI and S&P GSCI Energy indices) with the view that geopolitical tensions in Iraq could place upward pressure on oil prices. However, this position negatively impacted performance given the downward spiral of oil prices in the second half of the year as plentiful supply dwarfed relatively muted global demand. The Portfolio also employs derivatives to hedge and/or take outright views primarily through equity and bond futures. During the period, the Portfolio used futures to access local currency returns in U.K., German, French, Italian, Spanish, Swiss, Swedish, Japanese and Taiwanese markets, as well as to hedge out currency exposure to the yen, euro, Swiss franc, Australian dollar, and British pound. Additionally, the Portfolio used 5- and 10-year notes, long U.S. bond futures, and a long Australia 10-year bond future, to help adjust Portfolio duration according to our views.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio was overweight equities, underweight fixed income, underweight real estate, and neutral to commodities. Within equities, the Portfolio was overweight developed countries (i.e., U.S., Europe, and Japan) and pro-cyclical U.S. sectors (i.e., Technology, Financials, and Health Care). Additionally, the Portfolio was underweight emerging market equities, yet held a modest equity overweight to Taiwan. Within fixed income, the Portfolio favored core U.S. bonds and maintained a tactical U.S. duration underweight. In terms of currency positioning, the Portfolio remained overweight to the U.S. dollar and underweight to the euro.

Philip Green

Portfolio Manager

BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

       

1 Year

      

Since Inception2

 

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

           

Class B

       5.92           5.84   

Dow Jones Moderate Index

       5.35           6.70   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 5/2/2011. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund      12.8   
iShares Core Total U.S. Bond Market ETF      10.7   
iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Fund      6.2   
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF      5.9   
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund      5.8   
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF      5.5   
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund      5.1   
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund      4.9   
iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund      4.2   
Powershares QQQ Trust - Series 1      3.7   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)(b)

   Actual      0.90    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,001.80         $ 4.54   
   Hypothetical*      0.90    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.67         $ 4.58   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(b) The annualized expense ratio does not include the expenses of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Investment Company Securities—73.0% of Net Assets

 

Security Description  

Shares/

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)

    3,290,430      $ 237,404,524   

Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)

    4,889,874        387,082,426   

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

    40,743,929        1,007,597,364   

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)

    5,821,952        398,105,078   

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)

    1,729,908        97,860,896   

iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Fund (a) (b)

    4,618,949        485,821,056   

iShares Barclays Intermediate Credit Bond Fund (a) (b)

    1,173,627        128,312,640   

iShares Core Total U.S. Bond Market ETF (b)

    7,646,966        842,083,896   

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (a) (b)

    3,858,200        460,707,662   

iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (a) (b)

    5,418,553        329,664,764   

iShares MSCI EMU ETF (a) (b)

    1,694,629        61,565,872   

Powershares QQQ Trust -
Series 1 (a)

    2,813,708        290,515,351   

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)

    11,005,261        455,067,542   

Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (a)

    1,458,405        116,132,790   

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

    5,264,314        433,621,544   
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Company Securities
(Cost $5,207,126,115)

      5,731,543,405   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—36.7%   

Mutual Funds—12.9%

  

SSgA USD Liquidity Fund, S2 Shares 0.044% (c)

    19,891,864        19,891,864   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (d)

    992,611,618        992,611,618   
   

 

 

 
      1,012,503,482   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—23.8%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $1,866,366,099 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $1,896,625,000 U.S. Government Agency obligations with rates ranging from of 0.125% - 5.000%, maturity dates ranging from 08/24/15 - 03/31/18, with a value of $1,903,703,135.

    1,866,366,099        1,866,366,099   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $2,878,869,581)

      2,878,869,581   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—109.7%
(Cost $8,085,995,696) (e)

      8,610,412,986   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(9.7)%

      (763,531,120
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 7,846,881,866   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $1,043,343,560 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $992,611,618 and non-cash collateral with a value of $80,271,594. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(c) The rate shown represents the annualized seven-day yield as of December 31, 2014.
(d) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $8,090,759,417. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $767,912,900 and $(248,259,331), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $519,653,569 for federal income tax purposes.
(ETF)— Exchange-Traded Fund

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Australian Currency Futures

     03/16/15         1,415        USD         116,543,857      $ (1,617,557

British Pound Currency Futures

     03/16/15         3,460        USD         339,353,470        (2,652,220

CAC 40 Index Futures

     01/16/15         978        EUR         39,297,654        3,063,129   

DAX Index Futures

     03/20/15         290        EUR         68,024,745        4,042,330   

Euro Stoxx 50 Index Futures

     03/20/15         19,034        EUR         564,318,697        38,741,600   

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     03/20/15         397        GBP         24,334,647        2,430,916   

FTSE MIB Index Futures

     03/20/15         427        EUR         39,049,974        2,011,516   

IBEX 35 Index Futures

     01/16/15         414        EUR         40,674,655        2,101,552   

Japanese Yen Currency Futures

     03/16/15         3,250        USD         344,424,763        (5,246,638

Nikkei 225 Index Futures

     03/12/15         4,420        JPY         79,347,275,659        (18,519,583

OMX 30 Index Futures

     01/16/15         3,000        SEK         419,157,690        2,676,823   

Swiss Franc Currency Futures

     03/16/15         1,149        USD         148,632,457        (3,944,632

Futures Contracts—Short

                                

Euro Currency Futures

     03/16/15         (337     USD         (52,443,232     1,442,495   

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         (126     USD         (17,724,785     (490,090

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         (4,715     USD         (561,175,316     421,837   
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 24,461,478   
            

 

 

 

Swap Agreements

Total Return Swap Agreements

 

Fixed
Rate

   Maturity
Date
     Counterparty    Underlying Reference
Instrument
   Notional
Amount
     Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

0.000%

     01/21/15       Deutsche Bank AG    TAIEX Index      TWD         5,065,797,351       $ 4,750,479      $       $ 4,750,479   

0.1200%

     03/05/15       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    S&P GSCI Index      USD         228,328,071         (28,354,661             (28,354,661

0.1643%

     06/23/15       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    S&P GSCI Energy Index      USD         86,911,781         (6,017,927             (6,017,927
                 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

  

   $ (29,622,109   $       $ (29,622,109
                 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.720     06/24/24         USD         112,000,000       $ 4,547,021   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.685     06/25/24         USD         424,000,000         15,912,974   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.700     06/26/24         USD         785,000,000         30,483,685   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.635     06/27/24         USD         400,000,000         13,264,640   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.640     06/30/24         USD         400,000,000         13,498,520   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.365     12/30/24         USD         42,000,000         299,561   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.471     11/04/24         USD         80,000,000         1,383,912   
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 79,390,313   
                

 

 

 

 

(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(TWD)— Taiwanese Dollar
(USD)— United States Dollar

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Investment Company Securities

   $ 5,731,543,405      $ —        $ —         $ 5,731,543,405   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Funds

     1,012,503,482        —          —           1,012,503,482   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          1,866,366,099        —           1,866,366,099   

Total Short-Term Investments

     1,012,503,482        1,866,366,099        —           2,878,869,581   

Total Investments

   $ 6,744,046,887      $ 1,866,366,099      $ —         $ 8,610,412,986   
                                   

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (992,611,618   $ —         $ (992,611,618
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 56,932,198      $ —        $ —         $ 56,932,198   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (32,470,720     —          —           (32,470,720

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 24,461,478      $ —        $ —         $ 24,461,478   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 79,390,313      $ —         $ 79,390,313   
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $ —        $ 4,750,479      $ —         $ 4,750,479   

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

     —          (34,372,588     —           (34,372,588

Total OTC Swap Contracts

   $ —        $ (29,622,109   $ —         $ (29,622,109

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

 

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 4,435,890,997   

Affiliated investments at value (c) (d)

     2,308,155,890   

Repurchase Agreement

     1,866,366,099   

Cash

     16,789,489   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (e)

     408,113   

Cash collateral (f)

     252,273,000   

OTC swap contracts at market value

     4,750,479   

Receivable for:

  

Open OTC swap contracts cash collateral

     900,000   

Fund shares sold

     15,936   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     2,303,683   

Prepaid expenses

     20,554   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     8,887,874,240   

Liabilities

  

OTC swap contracts at market value

     34,372,588   

Cash collateral for OTC swap contracts

     5,300,000   

Collateral for securities loaned

     992,611,618   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     1,123,536   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     1,193,066   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     20,509   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     4,226,800   

Distribution and service fees

     1,678,005   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     50,253   

Other expenses

     415,999   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     1,040,992,374   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 7,846,881,866   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 6,851,109,352   

Undistributed net investment income

     120,488,474   

Accumulated net realized gain

     275,787,021   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, affiliated investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     599,497,019   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 7,846,881,866   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 7,846,881,866   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     716,524,806   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.95   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement and affiliated investments, was $3,958,184,475.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $703,590,694.
(c) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $2,261,445,122.
(d) Includes securities loaned at value of $339,752,866.
(e) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $418,707.
(f) Includes collateral of $132,963,000 for futures contracts, $92,990,000 for centrally cleared swap contracts and $26,320,000 for OTC swap contracts.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Underlying ETFs

   $ 57,869,024   

Dividends from affiliated investments

     58,301,169   

Interest

     94,898   

Securities lending income

     3,844,043   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     120,109,134   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     51,871,941   

Administration fees

     229,344   

Custodian and accounting fees

     568,147   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     19,719,977   

Audit and tax services

     50,374   

Legal

     38,431   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     268,595   

Insurance

     49,300   

Miscellaneous

     45,420   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     72,885,290   

Less management fee waiver

     (2,193,996
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     70,691,294   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     49,417,840   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     138,685,949   

Affiliated investments

     163,688,963   

Futures contracts

     97,259,199   

Swap contracts

     (132,569,513

Foreign currency transactions

     (1,693,969

Capital gain distributions from Underlying ETFs

     2,088,045   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     267,458,674   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     143,251,087   

Affiliated investments

     (140,275,090

Futures contracts

     (53,808,670

Swap contracts

     191,966,733   

Foreign currency transactions

     851,792   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     141,985,852   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     409,444,526   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 458,862,366   
  

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 49,417,840      $ 43,279,202   

Net realized gain

     267,458,674        434,121,452   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     141,985,852        256,873,791   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     458,862,366        734,274,445   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (88,385,504     (100,334,481

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (416,873,360     (162,184,503
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (505,258,864     (262,518,984
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     75,515,382        587,431,812   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     29,118,884        1,059,187,273   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     7,817,762,982        6,758,575,709   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 7,846,881,866      $ 7,817,762,982   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 120,488,474      $ 87,982,769   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     8,542,798      $ 92,870,143        69,546,352      $ 732,102,877   

Reinvestments

     48,582,583        505,258,864        25,561,732        262,518,984   

Redemptions

     (47,882,117     (522,613,625     (38,460,912     (407,190,049
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     9,243,264      $ 75,515,382        56,647,172      $ 587,431,812   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 75,515,382        $ 587,431,812   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                         
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.05      $ 10.39      $ 9.52      $ 10.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

        

Net investment income (b)

     0.07        0.06        0.14        0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.56        0.99        0.73        (0.44
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.63        1.05        0.87        (0.35
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

        

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.13     (0.15     0.00        (0.06

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.60     (0.24     (0.00 )(c)      (0.07
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.73     (0.39     0.00        (0.13
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.95      $ 11.05      $ 10.39      $ 9.52   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (d)

     5.92        10.31        9.14        (3.41 )(e) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

        

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (g)

     0.92        0.92        0.93        0.96  (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (g)(h)

     0.90        0.91        0.93        0.92  (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (i)

     0.63        0.58        1.37        1.45  (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     25        51        62        75  (e) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 7,846.9      $ 7,817.8      $ 6,758.6      $ 3,685.7   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was May 2, 2011.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Distributions from net realized capital gains were less than $0.01.
(d) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(e) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests.
(h) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
(i) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying ETFs in which it invests.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio allocates its assets in a broad range of asset classes, primarily through other investment companies known as exchange traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”), involving primarily series of the iShares® Trust and iShares®, Inc., but the Portfolio also has the ability to invest in series sponsored by other companies.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary—BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 6% of its total assets in the BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio, Ltd., which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies. The Portfolio has obtained an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio should constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court could disagree with the legal opinion obtained by the Portfolio.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity-linked derivatives and exchange-traded funds. Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. (the “Subadviser”), making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio includes the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

      Inception Date
of Subsidiary
     Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio, Ltd.

     5/14/2013       $ 29,508,759         0.3

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in the Underlying ETFs are valued at the closing market quotation for their shares. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the market values of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying ETFs, please refer to the prospectuses for such Underlying ETFs.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, futures transactions, controlled foreign corporation reversal, swap transactions and short-term dividend reclass from Underlying ETFs. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $1,866,366,099, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Currency Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into currency swap agreements to gain or mitigate exposure to currency risk. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

Total Return Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into total return swap agreements to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market or to transfer the risk/return of one market (e.g., fixed income) to another market (e.g., equity) (equity risk and/or interest rate risk). Total return swaps are agreements in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specific period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or floating rate or the total return from other underlying assets. When a Portfolio pays interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may be required to pay the change in value to the counterparty in addition to the interest payment; conversely, when a Portfolio receives interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may receive the change in value in addition to the interest payment. To the extent the total return of the instrument or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swaps can also be structured without an interest payment, so that one party pays the other party if the value of the underlying asset increases and receives payment from the other party if the value of the underlying asset decreases.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (a)    $ 79,390,313         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      421,837       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)    $ 490,090   
Equity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      55,067,865       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)      18,519,583   
Commodity    OTC swap contracts at market value      4,750,479       OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      34,372,588   
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      1,442,495       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)      13,461,046   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 141,072,989            $66,843,307   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.
  (b) Excludes OTC swap interest payable of $20,509.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”)(see Note 5), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
     Collateral
Received†
     Net Amount*  

Deutsche Bank AG

   $ 4,750,479       $       $ (4,750,479    $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
     Collateral
Pledged†
     Net Amount**  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

   $ 34,372,588       $       $ (26,320,000    $ 8,052,588   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net
Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Equity     Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
    Total  

Futures contracts

   $ (1,569,984   $ 163,556,878      $      $ (64,727,695   $ 97,259,199   

Swap contracts

     12,989,062        564,960        (146,123,535            (132,569,513
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 11,419,078      $ 164,121,838      $ (146,123,535   $ (64,727,695   $ (35,310,314
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Equity     Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
    Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 7,291,952      $ (52,537,871   $      $ (8,562,751   $ (53,808,670

Swap contracts

     221,588,842               (29,622,109            191,966,733   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 228,880,794      $ (52,537,871   $ (29,622,109   $ (8,562,751   $ 138,158,063   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 598,316,625   

Futures contracts short

     (393,220,417

Swap contracts

     2,348,563,474   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 1,391,874,856       $ 0       $ 1,392,287,871   

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$51,871,941      0.800   First $100 million
     0.750   $100 million to $300 million
     0.700   $300 million to $600 million
     0.675   $600 million to $1 billion
     0.650   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. BlackRock Financial Management, Inc is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.125%    First $100 million
0.075%    $100 million to $300 million
0.025%    $300 million to $600 million
0.020%    $3 billion to $5 billion
0.050%    Over $5 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period January 1, 2014 to April 27, 2014. Amounts waived, if applicable, for the period ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

8. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

The Portfolio does not invest in the Underlying ETF’s for the purpose of exercising control; however, investments by the Portfolio within its principal investment strategies may represent a significant portion of the Underlying ETFs’ net assets. Transactions in the Underlying ETF’s for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Underlying ETF/Security

   Number of shares
held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Fund

     4,618,949                        4,618,949   

iShares Barclays Intermediate Credit Bond Fund

     1,173,627                        1,173,627   

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

     3,153,483                 (3,153,483       

iShares Core Total U.S. Bond Market ETF

     7,646,966                        7,646,966   

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF

     3,858,200                        3,858,200   

iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF

     5,418,553                        5,418,553   

iShares MSCI EMU ETF

             1,694,629                1,694,629   

iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund

     1,670,173                 (1,670,173       

Underlying ETF/Security

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Underlying ETFs
     Capital Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
ETFs
     Dividend Income
from Underlying
ETFs
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

iShares Barclays 1-3 Year Credit Bond Fund

   $       $       $ 4,550,298      $ 485,821,056   

iShares Barclays Intermediate Credit Bond Fund

                     3,156,433        128,312,640   

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

     94,031,751                 713,833          

iShares Core Total U.S. Bond Market ETF

                     20,177,392        842,083,896   

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF

                     15,622,056        460,707,662   

iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF

                     12,253,434        329,664,764   

iShares MSCI EMU ETF

                     1,827,723        61,565,872   

iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund

     69,657,212                          
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 163,688,963       $       $ 58,301,169      $ 2,308,155,890   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

9. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

10. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$281,859,284    $ 254,272,314       $ 223,399,580       $ 8,246,670       $ 505,258,864       $ 262,518,984   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$297,629,256    $ 136,588,256       $ 561,605,256       $       $ 995,822,768   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

11. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio and subsidiary, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, and the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with custodians, brokers and the transfer agent; when the replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

BlackRock Global Tactical Strategies Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

The Board considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to the Portfolio was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the underlying portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the three-year and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed its Blended Index for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, and its blended index, for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark and its blended index for the three-year and since-inception periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance and the peer group used for comparative purposes.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were above the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. In addition, the Board noted that the Adviser had negotiated reductions to the Portfolio’s sub-advisory fee schedule and that the Adviser agreed to waive a corresponding portion of its advisory fee in order for contractholders to benefit from the lower sub-advisory fee effective January 1, 2015. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the BlackRock High Yield Portfolio returned 3.41% and 3.30%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index1, returned 2.46%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Weak energy markets plagued the last quarter of 2014, furthering the high yield asset drawdowns that started after a string of retail outflows in July. The high yield universe tumbled during the fourth quarter, largely due to significant oil price declines, bringing year-to-date returns for the U.S. high yield market to 2.46%. Results marked a material reversal from the nearly 6% returns the asset class generated through the first half of the year. Additionally, with rates descending on the year, duration-sensitive products soared in 2014, with 10-year U.S. Treasuries, investment grade bonds and emerging market bonds all well ahead of initial expectations to begin the year. Equities finished on top again, with the S&P 500 Index returning 13.69%. Higher-quality credits within high yield also outperformed during December and the fourth quarter in what was likely a move toward more defensive sector positioning by investors.

The high yield market witnessed $107.6 billion in 2014 volumes, which trumps the previous record of $82.4 billion in 2013. By and large, new issue deal proceeds remained focused on refinancing (54%) in 2014, a theme that has prevailed throughout the post-crisis period as companies have looked to enhance their liquidity profiles. The demand for high yield paper remained challenged, with $6.9 billion exiting retail funds in December and $1.3 billion over the fourth quarter, expanding the 2014 outflow sum to -$20.6 billion.

December default activity increased, with two companies defaulting for $18.6 billion in bonds and loans outstanding, including the fourth largest default on record. In the fourth quarter, seven companies defaulted for $21.4 billion, and for the year 28 companies defaulted for $70.2 billion. However, if TXU and Caesars were excluded, the total for 2014 would be only $16.0 billion, the lowest annual default volume since 2007 when it was just $4.5 billion. The trailing 12-month high yield par-weighted default rate increased to 2.96%, and excluding TXU is only 1.63%. Importantly, default rates remain well below the 25-year average of 4.0% as a durable corporate fundamental backdrop has kept default activity subdued over the last few years.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Portfolio exposure to names in the Gaming, Independent Energy, and Automotive sectors boosted returns, while positioning in the Retailers and Electric sectors detracted. Bank loans underperformed high yield bonds for the year to date, but the Portfolio’s tactical 11% loan allocation was positive overall, especially within the Gaming sector. Tactical equity-like exposures, also chiefly within Gaming, helped performance as well.

The Portfolio utilized derivatives during the period as part of its investment strategy. Derivatives are used by the Portfolio management team as a means to hedge and/or take outright views on credit risk and/or foreign exchange positions in the Portfolio. During the period, the Portfolio used equity index futures as a means to tactically hedge the Portfolio against volatility in global markets. The use of hedges detracted from performance during the period, however, we continue to believe the benefits of managing market risk/volatility outweigh the negative impact.

Over the period, the Portfolio’s core issuer/credit biases remained consistent based on either our cash-flow views, determination of a specific catalyst or idiosyncratic characteristic. As a major theme in 2014, we favored select equity/equity-like assets that we believe have greater upside potential relative to low-rated high yield bonds from the same issuers. As a balance to these trades we were active in liquid hedge instruments, which are an effective way to protect against general market volatility. We expected rates to be higher by year-end 2014, so we maintained a shorter-duration bias at the portfolio level. This view was executed by underweighting higher-rated (duration-sensitive) high yield bonds, as well as owning bank loans and non-bond investments (equities). During the period, the Portfolio increased its exposure to names in the Gaming and Banking sectors, while reducing risk in the Electric and Oil Field Services sectors.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio’s top overweights relative to the benchmark index included Ally Financial (Banking) and Caesars Entertainment Corp. (Gaming).

James Keenan

David Delbos

Mitch Garfin

Derek Schoenhofen

Portfolio Managers

BlackRock Financial Management, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. CORPORATE HIGH YIELD 2% ISSUER CAPPED INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

       

1 Year

      

5 Year

      

10 Year

      

Since Inception2

 

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

                     

Class A

       3.41           9.55           7.37             

Class B

       3.30           9.29                     8.57   

Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index

       2.46           8.98           7.73             

1 The Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index is composed of fixed rate non-investment grade debt with at least one year remaining to maturity that are dollar-denominated, nonconvertible and have an outstanding par value of at least $100 million. It limits issue exposure to a 2% maximum.

2 Inception dates of the Class A and Class B shares are 8/30/1996 and 4/28/2008, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes      75.9   
Floating Rate Loans      10.5   
Common Stocks      8.9   
Asset-Backed Securities      1.8   
Convertible Preferred Stocks      1.2   
Convertible Bonds      1.0   
Preferred Stocks      0.9   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.69    $ 1,000.00         $ 978.50         $ 3.44   
   Hypothetical*      0.69    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.73         $ 3.52   

Class B

   Actual      0.94    $ 1,000.00         $ 978.30         $ 4.69   
   Hypothetical*      0.94    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.47         $ 4.79   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—75.9% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Advertising—0.1%

  

CBS Outdoor Americas Capital LLC / CBS Outdoor Americas Capital Corp.

   

5.625%, 02/15/24 (144A) (a)

    243,000      $ 244,215   

MDC Partners, Inc.

   

6.750%, 04/01/20 (144A)

    525,000        540,750   
   

 

 

 
      784,965   
   

 

 

 

Aerospace/Defense—1.2%

  

LMI Aerospace, Inc.

   

7.375%, 07/15/19 (144A)

    372,000        362,700   

Meccanica Holdings USA, Inc.

   

6.250%, 07/15/19 (144A) (a)

    278,000        303,020   

National Air Cargo Group, Inc.

   

12.375%, 09/02/15 (b) (c)

    1,715,086        1,715,086   

TransDigm, Inc.

   

5.500%, 10/15/20

    760,000        742,900   

6.000%, 07/15/22

    3,675,000        3,665,813   

6.500%, 07/15/24

    2,415,000        2,427,075   
   

 

 

 
      9,216,594   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.9%

  

American Airlines Pass-Through Trust

   

6.000%, 01/15/17 (144A)

    3,295,000        3,393,850   

Continental Airlines Pass-Through Certificates

   

6.125%, 04/29/18

    900,000        956,250   

Virgin Australia Trust

   

7.125%, 10/23/18 (144A)

    1,861,767        1,912,966   

8.500%, 10/23/16 (144A)

    803,133        819,196   
   

 

 

 
      7,082,262   
   

 

 

 

Apparel—0.1%

  

Levi Strauss & Co.

   

6.875%, 05/01/22

    388,000        417,100   

William Carter Co. (The)

   

5.250%, 08/15/21

    485,000        499,550   
   

 

 

 
      916,650   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.7%

  

CNH Industrial Finance Europe S.A.

   

2.750%, 03/18/19 (EUR)

    785,000        962,681   

General Motors Co.

   

4.875%, 10/02/23

    130,000        139,100   

5.200%, 04/01/45 (d)

    915,000        965,325   

6.250%, 10/02/43 (d)

    1,460,000        1,744,116   

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive plc

   

5.000%, 02/15/22 (GBP)

    770,000        1,267,959   
   

 

 

 
      5,079,181   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—1.0%

  

Affinia Group, Inc.

   

7.750%, 05/01/21

    295,000        303,850   

Delphi Corp.

   

5.000%, 02/15/23 (d)

    390,000        416,317   

6.125%, 05/15/21 (a)

    225,000        245,250   

Auto Parts & Equipment—(Continued)

  

IDQ Holdings, Inc.

   

11.500%, 04/01/17 (144A)

    500,000      530,000   

Lear Corp.

   

Escrow (g)

    1,395,000        12,206   

Escrow (g)

    1,530,000        13,387   

Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC

   

8.000%, 11/15/18 (144A)

    302,000        318,610   

Schaeffler Holding Finance B.V.

   

5.750%, 11/15/21 (EUR) (e)

    290,000        373,724   

6.250%, 11/15/19 (144A) (e)

    1,019,000        1,049,570   

6.750%, 11/15/22 (144A) (a) (e)

    2,610,000        2,727,450   

6.875%, 08/15/18 (EUR) (e)

    930,000        1,170,361   

Titan International, Inc.

   

6.875%, 10/01/20 (a)

    890,000        783,200   
   

 

 

 
      7,943,925   
   

 

 

 

Banks—1.9%

  

Bank of America Corp.

   

5.125%, 12/29/49 (f)

    2,115,000        2,039,653   

6.250%, 09/29/49 (f)

    3,050,000        3,014,733   

6.500%, 10/29/49 (a) (f)

    1,170,000        1,190,943   

CIT Group, Inc.

   

5.000%, 08/01/23

    2,300,000        2,363,250   

5.500%, 02/15/19 (144A)

    746,000        787,030   

6.000%, 04/01/36

    1,550,000        1,520,937   

6.625%, 04/01/18 (144A)

    145,000        157,325   

HSH Nordbank AG

   

0.879%, 02/14/17 (EUR) (f)

    295,000        293,604   

0.919%, 02/14/17 (EUR) (f)

    285,000        283,651   

Novo Banco S.A.

   

2.625%, 05/08/17 (EUR)

    400,000        450,316   

4.000%, 01/21/19 (EUR)

    200,000        234,135   

4.750%, 01/15/18 (EUR)

    1,000,000        1,185,923   

Wells Fargo & Co.

   

5.900%, 12/29/49 (d) (f)

    1,100,000        1,108,250   
   

 

 

 
      14,629,750   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.1%

  

Constellation Brands, Inc.

   

3.875%, 11/15/19 (a)

    442,000        445,315   

4.250%, 05/01/23

    193,000        191,552   
   

 

 

 
      636,867   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—1.0%

  

BMBG Bond Finance SCA

   

5.082%, 10/15/20 (EUR) (f)

    100,000        121,123   

Builders FirstSource, Inc.

   

7.625%, 06/01/21 (144A) (a)

    546,000        559,650   

Building Materials Corp. of America

   

5.375%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    1,725,000        1,720,687   

Cemex S.A.B. de C.V.

   

5.700%, 01/11/25 (144A) (a)

    835,000        809,950   

5.875%, 03/25/19 (144A) (a)

    505,000        512,575   

CPG Merger Sub LLC

   

8.000%, 10/01/21 (144A) (a)

    1,675,000        1,712,688   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Building Materials—(Continued)

  

Kerneos Corporate SAS

   

4.832%, 03/01/21 (EUR) (f)

    100,000      $ 120,768   

5.750%, 03/01/21 (EUR)

    131,000        161,489   

Ply Gem Industries, Inc.

   

6.500%, 02/01/22 (a)

    820,000        770,800   

Spie BondCo 3 SCA

   

11.000%, 08/15/19 (EUR)

    107,000        144,203   

Unifrax I LLC / Unifrax Holding Co.

   

7.500%, 02/15/19 (144A)

    535,000        526,975   

USG Corp.

   

9.750%, 01/15/18

    674,000        768,360   
   

 

 

 
      7,929,268   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—1.1%

   

Axalta Coating Systems U.S. Holdings, Inc. / Axalta Coating Systems Dutch Holding B

   

5.750%, 02/01/21 (EUR)

    260,000        330,369   

7.375%, 05/01/21 (144A)

    960,000        1,017,600   

Axiall Corp.

   

4.875%, 05/15/23 (a)

    310,000        292,563   

Celanese U.S. Holdings LLC

   

4.625%, 11/15/22

    330,000        326,700   

Chemtura Corp.

   

5.750%, 07/15/21 (a)

    522,000        508,950   

Huntsman International LLC

   

4.875%, 11/15/20

    511,000        507,167   

5.125%, 04/15/21 (EUR)

    892,000        1,118,006   

8.625%, 03/15/21

    305,000        327,113   

INEOS Group Holdings S.A.

   

5.750%, 02/15/19 (EUR)

    170,000        197,480   

6.125%, 08/15/18 (144A) (a)

    538,000        515,135   

Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.

   

3.880%, 10/24/21

    1,398,000        1,184,805   

Escrow (b) (g) (h)

    1,398,000        0   

Nexeo Solutions LLC / Nexeo Solutions Finance Corp.

   

8.375%, 03/01/18

    315,000        305,550   

NOVA Chemicals Corp.

   

5.000%, 05/01/25 (144A)

    413,000        409,903   

Perstorp Holding AB

   

8.750%, 05/15/17 (144A) (a)

    585,000        574,762   

Rayonier AM Products, Inc.

   

5.500%, 06/01/24 (144A)

    154,000        126,473   

Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc.

   

4.625%, 10/15/20

    599,000        618,467   
   

 

 

 
      8,361,043   
   

 

 

 

Coal—1.0%

   

Arch Coal, Inc.

   

7.000%, 06/15/19 (a)

    815,000        240,425   

7.250%, 10/01/20 (a)

    343,000        111,475   

7.250%, 06/15/21

    253,000        73,686   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

   

5.875%, 04/15/22 (144A)

    4,554,000        4,235,220   

Coal—(Continued)

  

Peabody Energy Corp.

   

6.000%, 11/15/18 (a)

    1,400,000      1,270,500   

6.250%, 11/15/21 (d)

    632,000        540,360   

6.500%, 09/15/20 (a)

    884,000        766,870   

7.875%, 11/01/26

    967,000        821,950   
   

 

 

 
      8,060,486   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—3.0%

   

AA Bond Co., Ltd.

   

9.500%, 07/31/43 (GBP)

    616,000        1,055,628   

Anna Merger Sub, Inc.

   

7.750%, 10/01/22 (144A)

    790,000        799,875   

Ashtead Capital, Inc.

   

5.625%, 10/01/24 (144A)

    895,000        917,375   

6.500%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    1,998,000        2,122,875   

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC / Avis Budget Finance, Inc.

   

5.500%, 04/01/23 (a)

    405,000        413,100   

Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc.

   

8.500%, 12/01/21 (144A)

    679,000        611,100   

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.

   

11.000%, 03/15/21 (144A) (a)

    3,107,000        3,398,778   

EC Finance plc

   

5.125%, 07/15/21 (EUR)

    445,000        555,973   

Hertz Corp. (The)

   

5.875%, 10/15/20 (a)

    210,000        211,575   

6.750%, 04/15/19

    575,000        592,250   

Igloo Holdings Corp.

   

8.250%, 12/15/17 (144A) (e)

    509,000        514,090   

Interactive Data Corp.

   

5.875%, 04/15/19 (144A) (a)

    1,555,000        1,543,338   

IVS F. S.p.A

   

7.125%, 04/01/20 (EUR)

    719,000        887,601   

Jaguar Holding Co. II / Jaguar Merger Subordinated, Inc.

   

9.500%, 12/01/19 (144A)

    855,000        916,988   

Laureate Education, Inc.

   

9.750%, 09/01/19 (144A) (a)

    1,921,000        1,978,630   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

   

7.000%, 09/01/20 (144A)

    383,000        404,065   

Safway Group Holding LLC / Safway Finance Corp.

   

7.000%, 05/15/18 (144A) (a)

    666,000        632,700   

TMF Group Holding B.V.

   

9.875%, 12/01/19 (EUR)

    420,000        522,197   

Truven Health Analytics, Inc.

   

10.625%, 06/01/20

    405,000        394,875   

United Rentals North America, Inc.

   

5.750%, 11/15/24

    927,000        954,810   

6.125%, 06/15/23

    997,000        1,046,850   

7.375%, 05/15/20

    660,000        712,800   

7.625%, 04/15/22

    492,000        540,954   

8.250%, 02/01/21

    430,000        468,700   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Services—(Continued)

  

Verisure Holding AB

   

8.750%, 09/01/18 (EUR)

    117,000      $ 150,948   

8.750%, 12/01/18 (EUR)

    288,000        370,805   
   

 

 

 
      22,718,880   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.1%

   

SunGard Data Systems, Inc.

   

6.625%, 11/01/19

    955,000        964,550   
   

 

 

 

Distribution/Wholesale—1.6%

   

American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc.

   

5.625%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    490,000        492,450   

H&E Equipment Services, Inc.

   

7.000%, 09/01/22 (a)

    1,022,000        1,051,383   

HD Supply, Inc.

   

5.250%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    3,984,000        4,053,720   

7.500%, 07/15/20

    2,841,000        2,975,947   

11.000%, 04/15/20

    3,228,000        3,679,920   

Rexel S.A.

   

6.125%, 12/15/19 (144A)

    202,000        208,060   

VWR Funding, Inc.

   

7.250%, 09/15/17

    170,000        177,650   
   

 

 

 
      12,639,130   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—3.0%

   

Ally Financial, Inc.

   

5.125%, 09/30/24 (a)

    1,372,000        1,392,580   

8.000%, 11/01/31 (d)

    8,496,000        10,827,982   

DFC Finance Corp.

   

10.500%, 06/15/20 (144A)

    1,055,000        894,113   

E*TRADE Financial Corp.

   

5.375%, 11/15/22

    1,053,000        1,076,693   

General Motors Financial Co., Inc.

   

6.750%, 06/01/18 (d)

    960,000        1,087,200   

Icahn Enterprises L.P. / Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp.

   

4.875%, 03/15/19 (d)

    1,295,000        1,291,762   

5.875%, 02/01/22 (d)

    1,957,000        1,965,562   

6.000%, 08/01/20 (d)

    748,000        770,590   

Jefferies Finance LLC / JFIN Co-Issuer Corp.

   

6.875%, 04/15/22 (144A)

    1,692,000        1,548,180   

7.375%, 04/01/20 (144A)

    505,000        469,650   

Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.

   

Zero Coupon, 02/05/14 (EUR) (g) (h)

    4,500,000        857,623   

Escrow (g) (h)

    489,000        71,516   

Escrow (g) (h)

    1,740,000        254,475   

4.750%, 01/16/14 (EUR) (g) (h)

    2,140,000        414,321   

5.375%, 10/17/12 (EUR) (g) (h)

    350,000        67,763   
   

 

 

 
      22,990,010   
   

 

 

 

Electric—2.0%

   

AES Corp.

   

4.875%, 05/15/23

    455,000        451,588   

5.500%, 03/15/24

    166,000        168,457   

Electric—(Continued)

  

Calpine Corp.

   

5.375%, 01/15/23 (a)

    1,562,000      1,577,620   

5.750%, 01/15/25

    1,003,000        1,015,537   

5.875%, 01/15/24 (144A)

    1,110,000        1,182,150   

6.000%, 01/15/22 (144A)

    319,000        339,735   

Dynegy Finance I, Inc. / Dynegy Finance II, Inc.

   

6.750%, 11/01/19 (144A)

    2,215,000        2,253,762   

7.375%, 11/01/22 (144A)

    340,000        345,950   

FPL Energy National Wind Portfolio LLC

   

6.125%, 03/25/19 (144A)

    5,415        5,415   

Homer City Generation L.P.

   

8.137%, 10/01/19 (e)

    398,286        413,222   

8.734%, 10/01/26 (e)

    1,084,139        1,116,663   

Mirant Mid Atlantic Pass-Through Trust

   

9.125%, 06/30/17

    543,207        583,947   

10.060%, 12/30/28

    871,019        945,056   

NRG Energy, Inc.

   

6.250%, 05/01/24 (144A)

    798,000        811,965   

7.875%, 05/15/21

    838,000        902,945   

NRG REMA LLC

   

9.237%, 07/02/17

    79,929        80,728   

9.681%, 07/02/26

    418,000        443,080   

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC / TCEH Finance, Inc.

   

10.500%, 11/01/16 (g)

    31,017,000        2,946,615   
   

 

 

 
      15,584,435   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.1%

  

Belden, Inc.

   

5.500%, 04/15/23 (EUR)

    901,000        1,126,472   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.1%

   

Trionista Holdco GmbH

   

5.000%, 04/30/20 (EUR)

    416,000        520,999   

Trionista TopCo GmbH

   

6.875%, 04/30/21 (EUR)

    211,000        269,363   
   

 

 

 
      790,362   
   

 

 

 

Energy - Alternate Sources—0.1%

   

CE Energy A/S

   

7.000%, 02/01/21 (EUR)

    385,000        464,705   
   

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction—1.0%

  

Abengoa Greenfield S.A.

   

6.500%, 10/01/19 (144A)

    1,151,000        984,105   

AECOM Technology Corp.

   

5.750%, 10/15/22 (144A)

    384,000        392,640   

5.875%, 10/15/24 (144A)

    1,526,000        1,560,335   

Aguila 3 S.A.

   

7.875%, 01/31/18 (144A) (a)

    701,000        678,218   

Aldesa Financial Services S.A.

   

7.250%, 04/01/21 (EUR)

    485,000        495,615   

Astaldi S.p.A.

   

7.125%, 12/01/20 (EUR)

    710,000        877,521   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Engineering & Construction—(Continued)

  

Novafives SAS

   

4.082%, 06/30/20 (EUR) (f)

    230,000      $ 273,998   

4.500%, 06/30/21 (EUR)

    160,000        189,300   

Obrascon Huarte Lain S.A.

   

4.750%, 03/15/22 (EUR)

    345,000        397,204   

Officine Maccaferri S.p.A.

   

5.750%, 06/01/21 (EUR)

    383,000        448,143   

SBA Communications Corp.

   

4.875%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    1,240,000        1,193,500   

Weekley Homes LLC / Weekley Finance Corp.

   

6.000%, 02/01/23

    505,000        479,750   
   

 

 

 
      7,970,329   
   

 

 

 

Entertainment—0.6%

   

Cedar Fair L.P. / Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp.

   

5.375%, 06/01/24 (144A)

    405,000        402,975   

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

   

6.875%, 08/15/20 (144A)

    433,000        443,825   

Gamenet S.p.A.

   

7.250%, 08/01/18 (EUR)

    536,000        532,451   

Greektown Holdings LLC / Greektown Mothership Corp.

   

8.875%, 03/15/19 (144A)

    615,000        613,462   

Intralot Capital Luxembourg S.A.

   

6.000%, 05/15/21 (EUR)

    258,000        262,305   

NAI Entertainment Holdings / NAI Entertainment Holdings Finance Corp.

   

5.000%, 08/01/18 (144A) (a)

    409,000        419,225   

Regal Entertainment Group

   

5.750%, 02/01/25

    271,000        249,320   

Six Flags Entertainment Corp.

   

5.250%, 01/15/21 (144A)

    955,000        955,000   

Vougeot Bidco plc

   

7.875%, 07/15/20 (GBP)

    282,000        454,909   

Waterford Gaming LLC / Waterford Gaming Financial Corp.

   

8.625%, 09/15/49 (144A) (g)

    351,486        14,059   
   

 

 

 
      4,347,531   
   

 

 

 

Environmental Control—0.2%

   

ADS Waste Holdings, Inc.

   

8.250%, 10/01/20

    388,000        388,000   

Bilbao Luxembourg S.A.

   

10.500%, 12/01/18 (EUR) (e)

    269,344        338,957   

Covanta Holding Corp.

   

5.875%, 03/01/24

    369,000        375,457   

6.375%, 10/01/22

    384,000        407,040   
   

 

 

 
      1,509,454   
   

 

 

 

Food—0.6%

   

Bakkavor Finance 2 plc

   

8.750%, 06/15/20 (GBP)

    396,000        640,351   

Food—(Continued)

  

Boparan Finance plc

   

4.375%, 07/15/21 (EUR)

    220,000      222,286   

5.500%, 07/15/21 (GBP)

    300,000        390,430   

Findus Bondco S.A.

   

9.125%, 07/01/18 (EUR)

    362,000        462,130   

9.500%, 07/01/18 (GBP)

    264,000        433,073   

R&R Ice Cream plc

   

5.500%, 05/15/20 (GBP)

    105,000        159,326   

R&R Pik plc

   

9.250%, 05/15/18 (EUR) (e)

    526,000        639,669   

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

   

5.875%, 08/01/21 (144A)

    352,000        359,040   

6.625%, 08/15/22

    331,000        345,895   

Univeg Holding B.V.

   

7.875%, 11/15/20 (EUR)

    240,000        274,294   

WhiteWave Foods Co. (The)

   

5.375%, 10/01/22

    350,000        360,500   
   

 

 

 
      4,286,994   
   

 

 

 

Food Service—0.2%

   

Aramark Services, Inc.

   

5.750%, 03/15/20

    1,169,000        1,206,992   

Brakes Capital

   

7.125%, 12/15/18 (GBP)

    185,000        284,737   
   

 

 

 
      1,491,729   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.1%

   

Clearwater Paper Corp.

   

4.500%, 02/01/23 (a)

    679,000        662,025   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare - Products—0.7%

   

3AB Optique Developpement SAS

   

5.625%, 04/15/19 (EUR)

    450,000        468,289   

Alere, Inc.

   

6.500%, 06/15/20

    269,000        270,345   

7.250%, 07/01/18

    210,000        218,400   

8.625%, 10/01/18

    816,000        844,560   

DJO Finance LLC / DJO Finance Corp.

   

8.750%, 03/15/18 (a)

    354,000        368,160   

Hologic, Inc.

   

6.250%, 08/01/20

    908,000        944,320   

IDH Finance plc

   

6.000%, 12/01/18 (GBP)

    397,000        618,455   

6.000%, 12/01/18 (144A) (GBP)

    100,000        155,782   

Mallinckrodt International Finance S.A.

   

5.750%, 08/01/22 (144A)

    525,000        539,438   

Teleflex, Inc.

   

6.875%, 06/01/19

    805,000        839,213   
   

 

 

 
      5,266,962   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare - Services—3.7%

   

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.

   

5.125%, 07/01/22

    435,000        428,475   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Healthcare-Services—(Continued)

  

Amsurg Corp.

   

5.625%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    1,891,000      $ 1,938,275   

Care UK Health & Social Care plc

   

5.560%, 07/15/19 (GBP) (f)

    480,000        693,515   

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.

   

6.875%, 02/01/22 (a)

    1,049,000        1,111,284   

DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc.

   

5.125%, 07/15/24

    2,728,000        2,782,560   

HCA Holdings, Inc.

   

7.750%, 05/15/21

    1,850,000        1,970,250   

HCA, Inc.

   

4.750%, 05/01/23 (a)

    1,238,000        1,259,665   

5.000%, 03/15/24

    2,685,000        2,758,837   

5.250%, 04/15/25 (a)

    775,000        809,875   

5.875%, 03/15/22

    2,735,000        2,994,825   

5.875%, 05/01/23 (a)

    672,000        708,120   

6.500%, 02/15/20

    1,127,000        1,262,804   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.

   

6.375%, 04/15/22 (144A) (a)

    357,000        340,043   

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC

   

6.625%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    470,000        480,575   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

   

4.375%, 10/01/21

    1,028,000        1,020,290   

4.500%, 04/01/21 (a)

    260,000        260,650   

4.750%, 06/01/20

    435,000        441,525   

5.000%, 03/01/19 (144A)

    865,000        866,081   

5.500%, 03/01/19 (144A) (a)

    1,945,000        1,988,763   

6.000%, 10/01/20

    1,546,000        1,660,141   

6.250%, 11/01/18

    397,000        430,745   

8.125%, 04/01/22

    1,225,000        1,368,938   

Voyage Care Bondco plc

   

6.500%, 08/01/18 (GBP)

    704,000        1,118,377   
   

 

 

 
      28,694,613   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies - Diversified—0.3%

   

Carlson Travel Holdings, Inc.

   

7.500%, 08/15/19 (144A) (e)

    249,000        250,867   

Co-operative Group Holdings

   

6.875%, 07/08/20 (GBP) (i)

    360,000        579,354   

Monitchem HoldCo 3 S.A.

   

5.250%, 06/15/21 (EUR)

    160,000        190,704   

WaveDivision Escrow LLC / WaveDivision Escrow Corp.

   

8.125%, 09/01/20 (144A)

    1,323,000        1,408,995   
   

 

 

 
      2,429,920   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—2.5%

   

Allegion U.S. Holding Co., Inc.

   

5.750%, 10/01/21

    257,000        271,778   

Ashton Woods USA LLC / Ashton Woods Finance Co.

   

6.875%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    744,000        708,660   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

   

5.750%, 06/15/19 (a)

    1,344,000        1,290,240   

6.625%, 04/15/18

    1,003,000        1,048,135   

7.500%, 09/15/21

    551,000        553,755   

Home Builders—(Continued)

  

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. / Brookfield Residential U.S. Corp.

   

6.125%, 07/01/22 (144A)

    793,000      824,720   

K Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

   

7.250%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    1,501,000        1,553,535   

9.125%, 11/15/20 (144A)

    255,000        271,575   

Lennar Corp.

   

4.750%, 11/15/22

    910,000        891,800   

PulteGroup, Inc.

   

6.375%, 05/15/33

    750,000        750,000   

Ryland Group, Inc. (The)

   

6.625%, 05/01/20

    480,000        508,800   

Shea Homes L.P. / Shea Homes Funding Corp.

   

8.625%, 05/15/19

    1,554,000        1,631,700   

Standard Pacific Corp.

   

5.875%, 11/15/24 (a)

    378,000        378,000   

8.375%, 01/15/21 (a)

    3,283,000        3,717,997   

Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc. / Monarch Communities, Inc.

   

5.250%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    870,000        856,950   

TRI Pointe Holdings, Inc.

   

4.375%, 06/15/19 (144A)

    875,000        862,969   

5.875%, 06/15/24 (144A)

    595,000        595,000   

William Lyon Homes, Inc.

   

8.500%, 11/15/20

    1,990,000        2,144,225   

Woodside Homes Co. LLC / Woodside Homes Finance, Inc.

   

6.750%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    660,000        656,700   
   

 

 

 
      19,516,539   
   

 

 

 

Home Furnishings—0.1%

   

DFS Furniture Holdings plc

   

7.625%, 08/15/18 (GBP)

    160,000        257,538   

Magnolia BC S.A.

   

9.000%, 08/01/20 (EUR)

    400,000        462,772   
   

 

 

 
      720,310   
   

 

 

 

Household Products/Wares—0.2%

   

Armored Autogroup, Inc.

   

9.250%, 11/01/18 (a)

    700,000        696,500   

Spectrum Brands, Inc.

   

6.375%, 11/15/20

    310,000        323,175   

6.625%, 11/15/22

    425,000        449,437   
   

 

 

 
      1,469,112   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.7%

   

A-S Co-Issuer Subsidiary, Inc. / A-S Merger Sub LLC

   

7.875%, 12/15/20 (144A)

    1,162,000        1,185,240   

AIG Life Holdings, Inc.

   

7.570%, 12/01/45 (144A) (d)

    1,000,000        1,321,445   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

   

6.375%, 10/01/20 (144A)

    330,000        348,150   

Galaxy Bidco, Ltd.

   

6.375%, 11/15/20 (GBP)

    210,000        318,960   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Genworth Holdings, Inc.

   

4.800%, 02/15/24 (a)

    410,000      $ 332,357   

Hockey Merger Sub 2, Inc.

   

7.875%, 10/01/21 (144A)

    795,000        791,025   

Pension Insurance Corp. plc

   

6.500%, 07/03/24 (GBP)

    300,000        480,925   

Radian Group, Inc.

   

5.500%, 06/01/19

    538,000        551,450   
   

 

 

 
      5,329,552   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.8%

   

Equinix, Inc.

   

5.375%, 01/01/22

    93,000        93,874   

5.750%, 01/01/25

    472,000        476,130   

United Group B.V.

   

7.875%, 11/15/20 (EUR)

    340,000        437,748   

Zayo Group LLC / Zayo Capital, Inc.

   

8.125%, 01/01/20

    2,700,000        2,862,000   

10.125%, 07/01/20 (a)

    2,357,000        2,655,868   
   

 

 

 
      6,525,620   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.6%

   

Ovako AB

   

6.500%, 06/01/19 (EUR)

    350,000        410,812   

Ryerson, Inc. / Joseph T Ryerson & Son, Inc.

   

9.000%, 10/15/17

    885,000        909,338   

Steel Dynamics, Inc.

   

5.125%, 10/01/21 (144A) (a)

    1,155,000        1,176,656   

5.250%, 04/15/23

    329,000        333,935   

5.500%, 10/01/24 (144A)

    739,000        757,475   

6.375%, 08/15/22

    260,000        275,600   

ThyssenKrupp AG

   

3.125%, 10/25/19 (EUR)

    665,000        847,452   
   

 

 

 
      4,711,268   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—0.3%

   

Brunswick Corp.

   

4.625%, 05/15/21 (144A)

    324,000        317,520   

Cirsa Funding Luxembourg S.A.

   

8.750%, 05/15/18 (EUR)

    967,000        1,200,834   

Jarden Corp.

   

7.500%, 05/01/17

    655,000        717,225   

TUI AG

   

4.500%, 10/01/19 (EUR)

    106,000        135,128   
   

 

 

 
      2,370,707   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—2.4%

   

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

   

9.000%, 02/15/20

    14,720,000        10,848,975   

Felcor Lodging L.P.

   

5.625%, 03/01/23

    532,000        526,680   

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC / Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.

   

5.625%, 10/15/21

    1,188,000        1,241,460   

Lodging—(Continued)

  

MGM Resorts International

   

5.250%, 03/31/20 (a)

    509,000      505,182   

6.000%, 03/15/23 (a)

    1,720,000        1,728,600   

6.625%, 12/15/21

    183,000        192,150   

6.750%, 10/01/20

    381,000        400,050   

7.750%, 03/15/22 (a)

    225,000        249,188   

8.625%, 02/01/19

    209,000        236,954   

Station Casinos LLC

   

7.500%, 03/01/21 (a)

    2,108,000        2,160,700   
   

 

 

 
      18,089,939   
   

 

 

 

Machinery - Construction & Mining—0.1%

  

BlueLine Rental Finance Corp.

   

7.000%, 02/01/19 (144A)

    531,000        544,275   
   

 

 

 

Machinery - Diversified—0.1%

  

Galapagos S.A.

   

5.375%, 06/15/21 (EUR)

    165,000        197,602   

Selecta Group B.V.

   

6.500%, 06/15/20 (EUR)

    615,000        703,251   
   

 

 

 
      900,853   
   

 

 

 

Media—6.9%

  

AMC Networks, Inc.

   

4.750%, 12/15/22 (a)

    250,000        242,500   

7.750%, 07/15/21

    405,000        433,350   

Cablevision Systems Corp.

   

5.875%, 09/15/22 (a)

    737,000        746,213   

CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp.

   

5.125%, 02/15/23

    1,869,000        1,826,947   

5.250%, 09/30/22 (a)

    1,725,000        1,720,687   

CCOH Safari LLC

   

5.500%, 12/01/22

    1,767,000        1,793,505   

5.750%, 12/01/24

    3,788,000        3,830,615   

Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC / Cequel Capital Corp.

   

5.125%, 12/15/21 (144A) (a)

    1,200,000        1,164,000   

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.

   

6.500%, 11/15/22

    2,158,000        2,213,253   

7.625%, 03/15/20

    946,000        995,665   

Columbus International, Inc.

   

7.375%, 03/30/21 (144A) (a)

    1,360,000        1,414,400   

DISH DBS Corp.

   

4.250%, 04/01/18

    1,725,000        1,761,656   

5.000%, 03/15/23

    1,290,000        1,248,075   

5.125%, 05/01/20 (a)

    989,000        996,418   

5.875%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    2,424,000        2,436,120   

Gannett Co., Inc.

   

4.875%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    682,000        676,885   

5.125%, 10/15/19

    469,000        479,553   

5.125%, 07/15/20

    275,000        280,500   

5.500%, 09/15/24 (144A) (a)

    508,000        509,270   

6.375%, 10/15/23

    1,338,000        1,418,280   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Media—(Continued)

  

Harron Communications L.P. / Harron Finance Corp.

   

9.125%, 04/01/20 (144A)

    690,000      $ 752,100   

iHeartCommunications, Inc.

   

9.000%, 12/15/19 (a)

    1,059,000        1,043,115   

9.000%, 03/01/21

    731,000        716,380   

9.000%, 09/15/22 (144A)

    1,445,000        1,416,100   

LIN Television Corp.

   

5.875%, 11/15/22 (144A)

    485,000        480,150   

Midcontinent Communications & Midcontinent Finance Corp.

   

6.250%, 08/01/21 (144A)

    605,000        611,050   

MPL 2 Acquisition Canco, Inc.

   

9.875%, 08/15/18 (144A)

    1,151,000        1,237,325   

NBCUniversal Enterprise, Inc.

   

5.250%, 03/29/49 (144A)

    255,000        264,563   

Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.

   

6.875%, 11/15/20

    509,000        528,088   

Nielsen Finance LLC / Nielsen Finance Co.

   

5.000%, 04/15/22 (144A)

    545,000        547,725   

Numericable-SFR

   

5.375%, 05/15/22 (EUR)

    345,000        430,826   

5.625%, 05/15/24 (EUR)

    685,000        857,895   

6.000%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    2,437,000        2,450,403   

6.250%, 05/15/24 (144A) (a)

    2,140,000        2,156,050   

Radio One, Inc.

   

9.250%, 02/15/20 (144A)

    1,025,000        891,750   

RCN Telecom Services LLC / RCN Capital Corp.

   

8.500%, 08/15/20 (144A)

    995,000        1,024,850   

Sinclair Television Group, Inc.

   

5.625%, 08/01/24 (144A)

    566,000        547,605   

Sirius XM Radio, Inc.

   

6.000%, 07/15/24 (144A)

    740,000        758,500   

Sterling Entertainment Enterprises LLC

   

9.750%, 12/15/19 (144A) (b) (c)

    2,750,000        2,805,000   

Unitymedia Hessen GmbH & Co. KG / Unitymedia NRW GmbH

   

4.000%, 01/15/25 (EUR)

    584,000        719,919   

5.500%, 01/15/23 (144A)

    1,160,000        1,212,200   

5.625%, 04/15/23 (EUR)

    104,000        136,290   

Unitymedia Kabel BW GmbH

   

9.500%, 03/15/21 (EUR)

    1,029,000        1,391,446   

Univision Communications, Inc.

   

6.875%, 05/15/19 (144A)

    404,000        420,665   

8.500%, 05/15/21 (144A)

    1,204,000        1,282,260   

VTR Finance B.V.

   

6.875%, 01/15/24 (144A) (a)

    1,061,000        1,082,220   

Wave Holdco LLC / Wave Holdco Corp.

   

8.250%, 07/15/19 (144A) (e)

    1,350,000        1,356,750   
   

 

 

 
      53,309,117   
   

 

 

 

Metal Fabricate/Hardware—0.8%

  

Eco-Bat Finance plc

   

7.750%, 02/15/17 (EUR)

    1,037,000        1,166,984   

Metal Fabricate/Hardware—(Continued)

  

Wise Metals Group LLC / Wise Alloys Finance Corp.

   

8.750%, 12/15/18 (144A)

    4,904,000      5,149,200   
   

 

 

 
      6,316,184   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.5%

  

Alcoa, Inc.

   

5.125%, 10/01/24 (d)

    2,628,000        2,785,076   

First Quantum Minerals, Ltd.

   

7.250%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    282,000        253,800   

Global Brass & Copper, Inc.

   

9.500%, 06/01/19

    575,000        621,000   

Imperial Metals Corp.

   

7.000%, 03/15/19 (144A) (a)

    110,000        101,200   
   

 

 

 
      3,761,076   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.3%

  

CTP Transportation Products LLC / CTP Finance, Inc.

   

8.250%, 12/15/19 (144A)

    500,000        527,500   

Gates Global LLC / Gates Global Co.

   

5.750%, 07/15/22 (EUR)

    465,000        519,066   

Hydra Dutch Holdings 2 B.V.

   

5.582%, 04/15/19 (EUR) (f)

    675,000        741,705   

SPX Corp.

   

6.875%, 09/01/17

    495,000        540,788   
   

 

 

 
      2,329,059   
   

 

 

 

Office/Business Equipment—0.4%

   

CDW LLC / CDW Finance Corp.

   

5.500%, 12/01/24

    2,105,000        2,107,631   

6.000%, 08/15/22 (a)

    1,105,000        1,140,913   
   

 

 

 
      3,248,544   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—7.2%

   

Antero Resources Finance Corp.

   

5.375%, 11/01/21

    978,000        946,215   

6.000%, 12/01/20

    325,000        324,188   

Atwood Oceanics, Inc.

   

6.500%, 02/01/20

    725,000        659,750   

Baytex Energy Corp.

   

5.125%, 06/01/21 (144A) (a)

    356,000        302,600   

Berry Petroleum Co. LLC

   

6.375%, 09/15/22

    898,000        682,480   

6.750%, 11/01/20

    463,000        370,400   

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc.

   

5.750%, 02/01/23 (a)

    1,150,000        908,500   

6.750%, 04/15/21

    1,425,000        1,254,000   

California Resources Corp.

   

6.000%, 11/15/24 (144A) (a)

    2,825,000        2,387,125   

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.

   

7.500%, 09/15/20

    247,000        237,120   

8.625%, 10/15/18

    1,437,000        1,437,000   

Chaparral Energy, Inc.

   

7.625%, 11/15/22

    685,000        448,675   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   

5.750%, 03/15/23 (a)

    2,418,000      $ 2,490,540   

6.125%, 02/15/21

    662,000        695,100   

6.625%, 08/15/20

    851,000        904,187   

6.875%, 11/15/20 (a)

    1,089,000        1,170,675   

Concho Resources, Inc.

   

5.500%, 10/01/22

    1,009,000        1,019,090   

5.500%, 04/01/23

    1,179,000        1,184,541   

CrownRock L.P. / CrownRock Finance, Inc.

   

7.125%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    1,006,000        943,125   

Denbury Resources, Inc.

   

5.500%, 05/01/22 (a)

    280,000        256,200   

Diamondback Energy, Inc.

   

7.625%, 10/01/21

    1,225,000        1,195,906   

EnQuest plc

   

7.000%, 04/15/22 (144A) (a)

    381,000        236,220   

Halcon Resources Corp.

   

8.875%, 05/15/21 (a)

    1,748,000        1,315,370   

9.250%, 02/15/22 (a)

    465,000        342,938   

9.750%, 07/15/20

    850,000        637,500   

Hilcorp Energy I L.P. / Hilcorp Finance Co.

   

5.000%, 12/01/24 (144A)

    938,000        825,440   

7.625%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    970,000        974,850   

8.000%, 02/15/20 (144A) (a)

    245,000        249,900   

Jones Energy Holdings LLC / Jones Energy Finance Corp.

   

6.750%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    550,000        418,000   

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.

   

7.375%, 05/01/22 (a)

    315,000        294,525   

Legacy Reserves L.P. / Legacy Reserves Finance Corp.

   

6.625%, 12/01/21 (a)

    431,000        351,265   

6.625%, 12/01/21 (144A)

    545,000        444,175   

Linn Energy LLC / Linn Energy Finance Corp.

   

6.250%, 11/01/19 (a)

    896,000        757,120   

7.750%, 02/01/21

    285,000        240,113   

8.625%, 04/15/20 (a)

    455,000        395,850   

MEG Energy Corp.

   

6.500%, 03/15/21 (144A)

    1,222,000        1,115,075   

7.000%, 03/31/24 (144A) (a)

    2,437,000        2,205,485   

Memorial Resource Development Corp.

   

5.875%, 07/01/22 (144A)

    2,623,000        2,373,815   

Newfield Exploration Co.

   

6.875%, 02/01/20 (a)

    545,000        553,175   

Oasis Petroleum, Inc.

   

6.500%, 11/01/21

    835,000        759,850   

6.875%, 01/15/23 (a)

    480,000        436,800   

Offshore Group Investment, Ltd.

   

7.500%, 11/01/19 (a)

    552,000        411,240   

Pacific Drilling S.A.

   

5.375%, 06/01/20 (144A)

    291,000        237,165   

Parsley Energy LLC / Parsley Finance Corp.

   

7.500%, 02/15/22 (144A)

    1,179,000        1,117,102   

Penn Virginia Corp.

   

8.500%, 05/01/20

    627,000        501,600   

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Precision Drilling Corp.

   

5.250%, 11/15/24 (144A) (a)

    1,365,000      1,119,300   

6.625%, 11/15/20

    235,000        211,500   

QEP Resources, Inc.

   

5.250%, 05/01/23

    400,000        374,000   

5.375%, 10/01/22

    411,000        388,395   

Range Resources Corp.

   

5.000%, 08/15/22 (a)

    217,000        217,000   

5.000%, 03/15/23 (a)

    284,000        284,000   

5.750%, 06/01/21 (a)

    39,000        40,268   

Rosetta Resources, Inc.

   

5.875%, 06/01/22

    515,000        463,500   

5.875%, 06/01/24 (a)

    501,000        445,890   

RSP Permian, Inc.

   

6.625%, 10/01/22 (144A)

    634,000        589,620   

Sanchez Energy Corp.

   

6.125%, 01/15/23 (144A) (a)

    1,541,000        1,294,440   

SandRidge Energy, Inc.

   

7.500%, 02/15/23 (a)

    990,000        623,700   

8.750%, 01/15/20 (a)

    288,000        194,400   

Seven Generations Energy, Ltd.

   

8.250%, 05/15/20 (144A)

    4,275,000        4,104,000   

Seventy Seven Energy, Inc.

   

6.500%, 07/15/22

    432,000        252,720   

SM Energy Co.

   

6.125%, 11/15/22 (144A)

    2,050,000        1,927,000   

6.500%, 01/01/23

    163,000        156,480   

Summit Midstream Holdings LLC / Summit Midstream Finance Corp.

   

5.500%, 08/15/22

    851,000        808,450   

7.500%, 07/01/21

    776,000        814,800   

Trafigura Beheer B.V.

   

6.375%, 04/08/15 (EUR)

    490,000        596,779   

Triangle USA Petroleum Corp.

   

6.750%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    425,000        280,500   

Ultra Petroleum Corp.

   

5.750%, 12/15/18 (144A)

    198,000        182,655   

Vanguard Natural Resources LLC / VNR Finance Corp.

   

7.875%, 04/01/20

    830,000        716,082   

Whiting Petroleum Corp.

   

5.000%, 03/15/19 (a)

    1,165,000        1,089,275   

6.500%, 10/01/18 (a)

    315,000        303,975   

WPX Energy, Inc.

   

5.250%, 09/15/24 (a)

    614,000        571,020   
   

 

 

 
      55,061,739   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Services—0.3%

   

BIBBY Offshore Services plc

   

7.500%, 06/15/21 (GBP)

    420,000        576,059   

Calfrac Holdings L.P.

   

7.500%, 12/01/20 (144A)

    1,574,000        1,330,030   

Hiland Partners L.P. / Hiland Partner Finance Corp.

   

7.250%, 10/01/20 (144A)

    215,000        204,250   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas Services—(Continued)

  

Key Energy Services, Inc.

   

6.750%, 03/01/21

    330,000      $ 204,600   

Pioneer Energy Services Corp.

   

6.125%, 03/15/22

    79,000        60,040   
   

 

 

 
      2,374,979   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—3.1%

   

Ardagh Packaging Finance plc / Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc.

   

4.250%, 01/15/22 (EUR)

    700,000        835,134   

6.000%, 06/30/21 (144A) (a)

    680,000        649,400   

6.250%, 01/31/19 (144A) (a)

    769,000        751,697   

Ball Corp.

   

4.000%, 11/15/23

    486,000        468,990   

Berry Plastics Corp.

   

5.500%, 05/15/22 (a)

    587,000        595,805   

Beverage Packaging Holdings Luxembourg II S.A. / Beverage Packaging Holdings II

   

5.625%, 12/15/16 (144A)

    696,000        682,080   

6.000%, 06/15/17 (144A)

    1,125,000        1,096,875   

Constellium NV

   

4.625%, 05/15/21 (EUR)

    490,000        514,955   

5.750%, 05/15/24 (144A) (a)

    1,172,000        1,019,640   

8.000%, 01/15/23 (144A)

    2,355,000        2,343,225   

Crown Americas LLC / Crown Americas Capital Corp. III

   

6.250%, 02/01/21

    271,000        285,228   

Crown Americas LLC / Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV

   

4.500%, 01/15/23

    469,000        454,930   

Crown European Holdings S.A.

   

4.000%, 07/15/22 (EUR)

    490,000        615,159   

Greif Nevada Holdings, Inc.

   

7.375%, 07/15/21 (144A) (EUR)

    330,000        471,194   

Novelis, Inc.

   

8.375%, 12/15/17

    350,000        363,125   

8.750%, 12/15/20

    4,902,000        5,196,120   

OI European Group B.V.

   

4.875%, 03/31/21 (EUR)

    726,000        961,251   

Pactiv LLC

   

7.950%, 12/15/25

    1,713,000        1,721,565   

8.375%, 04/15/27

    405,000        407,025   

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc. / Reynolds Group Issuer LLC

   

5.750%, 10/15/20

    460,000        471,500   

6.875%, 02/15/21

    145,000        151,344   

7.125%, 04/15/19

    147,000        151,961   

7.875%, 08/15/19

    1,638,000        1,726,042   

9.000%, 04/15/19

    355,000        367,425   

9.875%, 08/15/19

    859,000        910,540   

Sealed Air Corp.

   

8.375%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    51,000        56,993   

SGD Group SAS

   

5.625%, 05/15/19 (EUR)

    310,000        365,738   

Packaging & Containers—(Continued)

  

Tekni-Plex, Inc.

   

9.750%, 06/01/19 (144A)

    516,000      559,860   
   

 

 

 
      24,194,801   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—1.4%

   

Capsugel S.A.

   

7.000%, 05/15/19 (144A) (e)

    369,000        372,690   

Catamaran Corp.

   

4.750%, 03/15/21

    475,000        475,000   

Endo Finance LLC & Endo Finco, Inc.

   

7.000%, 12/15/20 (144A)

    238,000        249,900   

7.250%, 01/15/22 (144A) (a)

    255,000        272,850   

Grifols Worldwide Operations, Ltd.

   

5.250%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    629,000        643,278   

JLL/Delta Dutch Newco B.V.

   

7.500%, 02/01/22 (144A) (a)

    360,000        365,400   

Omnicare, Inc.

   

4.750%, 12/01/22

    296,000        299,700   

5.000%, 12/01/24

    250,000        256,250   

Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.

   

7.375%, 10/15/20 (a)

    1,287,000        1,344,915   

Pinnacle Merger Sub, Inc.

   

9.500%, 10/01/23 (144A)

    214,000        231,120   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

   

5.625%, 12/01/21 (144A) (a)

    1,182,000        1,190,865   

6.375%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    2,598,000        2,714,910   

6.750%, 08/15/18 (144A)

    1,846,000        1,963,719   

6.750%, 08/15/21 (144A)

    230,000        240,350   

7.000%, 10/01/20 (144A)

    51,000        53,805   

7.250%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    330,000        351,863   
   

 

 

 
      11,026,615   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—3.5%

   

Access Midstream Partners L.P. / ACMP Finance Corp.

   

4.875%, 03/15/24

    823,000        835,345   

5.875%, 04/15/21

    948,000        988,290   

6.125%, 07/15/22

    1,077,000        1,144,313   

Atlas Pipeline Partners L.P. / Atlas Pipeline Finance Corp.

   

5.875%, 08/01/23

    118,000        116,820   

Energy Transfer Equity L.P.

   

5.875%, 01/15/24

    1,808,000        1,835,120   

Genesis Energy L.P. / Genesis Energy Finance Corp.

   

5.750%, 02/15/21

    166,000        154,380   

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

   

6.700%, 02/15/27

    62,930        66,824   

7.750%, 01/15/32 (d)

    3,171,000        3,900,330   

7.800%, 08/01/31 (d)

    525,000        639,256   

MarkWest Energy Partners L.P. / MarkWest Energy Finance Corp.

   

6.250%, 06/15/22

    731,000        756,585   

6.500%, 08/15/21 (a)

    845,000        870,350   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Pipelines—(Continued)

  

NGPL PipeCo LLC

   

7.119%, 12/15/17 (144A) (a)

    1,132,000      $ 1,112,190   

9.625%, 06/01/19 (144A)

    445,000        446,113   

Penn Virginia Resource Partners L.P. / Penn Virginia Resource Finance Corp.

   

6.500%, 05/15/21

    1,896,000        1,914,960   

Regency Energy Partners L.P. / Regency Energy Finance Corp.

   

4.500%, 11/01/23

    1,639,000        1,503,782   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC

   

6.000%, 01/15/19 (144A)

    1,200,000        1,203,000   

6.875%, 04/15/40 (144A)

    280,000        298,200   

Rose Rock Midstream L.P. / Rose Rock Finance Corp.

   

5.625%, 07/15/22

    660,000        617,100   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC

   

5.625%, 04/15/23

    1,443,000        1,410,532   

5.750%, 05/15/24 (a)

    5,841,000        5,731,481   

Targa Resources Partners L.P. / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.

   

6.375%, 08/01/22 (a)

    450,000        455,625   

Tesoro Logistics L.P. / Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp.

   

6.250%, 10/15/22 (144A)

    1,159,000        1,156,103   
   

 

 

 
      27,156,699   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—1.4%

  

Annington Finance No. 5 plc

   

13.000%, 01/15/23 (GBP) (e)

    463,271        895,348   

Crescent Resources LLC / Crescent Ventures, Inc.

   

10.250%, 08/15/17 (144A)

    1,570,000        1,683,825   

Kennedy-Wilson, Inc.

   

5.875%, 04/01/24

    435,000        436,087   

Realogy Group LLC

   

7.625%, 01/15/20 (144A)

    2,896,000        3,098,720   

9.000%, 01/15/20 (144A) (a)

    280,000        306,600   

Realogy Group LLC / Realogy Co-Issuer Corp.

   

4.500%, 04/15/19 (144A) (a)

    1,649,000        1,632,510   

5.250%, 12/01/21 (144A) (a)

    924,000        898,590   

Rialto Holdings LLC / Rialto Corp.

   

7.000%, 12/01/18 (144A)

    545,000        553,175   

RPG Byty Sro

   

6.750%, 05/01/20 (EUR)

    755,000        941,178   

Tropicana Entertainment LLC / Tropicana Finance Corp.

   

9.625%, 12/15/14 (b) (g) (h)

    70,000        0   
   

 

 

 
      10,446,033   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.4%

  

Crown Castle International Corp.

   

5.250%, 01/15/23 (a)

    1,266,000        1,291,320   

Geo Group, Inc. (The)

   

5.875%, 10/15/24

    915,000        926,437   

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

iStar Financial, Inc.

   

4.000%, 11/01/17

    340,000      330,650   

5.000%, 07/01/19

    235,000        227,950   
   

 

 

 
      2,776,357   
   

 

 

 

Retail—1.8%

  

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

   

6.000%, 12/15/24 (144A)

    566,000        575,905   

BC ULC / New Red Finance, Inc.

   

6.000%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    1,340,000        1,373,500   

CST Brands, Inc.

   

5.000%, 05/01/23

    676,000        682,760   

Debenhams plc

   

5.250%, 07/15/21 (GBP)

    570,000        864,904   

Dufry Finance SCA

   

5.500%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    346,000        359,913   

Hema Bondco I B.V.

   

6.250%, 06/15/19 (EUR)

    907,000        921,957   

Hillman Group, Inc. (The)

   

6.375%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    532,000        510,720   

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd., Inc.

   

8.000%, 10/15/21 (144A) (a)

    2,517,000        2,661,728   

PC Nextco Holdings LLC / PC Nextco Finance, Inc.

   

8.750%, 08/15/19

    474,000        476,370   

Penske Automotive Group, Inc.

   

5.375%, 12/01/24 (a)

    324,000        328,050   

5.750%, 10/01/22

    1,109,000        1,150,588   

Punch Taverns Finance plc

   

6.061%, 10/15/27 (144A) (GBP) (f)

    449,000        678,827   

Rite Aid Corp.

   

9.250%, 03/15/20 (a)

    400,000        436,500   

Sally Holdings LLC / Sally Capital, Inc.

   

5.500%, 11/01/23

    393,000        410,685   

Sonic Automotive, Inc.

   

5.000%, 05/15/23

    227,000        220,190   

THOM Europe SAS

   

7.375%, 07/15/19 (EUR)

    590,000        678,233   

Travis Perkins plc

   

4.375%, 09/15/21 (GBP)

    351,000        551,964   

Twin Set-Simona Barbieri S.p.A.

   

5.957%, 07/15/19 (EUR) (f)

    266,000        278,420   

Unique Pub Finance Co. plc (The)

   

6.542%, 03/30/21 (GBP)

    259,440        416,494   
   

 

 

 
      13,577,708   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.5%

  

Micron Technology, Inc.

   

5.500%, 02/01/25 (144A)

    2,190,000        2,211,900   

NXP B.V. / NXP Funding LLC

   

5.750%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    530,000        556,500   

5.750%, 03/15/23 (144A)

    745,000        784,112   

Sensata Technologies B.V.

   

5.625%, 11/01/24 (144A)

    325,000        337,188   
   

 

 

 
      3,889,700   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Shipbuilding—0.1%

  

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

   

5.000%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    422,000      $ 429,385   
   

 

 

 

Software—2.4%

  

BMC Software Finance, Inc.

   

8.125%, 07/15/21 (144A)

    352,000        330,880   

Epicor Software Corp.

   

8.625%, 05/01/19 (a)

    888,000        932,400   

First Data Corp.

   

6.750%, 11/01/20 (144A)

    1,002,000        1,069,635   

7.375%, 06/15/19 (144A)

    1,838,000        1,934,495   

8.250%, 01/15/21 (144A)

    2,453,000        2,624,710   

8.750%, 01/15/22 (144A) (e)

    369,000        396,675   

10.625%, 06/15/21

    1,126,000        1,275,195   

11.250%, 01/15/21

    60,000        68,100   

11.750%, 08/15/21

    1,949,000        2,236,477   

IMS Health, Inc.

   

6.000%, 11/01/20 (144A)

    502,000        517,060   

Infor Software Parent LLC / Infor Software Parent, Inc.

   

7.125%, 05/01/21 (144A) (a) (e)

    1,912,000        1,873,760   

Infor U.S., Inc.

   

9.375%, 04/01/19

    2,055,000        2,198,850   

MSCI, Inc.

   

5.250%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    1,378,000        1,426,230   

Nuance Communications, Inc.

   

5.375%, 08/15/20 (144A)

    1,070,000        1,072,675   

Sophia L.P. / Sophia Finance, Inc.

   

9.750%, 01/15/19 (144A)

    549,000        586,058   
   

 

 

 
      18,543,200   
   

 

 

 

Storage/Warehousing—0.1%

   

Mobile Mini, Inc.

   

7.875%, 12/01/20

    540,000        561,600   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—9.2%

   

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.

   

4.625%, 07/01/17 (144A) (a)

    1,190,000        1,201,900   

6.450%, 03/15/29

    578,000        551,990   

6.750%, 11/15/20 (144A)

    2,330,000        2,459,315   

Altice Financing S.A.

   

6.500%, 01/15/22 (144A)

    1,290,000        1,260,975   

Altice S.A.

   

7.250%, 05/15/22 (EUR)

    1,005,000        1,231,302   

7.750%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    1,325,000        1,327,484   

Avaya, Inc.

   

7.000%, 04/01/19 (144A)

    655,000        638,625   

10.500%, 03/01/21 (144A) (a)

    680,000        581,400   

CenturyLink, Inc.

   

5.625%, 04/01/20

    1,039,000        1,077,962   

6.450%, 06/15/21 (a)

    215,000        230,588   

CommScope, Inc.

   

5.000%, 06/15/21 (144A)

    512,000        504,320   

5.500%, 06/15/24 (144A)

    527,000        519,095   

Consolidated Communications, Inc.

   

6.500%, 10/01/22 (144A)

    665,000        666,663   
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Telecommunications—(Continued)

  

Digicel Group, Ltd.

   

7.125%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    1,550,000      $ 1,441,500   

8.250%, 09/30/20 (144A)

    1,116,000        1,082,520   

Digicel, Ltd.

   

6.000%, 04/15/21 (144A) (a)

    3,947,000        3,690,445   

DigitalGlobe, Inc.

   

5.250%, 02/01/21 (144A) (a)

    173,000        164,350   

Frontier Communications Corp.

   

6.250%, 09/15/21

    785,000        788,925   

Inmarsat Finance plc

   

4.875%, 05/15/22 (144A) (a)

    655,000        648,450   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A.

   

5.500%, 08/01/23 (a)

    2,005,000        1,992,769   

6.625%, 12/15/22

    1,660,000        1,705,650   

Intelsat Luxembourg S.A.

   

6.750%, 06/01/18

    1,145,000        1,167,900   

7.750%, 06/01/21

    1,796,000        1,800,490   

Level 3 Communications, Inc.

   

8.875%, 06/01/19

    980,000        1,038,996   

Level 3 Escrow II, Inc.

   

5.375%, 08/15/22 (144A)

    2,410,000        2,422,050   

Level 3 Financing, Inc.

   

6.125%, 01/15/21 (a)

    205,000        212,175   

7.000%, 06/01/20

    1,142,000        1,203,382   

8.125%, 07/01/19

    1,556,000        1,653,250   

8.625%, 07/15/20

    810,000        873,787   

Nokia Oyj

   

6.625%, 05/15/39 (a)

    642,000        709,410   

Orange S.A.

   

4.000%, 10/29/49 (EUR) (f)

    475,000        597,749   

Play Finance 2 S.A.

   

5.250%, 02/01/19 (EUR)

    550,000        688,821   

Sprint Capital Corp.

   

6.875%, 11/15/28

    1,205,000        1,060,400   

8.750%, 03/15/32

    960,000        928,800   

Sprint Communications, Inc.

   

7.000%, 03/01/20 (144A)

    1,822,000        1,967,760   

9.000%, 11/15/18 (144A) (d)

    3,190,000        3,628,306   

Sprint Corp.

   

7.125%, 06/15/24

    1,515,000        1,408,950   

7.875%, 09/15/23

    3,377,000        3,333,774   

T-Mobile USA, Inc.

   

6.000%, 03/01/23

    840,000        842,100   

6.375%, 03/01/25

    2,675,000        2,717,800   

6.500%, 01/15/24

    1,000,000        1,025,000   

6.633%, 04/28/21

    784,000        804,580   

6.731%, 04/28/22

    504,000        519,120   

Telecom Italia S.p.A.

   

4.500%, 01/25/21 (EUR)

    695,000        918,566   

4.875%, 09/25/20 (EUR)

    467,000        625,990   

5.875%, 05/19/23 (GBP)

    1,000,000        1,690,331   

6.375%, 06/24/19 (GBP)

    700,000        1,199,107   

Telefonica Europe B.V.

   

4.200%, 12/29/49 (EUR) (f)

    300,000        368,007   

Telenet Finance V Luxembourg SCA

   

6.250%, 08/15/22 (EUR)

    910,000        1,198,366   

6.750%, 08/15/24 (EUR)

    543,000        735,944   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Telecommunications—(Continued)

  

Virgin Media Finance plc

   

7.000%, 04/15/23 (GBP)

    513,000      $ 867,525   

Virgin Media Secured Finance plc

   

6.000%, 04/15/21 (GBP)

    2,808,000        4,606,321   

Wind Acquisition Finance S.A.

   

4.000%, 07/15/20 (EUR)

    1,587,000        1,883,767   

4.082%, 07/15/20 (EUR) (f)

    805,000        930,256   

Windstream Corp.

   

6.375%, 08/01/23

    90,000        84,150   

7.750%, 10/15/20 (a)

    455,000        468,650   

7.750%, 10/01/21 (a)

    425,000        433,500   
   

 

 

 
      70,381,308   
   

 

 

 

Textiles—0.2%

   

Polymer Group, Inc.

   

6.875%, 06/01/19 (144A)

    165,000        158,400   

Springs Industries, Inc.

   

6.250%, 06/01/21

    1,103,000        1,097,485   
   

 

 

 
      1,255,885   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—1.0%

   

CEVA Group plc

   

9.000%, 09/01/21 (144A) (a)

    322,000        302,680   

Florida East Coast Holdings Corp.

   

6.750%, 05/01/19 (144A)

    1,686,000        1,669,140   

Global Ship Lease, Inc.

   

10.000%, 04/01/19 (144A)

    2,535,000        2,554,012   

JCH Parent, Inc.

   

10.500%, 03/15/19 (144A) (e)

    2,112,000        1,953,600   

Watco Cos. LLC / Watco Finance Corp.

   

6.375%, 04/01/23 (144A)

    617,000        610,830   

XPO Logistics, Inc.

   

7.875%, 09/01/19 (144A)

    490,000        512,050   
   

 

 

 
      7,602,312   
   

 

 

 

Trucking & Leasing—0.1%

  

Jurassic Holdings III, Inc.

   

6.875%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    531,000        493,830   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $595,844,119)

      583,493,398   
   

 

 

 
Floating Rate Loans (l)—10.5%   

Advertising—0.1%

  

Affinion Group, Inc.

   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.500%, 10/12/18

    1,150,000        1,037,156   

Term Loan B, 6.750%, 04/30/18

    99,250        93,171   
   

 

 

 
      1,130,327   
   

 

 

 

Aerospace/Defense—0.7%

  

BE Aerospace, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 4.000%, 12/16/21

    1,225,000        1,225,000   

Aerospace/Defense—(Continued)

  

Sequa Corp.

   

Term Loan B, 5.250%, 06/19/17

    3,758,609      3,674,041   

Silver II U.S. Holdings LLC

   

Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/13/19

    725,807        675,757   
   

 

 

 
      5,574,798   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—0.1%

  

Ceva Logistics Canada ULC

   

Term Loan, 6.500%, 03/19/21

    105,258        98,910   

Ceva Logistics U.S. Holdings, Inc.

   

Term Loan, 6.500%, 03/19/21

    842,064        791,277   
   

 

 

 
      890,187   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.2%

  

Northwest Airlines, Inc.

   

Term Loan, 1.556%, 09/10/18

    1,091,333        1,038,131   

Term Loan, 2.176%, 03/10/17

    743,333        720,104   
   

 

 

 
      1,758,235   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.5%

  

Ascend Performance Materials LLC

   

Term Loan B, 6.750%, 04/10/18

    3,325,950        3,059,874   

OXEA Finance LLC

   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.250%, 07/15/20

    560,000        536,200   
   

 

 

 
      3,596,074   
   

 

 

 

Coal—0.3%

  

American Energy - Marcellus LLC

   

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 08/04/20

    380,772        336,983   

American Energy - Utica LLC

   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.500%, 09/30/18 (h)

    1,813,035        1,658,927   

Arch Coal, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 6.250%, 05/16/18

    724,519        602,437   
   

 

 

 
      2,598,347   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.3%

   

Hertz Corp. (The)

   

Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 03/11/18

    334,150        326,353   

Interactive Data Corp.

   

Term Loan, 4.750%, 05/02/21

    1,815,875        1,807,250   
   

 

 

 
      2,133,603   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.1%

   

Dell, Inc.

   

Term Loan C, 3.750%, 10/29/18

    691,512        689,413   
   

 

 

 

Distribution/Wholesale—0.1%

   

HD Supply, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 4.000%, 06/28/18

    956,549        949,176   
   

 

 

 

Electric—1.2%

   

Calpine Corp.

   

Term Loan B1, 0.000%, 04/01/18 (j)

    81,788        81,174   

Term Loan B3, 4.000%, 10/09/19

    763,048        754,941   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (l)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—(Continued)

  

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Co. LLC

   

Term Loan, 4.250%, 06/19/16

    1,925,723      $ 1,928,733   

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC

   

Extended Revolver, 4.648%, 10/10/16

    915,000        594,750   

Extended Term Loan, 4.648%, 10/10/17

    5,704,315        3,693,544   

Non-Extended Term Loan, 4.648%, 10/10/15

    269,710        176,210   

Term Loan, 3.750%, 05/05/16

    2,110,693        2,122,566   
   

 

 

 
      9,351,918   
   

 

 

 

Entertainment—0.6%

   

Amaya Holdings B.V.

   

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 08/01/21

    571,854        568,565   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.000%, 08/01/22

    2,580,000        2,560,650   

Diamond Resorts Corp.

   

Term Loan, 5.500%, 05/09/21

    1,417,875        1,410,786   
   

 

 

 
      4,540,001   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.2%

   

Wilsonart LLC

   

Term Loan B, 4.000%, 10/31/19

    1,293,601        1,258,027   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.0%

  

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.

   

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 11/03/20

    365,287        356,612   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.2%

   

Community Health Systems, Inc.

   

Term Loan D, 4.250%, 01/27/21

    1,220,515        1,219,668   
   

 

 

 

Household Products/Wares—0.2%

   

Spin Holdco, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 4.250%, 11/14/19

    1,255,493        1,238,230   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.2%

   

Zayo Group LLC

   

Term Loan B, 4.000%, 07/02/19

    1,449,820        1,439,323   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.3%

   

Travelport Finance (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l.

   

Term Loan B, 6.000%, 09/02/21

    2,630,000        2,630,658   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—1.5%

   

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co.

   

Extended Term Loan B6, 6.985%, 03/01/17

    3,028,654        2,676,573   

Term Loan B7, 9.750%, 01/28/18

    3,169,048        2,810,946   

Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC

   

Term Loan B, 7.000%, 10/11/20

    3,704,680        3,516,360   

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC

   

Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 10/26/20

    235,674        233,258   

La Quinta Intermediate Holdings LLC

   

Term Loan B, 4.000%, 04/14/21

    848,411        839,503   

MGM Resorts International

   

Term Loan B, 3.500%, 12/20/19

    222,229        217,368   

Station Casinos LLC

   

Term Loan B, 4.250%, 03/02/20

    1,569,674        1,542,205   
   

 

 

 
      11,836,213   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.6%

   

Gates Global, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/05/21

    4,329,150      4,221,696   
   

 

 

 

Media—1.0%

   

Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc.

   

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/23/21

    603,327        598,236   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.500%, 07/25/22

    955,000        944,973   

Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/23/21

    20,111        19,941   

Cengage Learning Acquisitions, Inc.

   

1st Lien Term Loan, 7.000%, 03/31/20

    3,269,413        3,240,805   

Term Loan, 0.000%, 07/03/15 (j)

    295,300        0   

Clear Channel Communications, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 3.819%, 01/29/16

    198,932        196,881   

Term Loan D, 6.919%, 01/30/19

    2,631,109        2,485,577   

Univision Communications, Inc.

   

Term Loan C4, 4.000%, 03/01/20

    588,458        576,689   
   

 

 

 
      8,063,102   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.1%

   

Novelis, Inc.

   

Term Loan, 3.750%, 03/10/17

    555,046        550,710   
   

 

 

 

Office/Business Equipment—0.1%

   

Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 4.750%, 11/26/20

    453,854        440,238   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.1%

   

Grifols Worldwide Operations USA, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 3.169%, 02/27/21

    676,795        668,674   

Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.

   

Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 09/30/19

    224,433        219,477   
   

 

 

 
      888,151   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.0%

   

Realogy Corp.

   

Extended Letter of Credit, 4.670%, 10/10/16

    128,859        127,648   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.3%

   

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.

   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.500%, 03/26/20

    550,000        542,667   

Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. (The)

   

Term Loan, 4.250%, 10/25/20

    1,301,875        1,277,102   

Rite Aid Corp.

   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 08/21/20

    350,000        351,969   
   

 

 

 
      2,171,738   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.2%

   

CEVA Intercompany B.V.

   

Term Loan, 6.500%, 03/19/21

    610,496        573,676   

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.

   

Term Loan B4, 4.250%, 02/28/20

    704,579        688,726   
   

 

 

 
      1,262,402   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (l)—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares/

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Software—1.2%

   

First Data Corp.

   

Extended Term Loan, 3.667%, 03/23/18

    6,796,857      $ 6,669,416   

Term Loan, 3.667%, 09/24/18

    200,000        196,312   

Kronos, Inc.

   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.750%, 04/30/20

    1,906,969        1,948,684   

Tibco Software Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 6.500%, 11/04/20

    355,000        344,350   
   

 

 

 
      9,158,762   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.0%

   

Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc.

   

Term Loan B, 5.000%, 06/06/19

    262,400        262,400   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.1%

   

CEVA Group plc

   

Term Loan, 6.500%, 03/19/21

    583,293        548,114   
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loans
(Cost $83,464,017)

      80,885,771   
   

 

 

 
Common Stocks—8.9%                

Auto Components—1.1%

   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The) (a)

    281,706        8,048,340   

Lear Corp.

    2,395        234,902   
   

 

 

 
      8,283,242   
   

 

 

 

Banks—0.6%

   

Citigroup, Inc. (a)

    84,080        4,549,569   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—1.9%

   

American Capital, Ltd. (a) (k)

    902,905        13,191,442   

E*Trade Financial Corp. (a) (k)

    50,299        1,220,002   

Uranium Participation Corp. (k)

    28,400        125,891   
   

 

 

 
      14,537,335   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.5%

   

Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. (a) (k)

    11,202        255,294   

Huntsman Corp. (a)

    171,764        3,912,784   

LyondellBasell Industries NV - Class A

    8        635   
   

 

 

 
      4,168,713   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—2.0%

   

Ally Financial, Inc. (k)

    93,787        2,215,249   

Ally Financial, Inc. (Private Placement) (k)

    562,960        13,297,115   
   

 

 

 
      15,512,364   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.0%

   

Smurfit Kappa Group plc

    520        11,692   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—0.3%

  

Broadview Networks Holdings, Inc. (k)

    52,943        116,473   

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (a) (k)

    38,560        1,904,093   
   

 

 

 
      2,020,566   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—0.4%

   

Amaya, Inc. (k)

    119,418      2,934,571   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.1%

   

Stanley-Martin Communities LLC (b) (k) (c)

    450        633,150   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—1.0%

   

American International Group, Inc.

    131,638        7,373,045   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.2%

   

Cengage Learning, Inc.

    26,678        642,500   

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. - Class A (a)

    31,744        336,169   

HMH Publishing Co., Ltd. (k)

    47,825        990,461   
   

 

 

 
      1,969,130   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.0%

   

African Minerals, Ltd. (b) (k)

    159,753        24,899   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.5%

   

General Maritime Corp. (144A) (b) (c)

    262,836        4,058,188   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—0.1%

   

Constellium NV - Class A (k)

    25,003        410,799   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—0.0%

   

Ainsworth Lumber Co., Ltd. (144A) (k)

    10,657        30,545   

Ainsworth Lumber Co., Ltd. (k)

    53,942        154,611   
   

 

 

 
      185,156   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.2%

  

HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (a) (k)

    61,680        1,818,943   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $61,193,547)

      68,491,362   
   

 

 

 
Asset-Backed Securities—1.8%                

Asset-Backed - Other—1.8%

   

Adams Mill CLO, Ltd.

   

3.697%, 07/15/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        229,568   

ALM VIII, Ltd.

   

2.981%, 01/20/26 (144A) (f)

    500,000        481,092   

3.431%, 01/20/26 (144A) (f)

    550,000        508,902   

4.731%, 01/20/26 (144A) (f)

    500,000        442,663   

ALM XIV, Ltd.

   

3.684%, 07/28/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        232,266   

5.084%, 07/28/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        218,644   

Apidos CLO XVIII

   

3.884%, 07/22/26 (144A) (f)

    550,000        518,500   

Atlas Senior Loan Fund, Ltd.

   

3.246%, 07/16/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        241,654   

3.696%, 07/16/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        231,102   

Avalon IV Capital, Ltd.

   

3.078%, 04/17/23 (144A) (f)

    250,000        246,428   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description       
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

  

Battalion CLO, Ltd.

   

3.582%, 10/22/25 (144A) (f)

    500,000      $ 463,331   

Benefit Street Partners CLO, Ltd.

   

3.731%, 07/20/26 (144A) (f)

    500,000        468,194   

Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO, Ltd.

   

6.331%, 07/20/23 (144A) (f)

    290,000        290,339   

Cedar Funding III CLO, Ltd.

   

3.032%, 05/20/26 (144A) (f)

    320,000        304,798   

3.789%, 05/20/26 (144A) (f)

    270,000        251,678   

CIFC Funding, Ltd.

   

2.952%, 07/22/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        238,445   

3.552%, 07/22/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        230,724   

Flatiron CLO, Ltd.

   

3.828%, 01/17/26 (144A) (f)

    500,000        475,235   

Galaxy XVIII CLO, Ltd.

   

3.234%, 10/15/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        242,142   

Jamestown CLO, Ltd.

   

3.734%, 07/15/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        232,707   

LCM X L.P.

   

5.731%, 04/15/22 (144A) (f)

    1,000,000        961,991   

Madison Park Funding VIII, Ltd.

   

3.032%, 04/22/22 (144A) (f)

    250,000        248,402   

4.082%, 04/22/22 (144A) (f)

    250,000        249,437   

Madison Park Funding XIV, Ltd.

   

3.831%, 07/20/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        236,458   

Oaktree EIF II, Ltd.

   

2.604%, 11/15/25 (144A) (f)

    1,500,000        1,470,150   

Octagon Investment Partners XII, Ltd.

   

5.732%, 05/05/23 (144A) (f)

    400,000        386,460   

Octagon Investment Partners XX, Ltd.

   

3.885%, 08/12/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        236,004   

5.485%, 08/12/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        227,535   

Palmer Square CLO, Ltd.

   

2.778%, 10/17/22 (144A) (f)

    400,000        390,488   

4.078%, 10/17/22 (144A) (f)

    300,000        297,027   

5.978%, 10/17/22 (144A) (f)

    260,000        258,058   

Steele Creek CLO, Ltd.

   

2.484%, 08/21/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        243,301   

TICP CLO II, Ltd.

   

1.681%, 07/20/26 (144A) (f)

    500,000        493,980   

Voya CLO, Ltd.

   

3.829%, 07/25/26 (144A) (f)

    500,000        468,020   

Washington Mill CLO, Ltd.

   

3.231%, 04/20/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        241,625   

3.681%, 04/20/26 (144A) (f)

    320,000        296,952   

WhiteHorse IX, Ltd.

   

2.919%, 07/17/26 (144A) (f)

    250,000        236,628   

Whitehorse VIII, Ltd.

   

2.982%, 05/01/26 (144A) (f)

    345,000        328,163   
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $14,030,008)

      13,819,091   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stocks—1.2%   
Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas—0.1%

  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   

5.750%, 12/31/49

    899      957,435   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—1.1%

  

Amaya, Inc.

   

Zero Coupon, 12/31/49 (CAD) (c)

    7,581,000        8,548,037   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
(Cost $8,025,689)

      9,505,472   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds—1.0%   

Coal—0.1%

  

Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.

   

3.750%, 12/15/17 (a)

    1,702,000        849,936   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.0%

  

E*Trade Financial Corp.

   

Zero Coupon, 08/31/19 (144A)

    76,000        179,693   

Zero Coupon, 08/31/19

    11,000        26,008   
   

 

 

 
      205,701   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.1%

  

Radian Group, Inc.

   

2.250%, 03/01/19 (a)

    363,000        583,750   

3.000%, 11/15/17 (a)

    169,000        258,253   
   

 

 

 
      842,003   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.1%

  

Enterprise Funding, Ltd.

   

3.500%, 09/10/20 (GBP)

    300,000        429,940   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.7%

  

Nokia Oyj

   

5.000%, 10/26/17 (EUR)

    1,400,000        4,598,215   

Telecom Italia Finance S.A.

   

6.125%, 11/15/16 (EUR)

    300,000        425,454   

Telefonica S.A.

   

6.000%, 07/24/17 (EUR)

    400,000        497,088   
   

 

 

 
      5,520,757   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Bonds
(Cost $8,166,797)

      7,848,337   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks—0.9%                

Banks—0.5%

   

GMAC Capital Trust I, 8.125% (f)

    143,228        3,778,355   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.1%

   

Ally Financial, Inc., 8.500% (f)

    22,812        613,186   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Preferred Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Diversified Financial Services—0.3%

   

Marsico Parent Superholdco LLC (144A) (b) (k)

    25      $ 0   

RBS Capital Funding Trust VII, 6.080%

    90,156        2,198,905   
   

 

 

 
      2,198,905   
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $6,532,015)

      6,590,446   
   

 

 

 
Warrant—0.0%                

Media—0.0%

   

HMH Publishing Co., Ltd.,
Expires 06/22/19 (k) (c)
(Cost $16)

    1,601        9,529   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—11.8%                

Mutual Fund—11.5%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (m)

    88,057,829        88,057,829   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—0.3%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $1,990,178 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $2,060,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $2,031,234.

    1,990,178        1,990,178   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $90,048,007)

      90,048,007   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—112.0%
(Cost $867,304,215) (n)

      860,691,413   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(12.0)%

      (91,958,791
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 768,732,622   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $89,944,671 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $88,057,829 and non-cash collateral with a value of $8,257,735. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 1.2% of net assets.
(c) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $17,768,990, which is 2.3% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
(d) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open reverse repurchase agreements. As of December 31, 2014, the value of securities pledged amounted to $30,277,834.
(e) Payment-in-kind security for which part of the income earned may be paid as additional principal.
(f) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(g) Non-income producing; Security is in default and/or issuer is in bankruptcy.
(h) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.4% of net assets.
(i) Security is a “step-up” bond where coupon increases or steps up at a predetermined date. Rate shown is current coupon rate.
(j) This loan will settle after December 31, 2014, at which time the interest rate will be determined.
(k) Non-income producing security.
(l) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.
(m) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(n) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $869,715,340. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $23,983,313 and $(33,007,240), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(9,023,927) for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $240,991,688, which is 31.3% of net assets.
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CLO)— Collateralized Loan Obligation
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
   Shares/
Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

Amaya Inc.

   02/12/14    $ 7,581,000       $ 6,986,453       $ 8,548,037   

General Maritime Corp.

   12/11/13      262,836         4,862,466         4,058,188   

HMH Publishing Co., Ltd.

   06/22/14      1,601         16         9,529   

National Air Cargo Group, Inc.

   08/20/10      1,715,086         1,715,086         1,715,086   

Stanley-Martin Communities LLC

   10/22/07      450         282,182         633,150   

Sterling Entertainment Enterprises LLC

   12/28/12      2,750,000         2,750,000         2,805,000   
           

 

 

 
              17,768,990   
           

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

   Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
CAD     745,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     01/21/15         $ 663,218         $ (22,233
CAD     1,570,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     01/21/15           1,385,997           (35,194
EUR     620,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

     01/21/15           762,071           (11,712
EUR     625,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

     01/21/15           783,758           (27,347
EUR     244,000      

Bank of America N.A.

     01/21/15           298,589           (3,286
EUR     394,000      

Bank of America N.A.

     01/21/15           493,087           (16,246
EUR     1,330,000      

Bank of America N.A.

     01/21/15           1,657,349           (47,708
EUR     367,000      

Citibank N.A.

     01/21/15           456,770           (12,606
EUR     50,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/21/15           63,403           (2,890
EUR     112,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     01/21/15           137,906           (2,357
EUR     345,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     01/21/15           433,442           (15,903
EUR     462,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     01/21/15           571,536           (12,397
EUR     964,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     01/21/15           1,193,558           (26,871
EUR     500,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     01/21/15           619,559           (14,431
EUR     519,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     01/21/15           647,981           (19,858
EUR     300,000      

UBS AG

     01/21/15           373,134           (10,057
EUR     300,000      

UBS AG

     01/21/15           368,735           (5,658
GBP     335,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

     01/21/15           525,266           (3,200
GBP     194,000      

Bank of America N.A.

     01/21/15           304,100           (1,770
GBP     354,000      

UBS AG

     01/21/15           567,860           (16,185

Contracts to Deliver

                        
CAD     13,735,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/21/15           12,228,400           411,028   
CAD     1,770,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/21/15           1,580,949           58,069   
CAD     2,715,000      

Toronto Dominion Bank

     01/21/15           2,378,245           42,303   
EUR     171,000      

BNP Paribas S.A.

     01/21/15           216,812           9,858   
EUR     48,438,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/21/15           61,799,622           3,177,213   
EUR     360,000      

UBS AG

     01/21/15           451,976           16,284   
EUR     232,000      

UBS AG

     01/21/15           289,416           8,636   
GBP     15,279,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/21/15           24,361,754           550,886   
                 

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 3,966,368   
                 

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Short

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         (104     USD         (11,878,657   $ (608,623

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         (501     USD         (49,996,178     (1,416,442
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Depreciation

  

  $ (2,025,065
            

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

Counterparty

   Interest
Rate
    Settlement
Date
     Maturity
Date(a)
   Principal
Amount
     Net Closing
Amount
 

Barclays Bank plc

     (1.750 )%      06/25/14       OPEN      USD         562,480       $ 562,480   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     0.500     12/22/14       OPEN      USD         597,000         597,000   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     0.650     12/09/14       OPEN      USD         810,919         810,919   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     0.500     12/16/14       OPEN      USD         915,750         915,750   

Barclays Bank plc

     0.600     10/03/14       OPEN      USD         2,031,000         2,031,000   

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     0.600     12/19/14       OPEN      USD         2,265,000         2,265,000   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     0.500     12/22/14       12/19/16      USD         3,615,000         3,615,000   

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     0.600     11/10/14       OPEN      USD         7,637,000         7,637,000   

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     0.600     12/19/14       OPEN      USD         9,001,000         9,001,000   
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 27,435,149   
                

 

 

 

 

(a) Certain agreements have no stated maturity and can be terminated by either party at any time.

Securities pledged as collateral against open reverse repurchase agreements are noted in the Schedule of Investments. A security in the amount of $31,125 has been received at the custodian bank as collateral for reverse repurchase agreements.

Swap Agreements

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreements—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

   Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
     Maturity
Date
     Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
   Notional
Amount(c)
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Markit CDX North America High Yield Index, Series 23

     5.000%         12/20/19       3.557%      USD         32,454,250       $ (38,412)   

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate Issues—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp. 7.250%, due 10/30/17

    8.000%        09/20/17      Deutsche Bank AG     1.235%        USD        1,500,000      $ 271,237      $      $ 271,237   

Techem GmbH
6.125% due 10/01/19

    5.000%        09/20/18      Credit Suisse International     1.303%        EUR        700,000        114,713        77,889        36,824   

Techem GmbH
6.125% due 10/01/19

    5.000%        09/20/18      Credit Suisse International     1.303%        EUR        241,000        39,494        27,744        11,750   

Techem GmbH
6.125% due 10/01/19

    5.000%        12/20/18      Credit Suisse International     1.417%        EUR        235,788        39,783        25,951        13,832   

Techem GmbH
6.125% due 10/01/19

    5.000%        06/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     1.656%        EUR        456,000        80,043        66,852        13,191   

Techem GmbH
5.000% due 06/20/19

    5.000%        06/20/19      Credit Suisse International     1.688%        EUR        3,195,000        555,223        487,209        68,014   

Techem GmbH
6.125% due 10/01/19

    5.000%        06/20/19      Credit Suisse International     1.656%        EUR        760,000        133,406        110,623        22,783   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ 1,233,899      $ 796,268      $ 437,631   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

A security in the amount of $873,595 has been received at the custodian bank as collateral for swap contracts.

 

(a) If the Portfolio is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Portfolio will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(b) Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate issues or indices as of period end serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced entity or obligation.
(c) The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted payments that the Portfolio could be required to make under a credit default swap contract would be the notional amount of the contract. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the referenced debt obligation or net amounts received from the settlement of purchased protection credit default swap contracts entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced debt obligation.
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(USD)— United States Dollar

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Corporate Bonds & Notes            

Advertising

   $ —         $ 784,965       $ —         $ 784,965   

Aerospace/Defense

     —           7,501,508         1,715,086         9,216,594   

Airlines

     —           7,082,262         —           7,082,262   

Apparel

     —           916,650         —           916,650   

Auto Manufacturers

     —           5,079,181         —           5,079,181   

Auto Parts & Equipment

     —           7,943,925         —           7,943,925   

Banks

     —           14,629,750         —           14,629,750   

Beverages

     —           636,867         —           636,867   

Building Materials

     —           7,929,268         —           7,929,268   

Chemicals

     —           8,361,043         0         8,361,043   

Coal

     —           8,060,486         —           8,060,486   

Commercial Services

     —           22,718,880         —           22,718,880   

Computers

     —           964,550         —           964,550   

Distribution/Wholesale

     —           12,639,130         —           12,639,130   

Diversified Financial Services

     —           22,990,010         —           22,990,010   

Electric

     —           15,584,435         —           15,584,435   

Electrical Components & Equipment

     —           1,126,472         —           1,126,472   

Electronics

     —           790,362         —           790,362   

Energy-Alternate Sources

     —           464,705         —           464,705   

Engineering & Construction

     —           7,970,329         —           7,970,329   

Entertainment

     —           4,347,531         —           4,347,531   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Environmental Control

   $ —         $ 1,509,454       $ —         $ 1,509,454   

Food

     —           4,286,994         —           4,286,994   

Food Service

     —           1,491,729         —           1,491,729   

Forest Products & Paper

     —           662,025         —           662,025   

Healthcare - Products

     —           5,266,962         —           5,266,962   

Healthcare - Services

     —           28,694,613         —           28,694,613   

Holding Companies - Diversified

     —           2,429,920         —           2,429,920   

Home Builders

     —           19,516,539         —           19,516,539   

Home Furnishings

     —           720,310         —           720,310   

Household Products/Wares

     —           1,469,112         —           1,469,112   

Insurance

     —           5,329,552         —           5,329,552   

Internet

     —           6,525,620         —           6,525,620   

Iron/Steel

     —           4,711,268         —           4,711,268   

Leisure Time

     —           2,370,707         —           2,370,707   

Lodging

     —           18,089,939         —           18,089,939   

Machinery - Construction & Mining

     —           544,275         —           544,275   

Machinery - Diversified

     —           900,853         —           900,853   

Media

     —           50,504,117         2,805,000         53,309,117   

Metal Fabricate/Hardware

     —           6,316,184         —           6,316,184   

Mining

     —           3,761,076         —           3,761,076   

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

     —           2,329,059         —           2,329,059   

Office/Business Equipment

     —           3,248,544         —           3,248,544   

Oil & Gas

     —           55,061,739         —           55,061,739   

Oil & Gas Services

     —           2,374,979         —           2,374,979   

Packaging & Containers

     —           24,194,801         —           24,194,801   

Pharmaceuticals

     —           11,026,615         —           11,026,615   

Pipelines

     —           27,156,699         —           27,156,699   

Real Estate

     —           10,446,033         0         10,446,033   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     —           2,776,357         —           2,776,357   

Retail

     —           13,577,708         —           13,577,708   

Semiconductors

     —           3,889,700         —           3,889,700   

Shipbuilding

     —           429,385         —           429,385   

Software

     —           18,543,200         —           18,543,200   

Storage/Warehousing

     —           561,600         —           561,600   

Telecommunications

     —           70,381,308         —           70,381,308   

Textiles

     —           1,255,885         —           1,255,885   

Transportation

     —           7,602,312         —           7,602,312   

Trucking & Leasing

     —           493,830         —           493,830   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes

     —           578,973,312         4,520,086         583,493,398   

Total Floating Rate Loans*

     —           80,885,771         —           80,885,771   
Common Stocks            

Auto Components

     8,283,242         —           —           8,283,242   

Banks

     4,549,569         —           —           4,549,569   

Capital Markets

     14,537,335         —           —           14,537,335   

Chemicals

     4,168,713         —           —           4,168,713   

Consumer Finance

     2,215,249         13,297,115         —           15,512,364   

Containers & Packaging

     —           11,692         —           11,692   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     2,020,566         —           —           2,020,566   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     2,934,571         —           —           2,934,571   

Household Durables

     —           —           633,150         633,150   

Insurance

     7,373,045         —           —           7,373,045   

Media

     336,169         1,632,961         —           1,969,130   

Metals & Mining

     —           —           24,899         24,899   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     —           —           4,058,188         4,058,188   

Packaging & Containers

     410,799         —           —           410,799   

Paper & Forest Products

     185,156         —           —           185,156   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     1,818,943         —           —           1,818,943   

Total Common Stocks

     48,833,357         14,941,768         4,716,237         68,491,362   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Asset-Backed Securities*

   $ —        $ 13,819,091      $ —         $ 13,819,091   

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks*

     —          9,505,472        —           9,505,472   

Total Convertible Bonds*

     —          7,848,337        —           7,848,337   
Preferred Stocks          

Banks

     3,778,355        —          —           3,778,355   

Consumer Finance

     613,186        —          —           613,186   

Diversified Financial Services

     2,198,905        —          0         2,198,905   

Total Preferred Stocks

     6,590,446        —          0         6,590,446   

Total Warrant*

     —          9,529        —           9,529   
Short—Term Investments          

Mutual Fund

     88,057,829        —          —           88,057,829   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          1,990,178        —           1,990,178   

Total Short—Term Investments

     88,057,829        1,990,178        —           90,048,007   

Total Investments

   $ 143,481,632      $ 707,973,458      $ 9,236,323       $ 860,691,413   
                                   

Collateral for Securities Loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (88,057,829   $ —         $ (88,057,829
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 4,274,277      $ —         $ 4,274,277   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (307,909     —           (307,909

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 3,966,368      $ —         $ 3,966,368   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

   $ (2,025,065   $ —        $ —         $ (2,025,065
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

   $ —        $ (38,412   $ —         $ (38,412
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $ —        $ 1,233,899      $ —         $ 1,233,899   

Total Reverse Repurchase Agreements (Liability)

   $ —        $ (27,435,149   $ —         $ (27,435,149

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

  Balance as of
December 31,
2013
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
    Purchases     Sales     Transfers
in to
Level 3
    Transfers
out of
Level 3
    Balance
as of
December 31,
2014
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
from Investments
Still Held at
December 31,
2014
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes                

Aerospace & Defense

  $ 2,066,353      $ 0      $      $ (351,267 )(a)    $      $      $ 1,715,086      $ 0   

Chemical

           0        0                      0        0        0   

Media

    2,750,000        55,000                                    2,805,000        55,000   

Real Estate

    0                                           0          
Common Stocks                

Diversified Telecommunications Services

    189,005                                    (189,005              

Household Durables

    620,550        12,600                                    633,150        12,600   

Metals & Mining

           (499,557                   524,456               24,899        (499,557

Oil, Gas & Combustable Fuels

    1,631,534        (804,278     3,230,932                             4,058,188        (804,278
Preferred Stocks                

Diversified Financial Services

    0                                           0          
Warrants                

Media

    3,222                                    (3,222              
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 7,260,664      $ (1,236,235   $ 3,230,932      $ (351,267   $ 524,456      $ (192,227   $ 9,236,323      $ (1,236,235
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Sales include principal reductions.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Common Stocks in the amount of $524,456 were transferred into Level 3 due to trading halts on the securities’ respective exchanges which resulted in the lack of observable inputs.

Common Stocks in the amount of $189,005 were transferred out of Level 3 due to the resumption of trading activity which resulted in the availability of significant observable inputs.

Following is quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements:

 

    Fair Value at
December 31,
2014
   

Valuation Technique(s)

 

Unobservable Input

  Range     Weighted
Average
    Relationship
Between Fair
Value and Input; if
input value increases
then Fair Value:
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes              

Aerospace & Defense

  $ 1,715,086      Par   Call Price   $ 100.00      $ 100.00      $ 100.00        Increase   

Media

    2,805,000      Market Comparable
Companies
  Enterprise Value/LTM EBITDA     10.0x        14.2x        10.5x        Increase   
    Discounted Cash Flow   Internal Rate of Return     9.00     11.00     9.90     Decrease   
Common Stock              

Household Durables

    633,150      Market Comparable
Companies
  Equity/Tangible Book Value     0.8x        2.1x        1.3x        Increase   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

    4,058,188      Merger & Acquisition
Transaction
  Net Asset Value   $ 15.44      $ 15.44      $ 15.44        Increase   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 860,691,413   

Cash

     230,619   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     801,598   

Cash collateral (d)

     4,432,000   

OTC swap contracts at market value (e)

     1,233,899   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     4,274,277   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     3,750,517   

Fund shares sold

     147,457   

Dividends and interest

     10,987,752   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     709,595   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     15,352   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     30,541   

Prepaid expenses

     2,171   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     887,307,191   

Liabilities

  

Reverse repurchase agreements

     27,435,149   

Cash collateral (f)

     715,000   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     307,909   

Collateral for securities loaned

     88,057,829   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     1,077,101   

Fund shares redeemed

     279,900   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     392,285   

Distribution and service fees

     58,106   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     183,866   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     118,574,569   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 768,732,622   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 709,530,361   

Undistributed net investment income

     57,025,627   

Accumulated net realized gain

     6,513,107   

Unrealized depreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     (4,336,473
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 768,732,622   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 495,698,808   

Class B

     273,033,814   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     60,294,562   

Class B

     33,561,035   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 8.22   

Class B

     8.14   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $867,304,215.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $89,944,671.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $804,875.
(d) Includes collateral of $2,837,000 for futures contracts and $1,595,000 for centrally cleared swap contracts.
(e) Net premium paid on OTC swap contracts was $796,268.
(f) Includes collateral of $400,000 for OTC swap contracts and $315,000 for reverse repurchase agreements.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 1,693,220   

Interest (a)

     50,093,976   

Securities lending income

     315,175   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     52,102,371   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     4,977,598   

Administration fees

     19,715   

Custodian and accounting fees

     304,752   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     766,197   

Interest expense

     126,767   

Audit and tax services

     73,338   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     78,108   

Insurance

     5,373   

Miscellaneous

     16,734   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     6,446,662   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     45,655,709   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     20,193,401   

Futures contracts

     (2,497,567

Written options

     (3,571

Swap contracts

     (1,814,014

Foreign currency transactions

     3,582,740   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     19,460,989   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (40,149,135

Futures contracts

     (1,737,097

Swap contracts

     785,067   

Foreign currency transactions

     5,943,151   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (35,158,014
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (15,697,025
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 29,958,684   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,294.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 45,655,709      $ 52,896,564   

Net realized gain

     19,460,989        37,400,619   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (35,158,014     (10,492,276
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     29,958,684        79,804,907   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (32,850,868     (34,767,466

Class B

     (18,650,271     (21,805,323

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (24,118,359     (13,650,688

Class B

     (14,259,906     (8,859,543
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (89,879,404     (79,083,020
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (18,612,421     (68,008,509
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (78,533,141     (67,286,622

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     847,265,763        914,552,385   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 768,732,622      $ 847,265,763   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 57,025,627      $ 53,669,309   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     11,132,160      $ 92,750,541        19,515,643      $ 168,265,167   

Reinvestments

     6,964,453        56,969,227        5,784,726        48,418,154   

Redemptions

     (18,523,055     (154,702,014     (30,621,408     (271,693,816
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (426,442   $ (4,982,246     (5,321,039   $ (55,010,495
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     8,398,737      $ 71,047,469        10,678,244      $ 91,286,248   

Reinvestments

     4,057,975        32,910,177        3,690,116        30,664,866   

Redemptions

     (14,083,717     (117,587,821     (15,888,593     (134,949,128
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (1,627,005   $ (13,630,175     (1,520,233   $ (12,998,014
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (18,612,421     $ (68,008,509
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                 
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 8.86      $ 8.93       $ 8.36      $ 8.70       $ 8.02   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (a)

     0.48        0.54         0.59        0.59         0.63   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.16     0.26         0.73        (0.35      0.62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.32        0.80         1.32        0.24         1.25   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.55     (0.62      (0.64     (0.58      (0.57

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.41     (0.25      (0.11     0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.96     (0.87      (0.75     (0.58      (0.57
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 8.22      $ 8.86       $ 8.93      $ 8.36       $ 8.70   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     3.65  (d)      9.52         16.80  (c)      2.50         16.10   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.68        0.69         0.65        0.65         0.65   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.67        0.66         0.65        0.65         0.65   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     5.60        6.18         6.90        6.91         7.60   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     70        108         85        99         99   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 495.7      $ 538.3       $ 589.6      $ 518.4       $ 679.1   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 8.78      $ 8.85       $ 8.29      $ 8.64       $ 7.98   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (a)

     0.45        0.51         0.56        0.56         0.60   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.15     0.27         0.74        (0.34      0.62   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.30        0.78         1.30        0.22         1.22   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.53     (0.60      (0.63     (0.57      (0.56

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.41     (0.25      (0.11     0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.94     (0.85      (0.74     (0.57      (0.56
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 8.14      $ 8.78       $ 8.85      $ 8.29       $ 8.64   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     3.42  (d)      9.33         16.54  (c)      2.34         15.77   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.93        0.94         0.90        0.90         0.90   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.92        0.91         0.90        0.90         0.90   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     5.34        5.94         6.65        6.66         7.29   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     70        108         85        99         99   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 273.0      $ 309.0       $ 324.9      $ 270.4       $ 238.0   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) In 2012 0.00% and 0.13% of the Portfolio’s total return for Class A and Class B, respectively, consists of a voluntary reimbursement by the subadvisor for a realized loss. Excluding this item, total return would have been 16.80% and 16.41% for Class A and Class B, respectively.
(d) Generally accepted accounting principles may require adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Portfolio at period end for financial reporting purposes, and as such, the net asset values for shareholder transactions and the returns based on those net asset values may differ from the returns reported in the portfolio manager commentary section of this report.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is BlackRock High Yield Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946- Financial Services- Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, swap transactions, return of capital adjustments and premium amortization adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $1,990,178, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with qualified institutions. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Portfolio transfers securities in exchange for cash to a financial institution or counterparty, concurrently with an agreement by the Portfolio to re-acquire the same securities at an agreed upon price and date. During the reverse repurchase agreement period, the Portfolio continues to receive principal and interest payments on these securities. The Portfolio will establish a segregated account with its custodian in which it will maintain liquid assets equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities transferred by the Portfolio may decline below the agreed-upon reacquisition price of the securities. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any reverse repurchase transaction, the MRA entitles the non-defaulting party with a right to set-off claims and apply property held by it in respect of any reverse repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it. Cash received in exchange for securities transferred under reverse repurchase agreements plus accrued interest payments to be made by the Portfolio to counterparties are reflected as Reverse repurchase agreements on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had an outstanding reverse repurchase agreement balance for 365 days. The average amount of borrowings was $30,623,263 and the weighted average interest rate was 0.41% during the 365 day period.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table is a summary of open reverse repurchase agreements by counterparty which are subject to offset under a MRA on a net basis as of December 31, 2014:

 

Counterparty

   Reverse Repurchase
Agreements
     Collateral Pledged      Net Amount1  

Barclays Bank

   $ 2,593,480       $ (2,593,480        

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

     5,938,669         (5,938,669   

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     18,903,000         (18,903,000        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 27,435,149       $ (27,435,149        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  1  Collateral with a value of $30,277,834 has been pledged in connection with open reverse repurchase agreements. Excess of collateral pledged from the individual open repurchase agreements is not shown for financial reporting purposes.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

Written Options

The Portfolio transactions in written options during the year December 31, 2014:

 

Put Options

   Number of
Contracts
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

               

Options written

     10,800         512,382   

Options bought back

     (4,900      (199,123

Options expired

     (5,900      (313,259
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

               
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults of corporate and/or sovereign issuers, or to create exposure to corporate and/or sovereign issuers to which they are not otherwise exposed. Credit default swaps involve one party making a stream of payments (referred to as the buyer of protection) to another party (the seller of protection) in exchange for the right to receive a specified return if a credit event occurs for the referenced entity, obligation or index. A credit event is defined under the terms of each swap agreement and may include, but is not limited to, underlying entity default, bankruptcy, write-down, principal shortfall or interest shortfall. As the seller of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either pay the buyer an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). In return, the Portfolio would receive from the counterparty an upfront or periodic stream of payments throughout the life of the credit default swap agreement provided that no credit event has occurred. As the seller of protection, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the credit default swap.

The Portfolio may also purchase credit default swap contracts in order to hedge against the risk of default of debt securities held in its portfolio. This would involve the risk that the investment may be worthless when it expires and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve credit risk, whereby the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Portfolio in the event of a default. As the buyer of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). If no credit event occurs and the Portfolio is a buyer of protection, the Portfolio will typically recover nothing under the credit default swap agreement, but it will have had to pay the required upfront payment or stream of continuing payments under the credit default swap agreement. Recovery values are at times established through the credit event auction process in which market participants are ensured that a transparent price has been set for the defaulted obligation.

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Credit default swap agreements on credit indices involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising the credit index. A credit index is a basket of credit instruments or exposures designed to be representative of some part of the credit market as a whole. An index credit default swap references all the names in the index, and if there is a credit event involving an entity in the index, the credit event is settled based on that entity’s weight in the index. A Portfolio may use credit default swaps on credit indices as a hedge for credit default swaps or bonds held in the portfolio, which is less expensive than it would be to buy many individual credit default swaps to achieve similar effect. Credit default swaps on indices are benchmarks for protecting investors owning bonds against default, and may be used to speculate on changes in credit quality.

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on a credit index or corporate or sovereign issuer, serve as some indication of the status of the payment/performance risk and the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity or index also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads generally represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the particular swap agreement. When no implied credit spread is available for a credit default swap, the current unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the position may be used as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Portfolio as a seller of protection could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. Notional amounts of all credit default swap agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2014, for which the Portfolio is the seller of protection, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced entity or entities.

Currency Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into currency swap agreements to gain or mitigate exposure to currency risk. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Credit    OTC swap contracts at market value (a)    $ 1,233,899         
         Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (b)    $ 38,412   
Equity          Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (b)      2,025,065   
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      4,274,277       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      307,909   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 5,508,176          $ 2,371,386   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Excludes OTC swap interest receivable of $15,352.
  (b) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”)(see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 1,041,957       $      $      $ 1,041,957   

BNP Paribas S.A.

     9,858         (9,858              

Credit Suisse International

     882,619                (873,595     9,024   

Deutsche Bank AG

     271,237         (2,890     (268,347       

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     3,235,282                       3,235,282   

Toronto Dominion Bank

     42,303                       42,303   

UBS AG

     24,920         (24,920              
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 5,508,176       $ (37,668   $ (1,141,942   $ 4,328,566   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net Amount**  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 69,010       $      $       $ 69,010   

BNP Paribas S.A.

     42,259         (9,858             32,401   

Citibank N.A.

     12,606                        12,606   

Deutsche Bank AG

     2,890         (2,890               

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     57,528                        57,528   

Standard Chartered Bank

     22,233                        22,233   

State Street Bank and Trust

     69,483                        69,483   

UBS AG

     31,900         (24,920             6,980   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 307,909       $ (37,668   $       $ 270,241   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Credit     Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Investments (a)

   $      $ (1,206,849   $       $ (1,206,849

Forward foreign currency transactions

                   4,175,178         4,175,178   

Futures contracts

            (2,497,567             (2,497,567

Swap contracts

     (1,814,014                    (1,814,014

Written options

            (3,571             (3,571
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (1,814,014   $ (3,707,987   $ 4,175,178       $ (1,346,823
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   Credit     Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $      $ 6,046,192       $ 6,046,192   

Futures contracts

            (1,737,097             (1,737,097

Swap contracts

     785,067                       785,067   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 785,067      $ (1,737,097   $ 6,046,192       $ 5,094,162   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 144,167   

Forward foreign currency transactions

     113,055,877   

Futures contracts short

     (17,146

Swap contracts

     25,680,848   

Written options

     (150,000

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 588,305,097       $ 0       $ 680,934,491   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. that amounted to $441,799 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers

for the year ended

December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$4,977,598      0.600   ALL

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee.

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$70,879,327    $ 67,414,452       $ 19,000,077       $ 11,668,568       $ 89,879,404       $ 79,083,020   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$64,109,784    $ 4,097,914       $ (8,938,013   $       $ 59,269,685   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of BlackRock High Yield Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of BlackRock High Yield Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of BlackRock High Yield Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-45


Met Investors Series Trust

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the medians of its Performance Universes and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield 2% Issuer Capped Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-Advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-46


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Managed by CBRE Clarion Securities LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio returned 13.67%, 13.27%, and 13.42%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index1, returned 15.89%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Global property stocks finished the year with strong returns in the fourth quarter, thereby generating a solid double-digit total return in 2014, handily exceeding the performance generated by broad equities and fixed income indices. Positive total return was generated in each of the major geographic regions for the quarter and year, with the U.S. real estate investment trust (“REIT”) market being a stand-out delivering a total return of 30.4% for the year, about half of which was generated during the fourth quarter. Performance among European property companies and those in the Asia-Pacific region was also positive for the year, although the dispersion of returns was high. Property company returns were strong for a number of reasons including attractive and rising dividends, strong earnings growth via both organic as well as external growth, and rising real estate values during the year. Interest rates and inflationary pressures remained lower than what was expected at the beginning of the year.

Real estate stocks continue to benefit from a favorable environment of continued low interest rates, limited new supply, and improving demand for real estate space, leading to higher occupancies, rents and values. Economic conditions are improving in most of the developed markets around the globe, although the rate of improvement varies dramatically, from relatively robust in the U.S. and U.K., to tepid recoveries in the eurozone and Japan, to deceleration in China. Sentiment toward growth has recently been dampened by increased geopolitical events, including trade sanctions with Russia and regional conflict in the Middle East. Inflationary pressures remain low, aided by a softening in the price of commodities, particularly a lower price of oil, which has recently become accentuated. This bodes well for continued low intermediate and long-term interest rates. Despite the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank completing its quantitative easing program and potentially increasing short-term policy rates sometime next year, the outlook for long-term interest rates remains relatively benign. Many market observers are calling for a “new normal” of long-term rates well below those observed in the late 20th century. This combination of slow and steady economic growth and low long-term interest rates bodes well for real estate and real estate securities, which generate a material component of total return from current yield. Low levels of new construction globally also suggest that owners of existing properties should continue to enjoy improved pricing power. With visible earnings growth in the 6-7% range for this year and next, and dividends growing at about the same pace as earnings, real estate companies continue to offer investors an attractive investment option anchored by current income via the dividend.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Portfolio performance trailed the benchmark during the one year period, primarily as the result of positioning in the Asia-Pacific region. Relative performance in the Asia-Pacific region proved to be challenging, as positioning in Japan was the primary detractor from relative performance during the year. Japanese property companies underperformed despite significant monetary and fiscal stimulus from the Japanese government and clear evidence of improving property fundamentals. Positive contributors to relative return for the year included stock selection in both the Americas and Europe, where selection among the U.S. office, mall and apartment REITs added value as did positions in office companies in London and residential companies in Germany. The Portfolio’s underweight positioning in Canada added considerable relative value for the year, given the underperformance of Canadian real estate companies amidst tepid economic growth.

In the U.S., we prefer the industrial and apartment sectors as well as coastal central business district office and high-end mall companies; we are more cautious on the storage, net lease and healthcare sectors. Over the year, Portfolio positioning emphasized property types which can benefit the most from improving economic conditions. By geography, this includes many of the gateway cities located in the northeast and in California, such as New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. We have expected the apartment and mall companies to continue to perform well as job growth and consumer spending continues to improve. At period end, we remained cautious on the more bond-like sectors of net lease and healthcare properties, but take into account potential syndicate activity and takeover possibilities in our portfolio positioning. We additionally recognized the attractiveness of current yield via the dividend in some of these lower growth sectors.

Investments in Europe focused on companies with higher growth characteristics, such as London office companies and German residential, both which have reported steadily improving rental growth. Elsewhere on the Continent, the Portfolio included select value names which offer a high level of cash flow and dividend yield. Although many of the companies and markets are characterized by slow growth, we believed that real estate fundamentals likely improve over time, albeit gradually. At year end, the investment market remained extremely active with elevated demand for prime properties in London and Paris. We also believed that there may be more merger and acquisition activity involving euro zone property companies.

As of year end, positioning in the Asia-Pacific region continued to tread carefully around decelerating economic growth in mainland China, and ever-changing government policies aimed at limiting price appreciation for the residential sectors in Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China. We have nonetheless “picked our spots” depending on what we believe to be priced into the market. We have been more positive on the office and retail property types in these markets, and selective on residential, depending on the market. We continued to favor the Tokyo office market, which is showing continued improved

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Managed by CBRE Clarion Securities LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

occupancies and accelerating rental growth after years of stagnation. Land values in Tokyo have recently improved and office vacancy has tightened. While gradual, improvement in Tokyo office rents remained steady and visible.

We have continued to believe that global property stocks offer investors an attractive investment option, anchored by current yield via a growing dividend and underpinned by increasing real estate cash flows derived from improving economic and commercial property fundamentals.

T. Ritson Ferguson

Steven D. Burton

Joseph P. Smith

Portfolio Managers

CBRE Clarion Securities LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE FTSE EPRA /NAREIT DEVELOPED INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio                 

Class A

       13.67           10.41           5.63   

Class B

       13.27           10.13           5.36   

Class E

       13.42           10.24           5.47   
FTSE EPRA /NAREIT Developed Index        15.89           12.03           6.90   

1 The FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index is designed to track the performance of listed real estate companies and Real Estate Investment Trusts worldwide.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Simon Property Group, Inc. (REIT)

     3.6   

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

     3.4   

Equity Residential (REIT)

     3.3   

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.

     3.0   

Health Care REIT, Inc. (REIT)

     2.9   

Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.

     2.7   

ProLogis, Inc. (REIT)

     2.7   

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (REIT)

     2.7   

Vornado Realty Trust (REIT)

     2.2   

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (REIT)

     2.2   

Top Countries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

United States

     49.2   

Japan

     13.7   

United Kingdom

     7.9   

Hong Kong

     7.6   

Australia

     6.6   

France

     4.2   

Singapore

     4.1   

Germany

     3.1   

Canada

     1.2   

Netherlands

     1.1   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.64    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,019.70         $ 3.26   
   Hypothetical*      0.64    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.98         $ 3.26   

Class B

   Actual      0.89    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,018.10         $ 4.53   
   Hypothetical*      0.89    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.72         $ 4.53   

Class E

   Actual      0.79    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,018.90         $ 4.02   
   Hypothetical*      0.79    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.22         $ 4.02   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—99.2% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Australia—6.6%

  

Federation Centres, Ltd. (REIT) (a)

    8,522,900      $ 19,835,891   

Goodman Group (REIT) (a)

    5,982,883        27,580,901   

Investa Office Fund (REIT) (a)

    3,971,907        11,731,674   

Mirvac Group (REIT)

    18,353,527        26,506,222   

Scentre Group (REIT) (b)

    4,276,791        12,161,231   

Stockland (REIT) (a)

    6,643,078        22,191,625   

Westfield Corp. (REIT) (b)

    1,267,459        9,266,674   
   

 

 

 
      129,274,218   
   

 

 

 

Canada—1.2%

  

Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

    159,700        8,459,234   

Canadian Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

    182,300        7,184,986   

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

    329,600        7,498,131   
   

 

 

 
      23,142,351   
   

 

 

 

France—4.2%

  

Icade S.A. (REIT) (a)

    145,346        11,638,446   

Klepierre (REIT)

    592,350        25,514,422   

Mercialys S.A. (REIT)

    329,000        7,338,653   

Unibail-Rodamco SE (Euronext Amsterdam) (REIT)

    146,562        37,459,425   

Unibail-Rodamco SE (Euronext Paris) (REIT)

    5,219        1,344,201   
   

 

 

 
      83,295,147   
   

 

 

 

Germany—3.1%

  

Deutsche Annington Immobilien SE

    198,544        6,753,565   

Deutsche Wohnen AG

    67,100        1,594,312   

GAGFAH S.A. (b)

    957,482        21,423,192   

LEG Immobilien AG (b)

    408,564        30,650,997   
   

 

 

 
      60,422,066   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—7.6%

  

China Overseas Land & Investment, Ltd.

    4,548,000        13,451,181   

Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.

    2,557,300        7,126,909   

Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.

    3,661,645        24,645,416   

Link REIT (The) (REIT)

    3,172,800        19,785,202   

New World Development Co., Ltd.

    12,798,400        14,639,137   

Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.

    3,541,600        53,553,970   

Swire Properties, Ltd.

    5,497,900        16,260,864   
   

 

 

 
      149,462,679   
   

 

 

 

Japan—13.7%

  

GLP J-REIT (REIT)

    7,739        8,575,839   

Japan Hotel REIT Investment Corp. (REIT)

    7,182        4,598,414   

Japan Real Estate Investment Corp. (REIT)

    3,979        19,149,396   

Japan Retail Fund Investment Corp. (REIT)

    12,183        25,691,925   

Kenedix Realty Investment Corp. (REIT) (a)

    2,050        11,508,322   

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.

    2,766,756        58,556,601   

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

    2,517,574        67,711,456   

Nippon Prologis REIT, Inc. (REIT)

    5,081        11,015,250   

NTT Urban Development Corp.

    710,000        7,122,314   

Orix JREIT, Inc. (REIT) (a)

    8,521        11,928,139   

Sumitomo Realty & Development Co., Ltd.

    808,300        27,535,108   

Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd.

    457,300        3,330,357   

Japan—(Continued)

  

United Urban Investment Corp. (REIT)

    8,367      13,142,344   
   

 

 

 
      269,865,465   
   

 

 

 

Netherlands—1.1%

  

Corio NV (REIT)

    115,906        5,656,513   

Eurocommercial Properties NV (REIT) (a)

    164,257        6,967,761   

Nieuwe Steen Investments NV (REIT) (c)

    2,032,540        9,051,332   
   

 

 

 
      21,675,606   
   

 

 

 

Singapore—4.1%

  

CapitaCommercial Trust (REIT) (a)

    14,984,500        19,834,924   

CapitaLand, Ltd. (a)

    10,441,300        25,942,372   

Global Logistic Properties, Ltd. (a)

    11,528,400        21,560,523   

Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) (a)

    8,297,200        12,264,591   
   

 

 

 
      79,602,410   
   

 

 

 

Sweden—0.4%

  

Hufvudstaden AB - A Shares

    522,248        6,779,116   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—0.5%

  

PSP Swiss Property AG (b)

    108,541        9,345,771   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—7.9%

  

British Land Co. plc (REIT)

    2,699,510        32,429,437   

Derwent London plc (REIT)

    510,040        23,822,536   

Great Portland Estates plc (REIT)

    1,879,424        21,479,434   

Hammerson plc (REIT)

    2,603,177        24,330,591   

Land Securities Group plc (REIT)

    2,343,012        41,925,552   

Safestore Holdings plc (REIT)

    1,927,700        6,967,985   

Unite Group plc

    588,637        4,265,077   
   

 

 

 
      155,220,612   
   

 

 

 

United States—48.8%

  

American Realty Capital Properties, Inc. (REIT)

    2,126,081        19,241,033   

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (REIT) (a)

    260,480        42,559,827   

BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. (REIT) (a)

    655,700        14,123,778   

Boston Properties, Inc. (REIT)

    153,962        19,813,370   

Brandywine Realty Trust (REIT)

    556,300        8,889,674   

Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (REIT)

    554,200        13,766,328   

Cousins Properties, Inc. (REIT)

    489,800        5,593,516   

DCT Industrial Trust, Inc. (REIT)

    272,327        9,711,181   

DDR Corp. (REIT) (a)

    1,549,433        28,447,590   

Douglas Emmett, Inc. (REIT)

    756,359        21,480,596   

Duke Realty Corp. (REIT)

    1,151,023        23,250,665   

Equity Residential (REIT)

    908,150        65,241,496   

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (REIT)

    159,830        33,020,878   

General Growth Properties, Inc. (REIT)

    1,437,044        40,424,048   

Health Care REIT, Inc. (REIT)

    750,357        56,779,514   

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc. (REIT)

    498,975        13,631,997   

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. (REIT) - Class A (a)

    433,450        11,677,143   

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (REIT) (a)

    109,478        4,847,686   

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (b)

    561,700        14,654,753   

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (REIT)

    2,209,777        52,526,399   

Kilroy Realty Corp. (REIT)

    418,000        28,871,260   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

United States—(Continued)

  

Kimco Realty Corp. (REIT)

    726,900      $ 18,274,266   

Lexington Realty Trust (REIT) (a)

    673,539        7,395,458   

Liberty Property Trust (REIT)

    51,785        1,948,670   

Macerich Co. (The) (REIT)

    236,088        19,692,100   

Paramount Group, Inc. (REIT) (b)

    984,800        18,307,432   

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (REIT)

    212,500        9,696,375   

Post Properties, Inc. (REIT)

    272,700        16,026,579   

ProLogis, Inc. (REIT)

    1,236,092        53,189,039   

Public Storage (REIT)

    115,660        21,379,751   

Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (REIT)

    370,900        6,950,666   

Simon Property Group, Inc. (REIT)

    384,239        69,973,764   

SL Green Realty Corp. (REIT) (a)

    346,660        41,259,473   

Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. (REIT)

    1,656,600        19,696,974   

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (REIT) (b)

    1,023,400        13,539,582   

Sun Communities, Inc. (REIT) (a)

    192,300        11,626,458   

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (REIT)

    525,800        8,680,958   

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (REIT) (a)

    218,567        8,078,236   

Taubman Centers, Inc. (REIT)

    128,832        9,845,341   

UDR, Inc. (REIT)

    1,063,875        32,788,627   

Vornado Realty Trust (REIT)

    363,652        42,805,477   
   

 

 

 
      959,707,958   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,665,701,755)

      1,947,793,399   
   

 

 

 
Warrant—0.0%                

Hong Kong—0.0%

   

Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.,
Expires 04/22/16 (b)
(Cost $0)

    168,800        426,645   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—5.5%   

Mutual Fund—5.1%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (d)

    100,616,231        100,616,231   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—0.4%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $8,296,313 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $8,475,000 U.S. Treasury Bill at 0.000% due 08/20/15 with a value of $8,466,525.

    8,296,313        8,296,313   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $108,912,544)

      108,912,544   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—104.7%
(Cost $1,774,614,299) (e)

      2,057,132,588   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(4.7)%

      (92,128,996
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,965,003,592   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $94,843,277 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $100,616,231. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.5% of net assets.
(d) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,832,189,744. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $253,014,004 and $(28,071,160), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $224,942,844 for federal income tax purposes.
(REIT)— A Real Estate Investment Trust is a pooled investment vehicle that invests primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest.

 

Ten Largest Industries as
of December 31, 2014

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Retail REIT’s

     21.3   

Diversified REIT’s

     15.7   

Office REIT’s

     13.5   

Diversified Real Estate Activities

     13.2   

Residential REIT’s

     10.7   

Specialized REIT’s

     9.9   

Real Estate Operating Companies

     7.7   

Industrial REIT’s

     5.6   

Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines

     1.0   

Real Estate Development

     0.7   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Australia

   $ —         $ 129,274,218      $ —         $ 129,274,218   

Canada

     23,142,351         —          —           23,142,351   

France

     1,344,201         81,950,946        —           83,295,147   

Germany

     —           60,422,066        —           60,422,066   

Hong Kong

     —           149,462,679        —           149,462,679   

Japan

     —           269,865,465        —           269,865,465   

Netherlands

     —           21,675,606        —           21,675,606   

Singapore

     —           79,602,410        —           79,602,410   

Sweden

     —           6,779,116        —           6,779,116   

Switzerland

     —           9,345,771        —           9,345,771   

United Kingdom

     —           155,220,612        —           155,220,612   

United States

     959,707,958         —          —           959,707,958   

Total Common Stocks

     984,194,510         963,598,889        —           1,947,793,399   

Total Warrant*

     426,645         —          —           426,645   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     100,616,231         —          —           100,616,231   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           8,296,313        —           8,296,313   

Total Short-Term Investments

     100,616,231         8,296,313        —           108,912,544   

Total Investments

   $ 1,085,237,386       $ 971,895,202      $ —         $ 2,057,132,588   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (100,616,231   $ —         $ (100,616,231

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 2,057,132,588   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     24,777,384   

Fund shares sold

     975,103   

Dividends

     7,725,036   

Prepaid expenses

     5,237   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     2,090,615,348   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     100,616,231   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     22,264,945   

Fund shares redeemed

     1,182,090   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     996,306   

Distribution and service fees

     153,631   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     331,129   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     125,611,756   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,965,003,592   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,936,744,510   

Undistributed net investment income

     12,158,819   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (266,371,814

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     282,472,077   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,965,003,592   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 1,228,276,698   

Class B

     691,416,800   

Class E

     45,310,094   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     98,830,919   

Class B

     55,918,234   

Class E

     3,650,994   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 12.43   

Class B

     12.36   

Class E

     12.41   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,774,614,299.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $94,843,277.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 51,670,627   

Interest

     513   

Securities lending income

     563,474   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     52,234,614   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     11,471,028   

Administration fees

     44,910   

Custodian and accounting fees

     556,251   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,612,168   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     66,256   

Audit and tax services

     51,648   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     177,640   

Insurance

     12,066   

Miscellaneous

     16,698   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     14,086,745   

Less broker commission recapture

     (246,473
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     13,840,272   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     38,394,342   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     151,686,859   

Foreign currency transactions

     (337,867
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     151,348,992   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     55,402,675   

Foreign currency transactions

     (33,298
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     55,369,377   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     206,718,369   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 245,112,711   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $3,312,468.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 38,394,342      $ 35,328,399   

Net realized gain

     151,348,992        115,426,447   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     55,369,377        (90,627,675
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     245,112,711        60,127,171   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (23,262,027     (80,780,804

Class B

     (8,533,728     (36,595,373

Class E

     (725,223     (2,984,361
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (32,520,978     (120,360,538
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (16,568,464     188,328,915   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     196,023,269        128,095,548   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,768,980,323        1,640,884,775   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,965,003,592      $ 1,768,980,323   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 12,158,819      $ (14,766,382
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     6,814,925      $ 78,205,262        13,771,107      $ 161,126,875   

Reinvestments

     2,040,529        23,262,027        6,916,165        80,780,804   

Redemptions

     (17,702,714     (210,017,444     (6,954,377     (81,838,491
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (8,847,260   $ (108,550,155     13,732,895      $ 160,069,188   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     6,188,707      $ 71,902,954        6,422,374      $ 72,661,651   

Fund subscription in kind (a)

     11,028,735        126,168,723        0        0   

Reinvestments

     751,208        8,533,728        3,143,932        36,595,373   

Redemptions

     (9,509,141     (112,468,877     (7,402,764     (83,620,087
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     8,459,509      $ 94,136,528        2,163,542      $ 25,636,937   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     399,419      $ 4,780,019        584,704      $ 6,696,848   

Reinvestments

     63,616        725,223        255,510        2,984,361   

Redemptions

     (648,455     (7,660,079     (619,786     (7,058,419
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (185,420   $ (2,154,837     220,428      $ 2,622,790   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (16,568,464     $ 188,328,915   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes cash and securities amounting to $6,771,829 and $119,396,894, respectively. Securities were valued at market as of April 25, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.14      $ 11.50       $ 9.32       $ 10.23       $ 9.58   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.24        0.24         0.27         0.23         0.27   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.26        0.23         2.15         (0.73      1.20   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.50        0.47         2.42         (0.50      1.47   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.21     (0.83      (0.24      (0.41      (0.82
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.21     (0.83      (0.24      (0.41      (0.82
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.43      $ 11.14       $ 11.50       $ 9.32       $ 10.23   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.67        3.76         26.30         (5.28      16.28   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.64        0.65         0.66         0.67         0.69   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.07        2.12         2.54         2.35         2.86   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     39  (c)      36         43         31         55   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,228.3      $ 1,200.0       $ 1,080.7       $ 939.0       $ 859.6   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.09      $ 11.45       $ 9.28       $ 10.20       $ 9.55   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.22        0.21         0.24         0.21         0.24   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.24        0.23         2.14         (0.74      1.21   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.46        0.44         2.38         (0.53      1.45   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.19     (0.80      (0.21      (0.39      (0.80
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.19     (0.80      (0.21      (0.39      (0.80
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.36      $ 11.09       $ 11.45       $ 9.28       $ 10.20   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.27        3.55         25.99         (5.59      16.10   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.89        0.90         0.91         0.92         0.94   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.84        1.86         2.29         2.09         2.60   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     39  (c)      36         43         31         55   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 691.4      $ 526.2       $ 518.7       $ 443.6       $ 461.3   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.13      $ 11.49       $ 9.31       $ 10.22       $ 9.57   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.23        0.22         0.25         0.22         0.25   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.25        0.24         2.15         (0.74      1.21   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.48        0.46         2.40         (0.52      1.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.20     (0.82      (0.22      (0.39      (0.81
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.20     (0.82      (0.22      (0.39      (0.81
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.41      $ 11.13       $ 11.49       $ 9.31       $ 10.22   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.42        3.63         26.13         (5.41      16.14   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.79        0.80         0.81         0.82         0.84   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.92        1.96         2.38         2.17         2.68   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     39  (c)      36         43         31         55   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 45.3      $ 42.7       $ 41.5       $ 35.3       $ 41.9   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Excludes the effect of subscriptions in kind activity for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and broker commission recapture. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $8,296,313, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and subscriptions in kind, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 751,623,079       $ 0       $ 859,685,836   

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management

Fees earned by

MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$11,471,028      0.700   First $200 million
     0.650   $200 million to $750 million
     0.550   Over $750 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. CBRE Clarion Securities LLC is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

7. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$32,520,978    $ 120,360,538       $       $       $ 32,520,978       $ 120,360,538   

 

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards     Total  
$61,701,237    $       $ 224,915,812       $ (258,290,542   $ 28,326,507   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $123,716,494.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and the pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards and expiration dates were as follows:

 

Expiring
12/31/17
     Expiring
12/31/18
     Total  
$ 170,595,335       $ 87,695,207       $ 258,290,542   

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of the Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and CBRE Clarion Securities, LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its Lipper Index for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed its Lipper Index for the three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index, for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and were the lowest in the Expense Group. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Managed By ClearBridge Investments, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio returned 19.12%, 18.89%, and 18.94%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 3000 Growth Index1, returned 12.44%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Entering 2014, we expected a tougher period for equities broadly and a more difficult stock picking environment. Performance has mostly played out this way although market conditions varied considerably over the course of the year. The first half of the year was a continuation of the strong performance of 2013 with lower volatility and light trading volumes. From July on, however, we experienced a real change in the market with several severe corrections. From mid-September through mid-October the S&P 500 Index lost over 9% and volatility spiked due to global growth concerns and geopolitical risks in Russia and the Middle East. In early December, the benchmark dropped 5% as oil prices plunged. In both cases, the market rebounded strongly, recouping losses in a matter of days.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

During the one year period ended December 31, 2014, both stock selection and sector allocation made positive contributions to the Portfolio’s outperformance relative to the benchmark Russell 3000 Growth Index. In particular, stock selection in the Health Care, Information Technology (“IT”) and Consumer Discretionary sectors made significant contributions to relative performance. An overweight to the Health Care sector also contributed significantly to relative performance for the period.

Leading individual contributors to relative Portfolio performance during the period included Forest Laboratories, Amgen, UnitedHealth Group and Biogen Idec in the Health Care sector, as well as SanDisk in the IT sector.

Stock selection in the Energy, Materials and Industrials sectors was a significant detractor from relative performance for the period, as was an overweight to the Energy sector.

In terms of individual positions, leading detractors from relative Portfolio performance for the period included Core Laboratories and Weatherford International in the Energy sector, Cree in the IT sector, Freeport-McMoRan in the Materials sector, and Fluor in the Industrials sector

During the period, the Portfolio added new positions in ProQR Therapeutics in the Health Care sector and Nuance Communications in the IT sector. The Portfolio received shares of Actavis in the Health Care sector as a result of its acquisition of Forest Laboratories, and shares of NOW, Inc. in the Energy sector as a result of a spinoff from existing holding National Oilwell Varco. The Portfolio also acquired several classes of share of companies that are part of, or spinoffs from, Liberty Media Corp.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio’s positioning with regard to sector weightings was largely consistent, with average allocations concentrated in the Health Care (37.35%), Consumer Discretionary (19.53%), IT (18.15%), Energy (14.78%), Industrials (8.79%), and Materials (1.09%) sectors. The Portfolio had no holdings in the Consumer Staples, Financials, Telecom or Utilities sectors. As always, the Portfolio’s sector allocations were a function of our bottom up stock selection process.

While heightened volatility may have caused some investors to become defensive in the second half of the year, we have maintained the same growth strategy and long-term outlook for the stocks in the Portfolio. At the close of the period, we continued to look for the same characteristics in stocks that acquirers in an active M&A market are seeking: growth through strong free cash flow generation, pricing power and the ability to gain share in new markets.

Richard Freeman

Evan Bauman

Portfolio Managers

ClearBridge Investments, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL 3000 GROWTH INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio                 

Class A

       19.12           21.54           9.53   

Class B

       18.89           21.26           9.26   

Class E

       18.94           21.38           9.38   
Russell 3000 Growth Index        12.44           15.89           8.50   

1 The Russell 3000 Growth Index measures the performance of those Russell 3000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Biogen Idec, Inc.

     8.7   

Amgen, Inc.

     7.4   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

     7.1   

Comcast Corp. - Special Class A

     6.0   

Actavis plc

     5.5   

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

     5.3   

Seagate Technology plc

     4.4   

SanDisk Corp.

     3.9   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     3.0   

Pall Corp.

     3.0   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Health Care

     38.8   

Consumer Discretionary

     20.3   

Information Technology

     19.5   

Energy

     11.2   

Industrials

     9.2   

Materials

     0.8   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.56    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,037.70         $ 2.88   
   Hypothetical*      0.56    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.38         $ 2.85   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.81    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,036.60         $ 4.16   
   Hypothetical*      0.81    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.12         $ 4.13   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.71    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,036.90         $ 3.65   
   Hypothetical*      0.71    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.63         $ 3.62   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—99.8% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—2.1%

  

Engility Holdings, Inc. (a)

    57,266      $ 2,450,985   

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

    582,900        73,567,809   
   

 

 

 
      76,018,794   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—20.2%

  

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    30,800        3,450,832   

Amgen, Inc.

    1,710,100        272,401,829   

Biogen Idec, Inc. (a)

    937,860        318,356,577   

ImmunoGen, Inc. (a) (b)

    499,700        3,048,170   

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    498,335        30,767,203   

ProQR Therapeutics NV (a)

    88,300        1,913,461   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    932,672        110,801,433   
   

 

 

 
      740,739,505   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—2.4%

  

ADT Corp. (The) (b)

    701,612        25,419,403   

Tyco International plc

    1,473,125        64,611,262   
   

 

 

 
      90,030,665   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—0.1%

  

ARRIS Group, Inc. (a)

    122,915        3,710,804   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—0.9%

  

Fluor Corp.

    519,410        31,491,828   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—2.5%

  

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. - Class A

    295,300        12,733,336   

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

    1,269,625        80,303,781   
   

 

 

 
      93,037,117   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—5.7%

  

Core Laboratories NV (b)

    514,070        61,863,184   

Frank’s International NV (b)

    30,500        507,215   

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

    916,878        60,083,015   

Weatherford International plc (a) (b)

    7,614,500        87,186,025   
   

 

 

 
      209,639,439   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—2.5%

  

Covidien plc

    901,025        92,156,837   

Wright Medical Group, Inc. (a) (b)

    56,921        1,529,467   
   

 

 

 
      93,686,304   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—7.1%

  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    2,580,450        260,857,690   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—2.0%

  

Liberty Interactive Corp. - Class A (a)

    1,867,200        54,933,024   

Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc. - Class A (a)

    154,420        4,153,898   

Liberty Ventures - Series A (a)

    419,879        15,837,836   
   

 

 

 
      74,924,758   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—1.1%

  

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (a)

    535,500        41,779,710   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—3.6%

  

Pall Corp.

    1,094,100      110,733,861   

Pentair plc

    339,804        22,569,782   
   

 

 

 
      133,303,643   
   

 

 

 

Media—18.3%

  

AMC Networks, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    825,825        52,662,860   

Cablevision Systems Corp. - Class A (b)

    3,043,100        62,809,584   

CBS Corp. - Class B

    323,200        17,885,888   

Comcast Corp. - Class A

    795,200        46,129,552   

Comcast Corp. - Special Class A (b)

    3,814,400        219,575,936   

DIRECTV (a)

    799,375        69,305,813   

Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class A (a) (b)

    117,647        5,892,938   

Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class C (a) (b)

    235,294        11,722,347   

Liberty Global plc - Class A (a) (b)

    299,400        15,031,377   

Liberty Global plc - Series C (a)

    299,400        14,464,014   

Liberty Media Corp. - Class A (a)

    470,588        16,597,639   

Liberty Media Corp. - Class C (a)

    941,176        32,969,395   

Madison Square Garden Co. (The) -
Class A (a) (b)

    858,150        64,584,369   

Starz - Class A (a) (b)

    513,888        15,262,474   

Viacom, Inc. - Class B

    344,700        25,938,675   
   

 

 

 
      670,832,861   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.9%

  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

    770,800        18,005,888   

Nucor Corp. (b)

    274,700        13,474,035   
   

 

 

 
      31,479,923   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—5.5%

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    2,369,860        195,513,450   

Newfield Exploration Co. (a)

    205,400        5,570,448   
   

 

 

 
      201,083,898   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—9.0%

  

Actavis plc (a) (b)

    786,777        202,524,268   

Mallinckrodt plc (a) (b)

    143,915        14,251,902   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. (ADR)

    298,100        17,143,731   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (a)

    663,070        94,891,948   
   

 

 

 
      328,811,849   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—4.6%

  

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

    2,035,545        88,200,165   

Cree, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,087,200        35,029,584   

Intel Corp. (b)

    1,288,348        46,754,149   
   

 

 

 
      169,983,898   
   

 

 

 

Software—2.8%

  

Advent Software, Inc. (b)

    8,700        266,568   

Autodesk, Inc. (a)

    944,300        56,714,658   

Citrix Systems, Inc. (a)

    616,100        39,307,180   

Nuance Communications, Inc. (a) (b)

    400,000        5,708,000   
   

 

 

 
      101,996,406   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—8.3%

  

SanDisk Corp. (b)

    1,443,190      $ 141,403,756   

Seagate Technology plc (b)

    2,448,500        162,825,250   
   

 

 

 
      304,229,006   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.2%

  

NOW, Inc. (a) (b)

    229,219        5,897,805   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $2,368,999,330)

      3,663,535,903   
   

 

 

 
Rights—0.0%   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.0%

  

Wright Medical Group, Inc. (a)

    229,340        1,096,245   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.0%

   

Liberty Broadband Corp.,
Expires 01/09/15 (a) (b)

    70,589        670,596   
   

 

 

 

Total Rights
(Cost $573,350)

      1,766,841   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—12.6%   

Mutual Fund—12.3%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    452,480,341        452,480,341   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—0.3%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $9,131,366 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $9,305,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.250% due 08/15/15 with a value of $9,316,631.

    9,131,366        9,131,366   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $461,611,707)

      461,611,707   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—112.4%
(Cost $2,831,184,387) (d)

      4,126,914,451   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(12.4)%

      (454,473,400
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 3,672,441,051   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $437,715,633 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $452,480,341 and non-cash collateral with a value of $7,788. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,829,789,712. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $1,375,974,877 and $(78,850,138), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $1,297,124,739 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Common Stocks*

   $ 3,663,535,903       $ —        $ —         $ 3,663,535,903   

Total Rights*

     1,766,841         —          —           1,766,841   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     452,480,341         —          —           452,480,341   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           9,131,366        —           9,131,366   

Total Short-Term Investments

     452,480,341         9,131,366        —           461,611,707   

Total Investments

   $ 4,117,783,085       $ 9,131,366      $ —         $ 4,126,914,451   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (452,480,341   $ —         $ (452,480,341

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 4,126,914,451   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     1,321,009   

Dividends

     849,724   

Prepaid expenses

     9,348   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     4,129,094,532   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     452,480,341   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     1,836,099   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,694,848   

Distribution and service fees

     290,241   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     136,415   

Other expenses

     215,537   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     456,653,481   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,672,441,051   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 3,154,297,269   

Undistributed net investment income

     12,004,584   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (789,579,866

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     1,295,719,064   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,672,441,051   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 2,285,051,904   

Class B

     1,335,934,907   

Class E

     51,454,240   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     143,043,404   

Class B

     85,686,666   

Class E

     3,269,134   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 15.97   

Class B

     15.59   

Class E

     15.74   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $2,831,184,387.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $437,715,633.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 33,585,635   

Securities lending income

     557,740   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     34,143,375   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     17,825,732   

Administration fees

     74,324   

Custodian and accounting fees

     215,607   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,821,339   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     64,675   

Audit and tax services

     47,779   

Legal

     24,099   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     41,749   

Shareholder reporting

     165,270   

Insurance

     18,130   

Miscellaneous

     17,560   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     21,316,264   

Less management fee waiver

     (359,469

Less broker commission recapture

     (8,541
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     20,948,254   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     13,195,121   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  

Net realized gain on investments

     270,279,442   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     285,991,670   

Foreign currency transactions

     (19,087
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     285,972,583   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     556,252,025   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 569,447,146   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $196,320.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 13,195,121      $ 6,270,261   

Net realized gain

     270,279,442        88,294,221   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     285,972,583        576,561,657   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     569,447,146        671,126,139   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (4,659,929     (5,041,108

Class B

     (980,727     (1,291,219

Class E

     (52,111     (59,787
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (5,692,767     (6,392,114
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     860,283,324        124,107,518   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     1,424,037,703        788,841,543   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     2,248,403,348        1,459,561,805   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 3,672,441,051      $ 2,248,403,348   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 12,004,584      $ 5,973,062   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     11,450,519      $ 165,200,393        24,795,424      $ 296,086,154   

Shares issued through acquisition (a)

     52,772,184        743,032,347        0        0   

Reinvestments

     334,046        4,659,929        484,256        5,041,108   

Redemptions

     (32,745,499     (484,905,741     (19,304,630     (220,349,977
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     31,811,250      $ 427,986,928        5,975,050      $ 80,777,285   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     10,599,811      $ 154,932,775        14,022,239      $ 159,108,442   

Shares issued through acquisition (a)

     37,694,063        519,047,253        0        0   

Reinvestments

     71,900        980,727        126,839        1,291,219   

Redemptions

     (18,072,447     (262,049,156     (10,434,473     (116,158,981
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     30,293,327      $ 412,911,599        3,714,605      $ 44,240,680   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     485,039      $ 7,145,254        449,876      $ 5,186,622   

Shares issued through acquisition (a)

     3,216,498        44,677,162        0        0   

Reinvestments

     3,787        52,111        5,821        59,787   

Redemptions

     (2,290,344     (32,489,730     (543,104     (6,156,856
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     1,414,980      $ 19,384,797        (87,407   $ (910,447
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 860,283,324        $ 124,107,518   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) See Note 8 of Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.45      $ 9.26       $ 7.81      $ 7.55       $ 6.09   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (a)

     0.07        0.05         0.05        0.02         0.01   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     2.50        4.19         1.42        0.25         1.45   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     2.57        4.24         1.47        0.27         1.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.05     (0.05      (0.02     (0.01      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.05     (0.05      (0.02     (0.01      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.97      $ 13.45       $ 9.26      $ 7.81       $ 7.55   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     19.12        45.90         18.81        3.55         24.05   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.57        0.61         0.64        0.65         0.68   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.56        0.61         0.64        0.65         0.68   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.50        0.43         0.61        0.27         0.19   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     0  (e)      7         4        6         1   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 2,285.1      $ 1,496.3       $ 974.5      $ 657.9       $ 585.2   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.13      $ 9.04       $ 7.63      $ 7.39       $ 5.97   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (a)

     0.04        0.02         0.03        0.00  (f)       0.00  (f) 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     2.44        4.10         1.38        0.24         1.42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     2.48        4.12         1.41        0.24         1.42   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.02     (0.03      (0.00 )(b)      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.02     (0.03      (0.00 )(b)      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.59      $ 13.13       $ 9.04      $ 7.63       $ 7.39   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     18.89        45.60         18.51        3.25         23.79   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.82        0.86         0.89        0.90         0.93   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.81        0.86         0.89        0.90         0.93   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     0.25        0.18         0.31        0.04         (0.06

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     0  (e)      7         4        6         1   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,335.9      $ 727.5       $ 467.3      $ 421.4       $ 197.5   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.26      $ 9.12       $ 7.70       $ 7.44       $ 6.01   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.05        0.03         0.03         0.01         0.00 (f) 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     2.46        4.14         1.40         0.25         1.43   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     2.51        4.17         1.43         0.26         1.43   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.03     (0.03      (0.01      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.03     (0.03      (0.01      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.74      $ 13.26       $ 9.12       $ 7.70       $ 7.44   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     18.94        45.85         18.57         3.49         23.79   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.72        0.76         0.79         0.80         0.83   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.71        0.76         0.79         0.80         0.83   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.36        0.28         0.40         0.18         0.00 (g) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     0  (e)      7         4         6         1   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 51.5      $ 24.6       $ 17.7       $ 17.2       $ 3.3   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Distributions from net investment income were less than $0.01.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(e) Rounds to less than 1%.
(f) Net investment income was less than $0.01.
(g) Ratio of net investment income to average net assets was less than 0.01%.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is non-diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to broker commission recapture, return of capital adjustments and merger adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $9,131,366, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 7,921,979       $ 0       $ 341,625,874   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Clearbridge Investments, LLC that amounted to $63,015,900 in sales of investments, which are included above.

With respect to the Portfolio’s merger with ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II (see Note 8) on April 25, 2014, the Portfolio acquired long-term securities with a cost of $1,176,671,634 that are not included in the above non-U.S. Government purchases value.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management

Fees earned by

MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$17,825,732      0.650   First $500 million
     0.600   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.550   $1 billion to $2 billion
     0.500   Over $2 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. ClearBridge Investments, LLC is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to an expense agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.025%    On amounts in excess of $2.85 billion

The Subadviser had agreed for the period from November 1, 2013 through April 27, 2014, to waive a portion of its subadvisory fees payable by the Adviser to the Subadviser for managing the Portfolio and the ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II, another series of the Trust. The waiver reflects the difference, if any, between the aggregate subadvisory fees payable by the Adviser to the Subadviser individually with respect to the Portfolio and the ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II and the subadvisory fees that would be payable by the Adviser to the Subadviser if the assets of the Portfolio and the ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II were aggregated for purposes of calculating such advisory fees and then apportioning the resulting subadvisory fee based on average daily net assets of the two portfolios. In addition to the above advisory fee agreement, the Adviser had contractually agreed to reduce its Advisory fee for managing the Portfolio by the amount waived (if any) by the Subadviser for the Portfolio pursuant to this voluntary subadvisory fee waiver. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

6. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

7. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$5,692,767    $ 6,392,114       $       $       $ 5,692,767       $ 6,392,114   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards     Total  
$12,140,999    $       $ 1,297,113,743       $ (790,974,545   $ 518,280,197   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $270,148,522.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and the pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards and expiration dates were as follows:

 

Expiring
12/31/16
    Expiring
12/31/17
     Expiring
12/31/18
     Total  
$ 646,544,237   $ 130,530,096       $ 13,900,212       $ 790,974,545   

 

  * The Portfolio acquired capital losses in its merger with Legg Mason Value Equity Portfolio on April 29, 2011.

8. Acquisition

At the close of business on April 25, 2014, the Portfolio, with aggregate Class A, Class B and Class E net assets of $1,458,844,544, $750,816,679 and $26,132,387, respectively, acquired all of the assets and liabilities of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II of the Trust (“ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II”).

The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 52,772,184 Class A shares of the Portfolio (valued at $743,032,347) for 19,421,836 Class A shares of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II, 37,694,063 Class B shares of the Portfolio (valued at $519,047,253) for 15,292,346 Class B shares of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II and 3,216,498 Class E shares of the Portfolio (valued at $44,677,162) for 1,247,466 Class E shares of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II. Each shareholder of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II received shares of the Portfolio with the same class designation and at the respective Class NAV, as determined at the close of business on April 25, 2014. The transaction was part of a restructuring designed to eliminate the offering of overlapping Portfolios in the MetLife, Inc. families of funds with similar investment objectives and similar investment strategies that serve as funding vehicles for insurance contracts that are offered by affiliates of MetLife. Some of the investments held by ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II may have been purchased or sold prior to the acquisition for the purpose of complying with the anticipated investment policies or limitations of the Portfolio after the acquisition. If such purchases or sales occurred, the transaction costs were borne by ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II. All other costs associated with the merger were not borne by the shareholders of either portfolio.

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II’s net assets on April 25, 2014, were $743,032,347, $519,047,253 and $44,677,162 for Class A, Class B and Class E shares, respectively, including investments valued at $1,306,129,563 with a cost basis of $1,182,214,634. For financial reporting purposes, assets received, liabilities assumed and shares issued by the Portfolio were recorded at fair value;

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

however, the cost basis of the investments received by the Portfolio from ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II were carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Portfolio’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.

The aggregate net assets of the Portfolio immediately after the acquisition were $3,542,550,372, which included $123,923,016 of acquired unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions.

Assuming the acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2014, the Portfolio’s pro-forma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

Net Investment income

   $  14,159,995 (a) 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

   $ 616,885,954 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 631,045,949   
  

 

 

 

Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single integrated portfolio since the acquisition was completed, it is not practicable to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II that have been included in the Portfolio’s Statement of Operations since April 25, 2014.

 

a) $13,195,121 net investment income as reported, plus $950,528 from ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II pre-merger net investment income, minus $23,126 in higher net advisory fees, plus $37,472 of pro-forma eliminated other expenses.
(b) $1,295,719,064 unrealized appreciation as reported, minus $958,055,577 pro-forma December 31, 2013 unrealized appreciation, plus $270,279,442 net realized gain as reported, plus $8,943,025 in net realized gain from ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio II pre-merger.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and ClearBridge Advisors, LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 3000 Growth Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio returned 13.57% and 13.23%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell Midcap Value Index1, returned 14.75%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The S&P 500 Index declined 0.25% in December, but finished the fourth quarter up 4.93% and gained 13.69% for the year as a whole. Diverging global economies, strong merger and acquisition (“M&A”) activity, weakening oil prices and declining U.S. interest rates were major themes affecting U.S. equities throughout 2014. The U.S. economic recovery accelerated through the year, particularly compared to other developed markets, which helped fuel U.S. corporate earnings growth and strong equity returns. Furthermore, the decline in unemployment to 5.8% and lower energy prices gave new hope to the potential for a broader consumer recovery. U.S. equity market volatility picked up during the second half of the year from exceptionally low levels mid-year, but the S&P 500 Index had no more than three consecutive down days during 2014, a feat not seen since 1928. M&A activity rose to its highest annual level since 2007, largely due to transactions within the Information Technology and Health Care sectors, which handily outperformed the broader market. Following the unexpected decline in U.S. interest rates, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and the Utilities sector also outperformed the broader market. The Energy sector underperformed during 2014, as concerns over rising U.S. supply and weakening global demand triggered a collapse in U.S. and global crude oil prices.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

For the year ended December 31, 2014, stock selection within the Consumer Discretionary and Utilities sectors detracted from relative returns, while selection in the Consumer Staples and Materials sectors contributed to results.

Over the previous year, Triumph Group, Inc. was the top detractor from performance at the Portfolio level. Its shares were under pressure throughout the year due to execution challenges on their 747-8 program and a lackluster growth environment, as well as timing of anticipated margin improvements. Despite underperformance in 2014, we anticipated an improvement in demand in 2015 and remained positive regarding management’s ability to meet expectations. At period end, we remained confident in management’s ability to achieve significant synergies from the acquisitions completed in 2014 and drive long-term shareholder value. Also during the year, the Portfolio’s investment in Southwestern Energy Co., another oil and natural gas exploration and production company, was a top detractor from performance, driven by weaker natural gas prices. During the fourth quarter, Southwestern Energy closed its previously announced acquisition of Marcellus and Utica shale assets from Chesapeake Energy and announced a $1 billion share buyback program. At year end, we continued to believe that Southwestern Energy has an underappreciated resource base, specifically in the Marcellus and Fayetteville Shales, and its newly acquired assets further enhance the company’s position and growth opportunities. Additionally, we remained positive on the company’s operational leverage to higher natural gas prices and encouraged by the management team’s commitment to disciplined growth, cost reductions, and shareholder returns.

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., the leader in specialty coffee and coffeemakers, was the overall top contributor to performance. We initiated the Portfolio’s position in the company earlier this year given our conviction that K-Cups, the company’s single-serve beverage pods, could experience significant growth over the next three years, specifically driven by installed base growth. The company’s share price rallied after the announcement that Coca-Cola agreed to purchase a 10% stake in the firm. Recognizing the quality of the business, Coca-Cola entered into a 10-year agreement to explore producing Coca-Cola products for use with Green Mountain’s Keurig Cold beverage system. However, following the stock’s strong second-half performance, we exited the Portfolio’s position and redeployed capital into names where we saw greater upside potential.

Another top contributor for the year was the Portfolio’s position in Kroger Co. Strong quarterly earnings, driven by solid execution, helped the company maintain its positive momentum throughout the year. In our view, Kroger has consistently been able to gain market share, driven by a focus on low prices, high convenience and healthy choices. Its margins appeared to have stabilized and can begin to expand following many years of investment to improve its competitive positioning. We also believed its acquisition of Harris Teeter Supermarkets could provide synergies and boost its earnings per share over the next two to three years. Furthermore, industry consolidation could be beneficial for the company due to its strong market share and stable cash flows.

At the end of the period, the top two overweight sectors in the Portfolio relative to the Russell Midcap Value Index were Consumer Discretionary and Consumer Staples, while the top two underweight sectors were Utilities and Financials. Also at the end of the period, the top two active weights relative to the Russell Midcap Value Index were the Portfolio’s positions in Gap, Inc. and FirstEnergy Corp.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Regardless of the market direction, our fundamental, bottom-up stock selection continues to drive our process, rather than headlines or sentiment. We maintained high conviction in the companies that we own and believe they have the potential to outperform relative to the broader market regardless of the growth environment. We continued to focus on undervalued companies that we believe are in control of their own future, such as innovators with differentiated products, companies with low cost structures, or ones that have been investing in their own businesses and are poised to gain market share. We maintained our discipline in identifying companies with strong or improving balance sheets, led by quality management teams, trading at discounted valuations, and remain focused on the long-term outperformance of the Portfolio.

Dolores Bamford

Andrew Braun

Sean Gallagher

Portfolio Managers

Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL MIDCAP VALUE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio                 

Class A

       13.57           15.90           9.17   

Class B

       13.23           15.61           8.89   
Russell Midcap Value Index        14.75           17.43           9.43   

1 The Russell Midcap Value Index is an unmanaged measure of performance of those Russell Midcap companies (the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index) with lower price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

FirstEnergy Corp.

     2.1   

Sempra Energy

     2.0   

Gap, Inc. (The)

     1.9   

Lincoln National Corp.

     1.9   

Cigna Corp.

     1.8   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

     1.6   

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

     1.5   

Fifth Third Bancorp

     1.5   

Navient Corp.

     1.5   

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

     1.5   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Financials

     28.5   

Consumer Discretionary

     14.3   

Information Technology

     12.2   

Health Care

     9.1   

Industrials

     8.9   

Utilities

     7.3   

Consumer Staples

     6.6   

Materials

     5.8   

Energy

     4.2   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.75    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,045.40         $ 3.87   
   Hypothetical*      0.75    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.43         $ 3.82   

Class B

   Actual      1.00    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,044.20         $ 5.15   
   Hypothetical*      1.00    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.16         $ 5.09   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—96.9% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—3.6%

  

Alliant Techsystems, Inc.

    81,937      $ 9,525,176   

Textron, Inc.

    196,272        8,265,014   

Triumph Group, Inc. (a)

    133,089        8,946,243   
   

 

 

 
      26,736,433   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.4%

  

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (b)

    47,415        3,171,589   
   

 

 

 

Banks—5.7%

  

Fifth Third Bancorp

    560,701        11,424,283   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

    1,047,281        11,017,396   

M&T Bank Corp. (a)

    64,457        8,097,088   

Signature Bank (b)

    56,263        7,086,888   

Zions Bancorporation

    167,777        4,783,322   
   

 

 

 
      42,408,977   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.8%

  

Molson Coors Brewing Co. - Class B

    77,007        5,738,562   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—1.8%

  

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (b)

    114,959        5,876,704   

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.

    164,496        7,446,734   
   

 

 

 
      13,323,438   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—2.5%

  

Invesco, Ltd.

    257,537        10,177,862   

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    149,883        8,586,797   
   

 

 

 
      18,764,659   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—3.2%

  

Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd. (b)

    184,411        4,798,374   

Celanese Corp. - Series A

    95,944        5,752,802   

CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

    26,215        7,144,636   

Valspar Corp. (The)

    69,139        5,979,141   
   

 

 

 
      23,674,953   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—1.7%

  

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

    559,419        6,623,521   

Juniper Networks, Inc.

    276,533        6,172,216   
   

 

 

 
      12,795,737   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—2.7%

  

Navient Corp.

    521,261        11,264,450   

SLM Corp.

    872,168        8,887,392   
   

 

 

 
      20,151,842   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—1.0%

  

Packaging Corp. of America

    96,499        7,531,747   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—1.8%

  

NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (The)

    131,063        6,285,782   

Voya Financial, Inc.

    164,237        6,960,364   
   

 

 

 
      13,246,146   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—2.1%

  

FirstEnergy Corp. (a)

    406,200      15,837,738   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.3%

  

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (b)

    66,484        2,245,165   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.3%

  

Oil States International, Inc. (b)

    45,695        2,234,485   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—1.8%

  

Kroger Co. (The)

    94,619        6,075,486   

Whole Foods Market, Inc. (a)

    141,865        7,152,833   
   

 

 

 
      13,228,319   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—3.0%

  

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

    306,913        11,134,804   

Tyson Foods, Inc. - Class A (a)

    274,156        10,990,914   
   

 

 

 
      22,125,718   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—1.4%

  

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

    90,395        10,252,601   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—4.8%

  

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    114,569        9,249,155   

Cigna Corp.

    127,563        13,127,508   

Envision Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (b)

    104,602        3,628,644   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (b)

    93,900        10,131,810   
   

 

 

 
      36,137,117   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Technology—0.5%

  

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (b)

    311,012        3,971,623   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—2.4%

  

MGM Resorts International (b)

    384,073        8,211,481   

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

    115,513        9,364,639   
   

 

 

 
      17,576,120   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—2.0%

  

Mohawk Industries, Inc. (b)

    50,140        7,789,750   

Toll Brothers, Inc. (b)

    209,778        7,189,092   
   

 

 

 
      14,978,842   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—1.1%

  

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

    66,738        8,579,837   
   

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—0.9%

  

NRG Energy, Inc.

    252,329        6,800,267   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—8.7%

  

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

    143,782        6,769,256   

Everest Re Group, Ltd.

    52,196        8,888,979   

Genworth Financial, Inc. - Class A (b)

    255,501        2,171,758   

Lincoln National Corp.

    248,798        14,348,181   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

    234,922        12,201,849   

Unum Group

    148,130        5,166,774   

Validus Holdings, Ltd.

    142,806        5,935,017   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Insurance—(Continued)

  

XL Group plc

    287,161      $ 9,869,724   
   

 

 

 
      65,351,538   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—1.4%

  

Expedia, Inc.

    51,556        4,400,820   

Liberty Interactive Corp. - Class A (b)

    194,745        5,729,398   
   

 

 

 
      10,130,218   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—1.1%

  

AOL, Inc. (b)

    91,744        4,235,820   

Pandora Media, Inc. (a) (b)

    229,860        4,098,404   
   

 

 

 
      8,334,224   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—1.3%

  

Xerox Corp.

    678,558        9,404,814   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.7%

  

Terex Corp.

    192,875        5,377,355   
   

 

 

 

Media—3.1%

  

AMC Networks, Inc. - Class A (b)

    125,051        7,974,502   

Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class A (b)

    18,320        917,649   

Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class C (b)

    37,266        1,856,592   

Liberty Media Corp. - Class A (b)

    73,282        2,584,656   

Liberty Media Corp. - Class C (b)

    188,273        6,595,203   

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. - Class A (a)

    42,458        3,195,814   
   

 

 

 
      23,124,416   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—1.6%

  

Carpenter Technology Corp. (a)

    109,735        5,404,449   

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

    55,760        3,416,415   

TimkenSteel Corp.

    93,722        3,470,526   
   

 

 

 
      12,291,390   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—4.2%

  

PG&E Corp.

    201,607        10,733,557   

SCANA Corp. (a)

    99,148        5,988,539   

Sempra Energy

    134,669        14,996,740   
   

 

 

 
      31,718,836   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—3.9%

  

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (a)

    388,430        7,601,575   

Cimarex Energy Co.

    37,036        3,925,816   

Energen Corp.

    9,900        631,224   

Southwestern Energy Co. (a) (b)

    361,617        9,868,528   

Tesoro Corp. (a)

    91,165        6,778,118   
   

 

 

 
      28,805,261   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—2.4%

  

Endo International plc (b)

    152,038        10,964,980   

Mylan, Inc. (b)

    122,335        6,896,024   
   

 

 

 
      17,861,004   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—0.4%

  

Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The)

    22,636      2,738,051   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—7.1%

  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    63,316        10,345,201   

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    462,727        11,494,139   

DDR Corp.

    485,745        8,918,278   

RLJ Lodging Trust

    234,291        7,855,777   

Starwood Property Trust, Inc. (a)

    402,189        9,346,873   

Taubman Centers, Inc.

    70,619        5,396,704   
   

 

 

 
      53,356,972   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—2.0%

  

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (b)

    365,566        9,117,216   

Kansas City Southern

    50,517        6,164,590   
   

 

 

 
      15,281,806   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—4.5%

  

Altera Corp.

    185,768        6,862,270   

Analog Devices, Inc.

    89,102        4,946,943   

Atmel Corp. (a) (b)

    681,774        5,723,493   

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

    118,574        5,137,811   

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

    348,632        11,110,902   
   

 

 

 
      33,781,419   
   

 

 

 

Software—2.6%

  

Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd. (a) (b)

    70,449        5,535,178   

Citrix Systems, Inc. (b)

    83,384        5,319,899   

Informatica Corp. (b)

    119,202        4,545,768   

Red Hat, Inc. (b)

    63,184        4,368,542   
   

 

 

 
      19,769,387   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—4.1%

  

Gap, Inc. (The)

    344,773        14,518,391   

GNC Holdings, Inc. - Class A

    88,112        4,137,739   

Staples, Inc.

    404,622        7,331,751   

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (a) (b)

    143,532        5,042,279   
   

 

 

 
      31,030,160   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—0.7%

  

NetApp, Inc.

    128,691        5,334,242   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—1.3%

  

Fossil Group, Inc. (b)

    46,457        5,144,648   

PVH Corp.

    37,832        4,848,928   
   

 

 

 
      9,993,576   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $640,800,747)

      725,196,584   
   

 

 

 
Rights—0.0%   

Media—0.0%

  

Liberty Broadband Corp., Expires 01/09/15 (b) (Cost $0)

    11,118        105,621   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Short-Term Investments—12.3%

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Mutual Fund—8.9%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    66,904,201      $ 66,904,201   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—3.4%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $25,080,311 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $25,585,000 Federal Home Loan Bank at 0.200% due 08/24/15 with a value of $25,585,000.

    25,080,311        25,080,311   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $91,984,512)

      91,984,512   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—109.2%
(Cost $732,785,259) (d)

      817,286,717   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(9.2)%

      (68,587,022
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 748,699,695   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $66,209,004 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $66,904,201 and non-cash collateral with a value of $1,633,815. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $734,779,080. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $92,367,164 and $(9,859,527), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $82,507,637 for federal income tax purposes.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Common Stocks*

   $ 725,196,584       $ —        $ —         $ 725,196,584   

Total Rights*

     105,621         —          —           105,621   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     66,904,201         —          —           66,904,201   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           25,080,311        —           25,080,311   

Total Short-Term Investments

     66,904,201         25,080,311        —           91,984,512   

Total Investments

   $ 792,206,406       $ 25,080,311      $ —         $ 817,286,717   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (66,904,201   $ —         $ (66,904,201

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 817,286,717   

Cash

     45,946   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     768,709   

Fund shares sold

     53,881   

Dividends

     1,051,092   

Prepaid expenses

     1,922   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     819,208,267   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     66,904,201   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     2,539,157   

Fund shares redeemed

     391,196   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     452,090   

Distribution and service fees

     47,192   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     107,312   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     70,508,572   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 748,699,695   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 486,561,984   

Undistributed net investment income

     7,397,538   

Accumulated net realized gain

     170,238,715   

Unrealized appreciation on investments

     84,501,458   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 748,699,695   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 525,134,246   

Class B

     223,565,449   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     32,147,234   

Class B

     13,724,616   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 16.34   

Class B

     16.29   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $732,785,259.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $66,209,004.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 14,292,357   

Securities lending income

     76,725   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     14,369,082   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     6,001,562   

Administration fees

     20,014   

Custodian and accounting fees

     92,521   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     542,551   

Audit and tax services

     39,510   

Legal

     34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     58,588   

Insurance

     5,370   

Miscellaneous

     12,995   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     6,851,190   

Less broker commission recapture

     (97,541
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     6,753,649   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     7,615,433   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     172,408,539   

Futures contracts

     (1,826,641
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     170,581,898   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments

     (74,541,994
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     96,039,904   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 103,655,337   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 7,615,433      $ 8,672,619   

Net realized gain

     170,581,898        189,058,934   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (74,541,994     71,562,850   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     103,655,337        269,294,403   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (6,633,773     (8,515,979

Class B

     (1,172,145     (1,812,117

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (149,603,013     (27,403,374

Class B

     (37,949,648     (7,198,478
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (195,358,579     (44,929,948
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (215,012,894     11,325,875   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (306,716,136     235,690,330   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,055,415,831        819,725,501   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 748,699,695      $ 1,055,415,831   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 7,397,538      $ 7,782,605   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     745,178      $ 11,581,159        6,037,861      $ 94,610,806   

Reinvestments

     10,723,183        156,236,786        2,463,604        35,919,353   

Redemptions

     (26,632,402     (402,992,633     (7,012,517     (110,997,914
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (15,164,041   $ (235,174,688     1,488,948      $ 19,532,245   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     1,825,154      $ 28,555,772        2,075,283      $ 32,429,771   

Reinvestments

     2,688,784        39,121,793        618,859        9,010,595   

Redemptions

     (2,936,587     (47,515,771     (3,084,321     (49,646,736
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     1,577,351      $ 20,161,794        (390,179   $ (8,206,370
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (215,012,894     $ 11,325,875   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 17.76       $ 14.05       $ 11.96       $ 12.82       $ 10.41   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.16         0.15         0.19         0.13         0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.84         4.32         2.01         (0.91      2.45   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     2.00         4.47         2.20         (0.78      2.54   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.15      (0.18      (0.11      (0.08      (0.13

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (3.27      (0.58      0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (3.42      (0.76      (0.11      (0.08      (0.13
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 16.34       $ 17.76       $ 14.05       $ 11.96       $ 12.82   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.57         32.95         18.46         (6.13      24.56   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.75         0.74         0.75         0.76         0.77   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.98         0.95         1.45         1.05         0.85   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     85         112         81         74         98   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 525.1       $ 840.2       $ 643.9       $ 529.5       $ 432.6   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 17.72       $ 14.02       $ 11.94       $ 12.80       $ 10.40   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.11         0.11         0.16         0.10         0.07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.83         4.31         2.00         (0.90      2.44   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.94         4.42         2.16         (0.80      2.51   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.10      (0.14      (0.08      (0.06      (0.11

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (3.27      (0.58      0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (3.37      (0.72      (0.08      (0.06      (0.11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 16.29       $ 17.72       $ 14.02       $ 11.94       $ 12.80   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.23         32.65         18.12         (6.29      24.23   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.00         0.99         1.00         1.01         1.02   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.69         0.70         1.18         0.78         0.64   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     85         112         81         74         98   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 223.6       $ 215.2       $ 175.8       $ 164.6       $ 147.8   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to broker commission recapture and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $25,080,311, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 24, 2014 through April 29, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $246,589,664 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized losses in the amount of $1,826,641 which are shown under Net realized loss on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 705,693,365       $ 0       $ 1,124,518,201   

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $62,169,676 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$6,001,562      0.750 %   First $200 million
     0.700 %   Over $200 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Affiliated Broker - During the year ended December 31, 2014 the Portfolio paid brokerage commissions to affiliated brokers/dealers:

 

Affiliate

   Commission  
Goldman Sachs & Co.    $ 42,979   

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$77,779,694    $ 17,717,033       $ 117,578,885       $ 27,212,915       $ 195,358,579       $ 44,929,948   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$70,559,102    $ 109,138,400       $ 82,507,634       $       $ 262,205,136   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Value Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and were the lowest in the Expense Group. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Managed by Harris Associates L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Harris Oakmark International Portfolio returned -5.52%, -5.79%, and -5.67%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Index1, returned -4.90%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Over the course of 2014, major global markets and Portfolio holdings were affected by a variety of circumstances. Currency movement was one such circumstance. The U.S. dollar appreciated versus the Australian dollar (+9%), the euro (+14%) and the yen (nearly +14%) for the year. The immediate impact of this appreciation caused lower U.S. dollar returns of those non-U.S. based assets as currency declines were absorbed. Over the medium term, a weak currency effect usually complements the earnings results of most non-U.S.-based multinationals, and subsequently, has a positive influence on foreign share prices. An additional event that affected markets was the rapid decline of oil prices, with both Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) plummeting around 50% in 2014. Overall, this drop has translated to measurable positives for global economic growth and corporate earnings, most especially for users of transportation fuels, petrochemical, plastics and fertilizers. However, it also proved challenging for energy companies and those countries that depend on oil exports. Lastly, markets were challenged by the ongoing situation in Ukraine, as sanctions on imports from and exports to Russia saw businesses struggle to maintain normal operations and unload a surplus of goods that would have otherwise been dealt to Russia.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Both country weightings and stock selection contributed to the Portfolio’s underperformance relative to its benchmark for the period. Holdings in the U.K., the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Japan were the main detractors from relative results for the year. Performance compared with the benchmark was helped most by holdings in Germany, Italy and France.

In terms of absolute collective performance, only three of 14 countries in which we were invested delivered positive absolute returns for the year, with the most significant losses coming from the Netherlands (-13%), the U.K. (-10%) and Hong Kong (-9%). Of the 19 underlying holdings in these countries, only seven delivered positive returns for the period. Israel (+22%), Italy (+15%) and Canada (+10%) generated positive collective absolute returns for full-year 2014.

The Portfolio’s worst detractors for the year were Tesco (U.K.), Honda Motor (Japan) and Credit Suisse Group (Switzerland). The unexpected departure of the CEO, a large profit warning, and an accounting discrepancy led us to reassess our estimates of Tesco. We reduced the Portfolio’s position in the company by approximately two-thirds in the third quarter and sold all shares in Tesco by the end of the year.

Honda Motor’s share price was pressured in 2014 as a result of earnings reports that missed market expectations and costly vehicle recalls. During the second quarter of the year, Honda issued a recall of about two million vehicles related to possible faulty air bags (supplied by an outside components maker). In addition, the probe initiated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding Honda’s failure to report air bag malfunction incidents remains ongoing. However, based on similar circumstances involving vehicle manufacturer’s recalls, we assessed that Honda’s liability will not materially impact its shareholders. We were also pleased that Honda’s fiscal first-quarter results showed an increase in net income (+19.6%) and total revenues (+5.4%) from the same period as last year and total sales in the U.S. for October increased 5.8% from a year ago. Lastly, global auto demand remains strong, which has worked to the benefit of Honda and helped improve its performance.

Credit Suisse Group’s share price declined in 2014 as the company worked to settle its U.S. tax evasion case that ultimately resulted in a $2.6 billion fine. Investors also showed concern over potential regulatory changes to capital ratios. However, considering Credit Suisse’s current level of capital, management’s ongoing efforts to minimize risk, its drive to increase shareholder returns, and the earnings power of the private banking business, we were comfortable with the company’s capital position and balance sheet. The management team also issued $5 billion of senior debt in the second quarter of 2014, its first large senior debt sale in three years. Despite its settlement with the U.S. authorities, the deal attracted $10 billion of demand. We believe this illustrated that Credit Suisse’s fundamentals are sound and it is still an attractive investment.

The Portfolio’s top contributors to performance for the year were AMP (Australia), Intesa Sanpaolo (Italy) and Olympus (Japan). AMP’s release of its fiscal full-year 2013 financial results and the subsequent release of its fiscal first-half results prompted its stock price to advance, with underlying profit beating consensus expectations. We met with AMP’s then new CEO Craig Meller in the second quarter of 2014 who expressed that along with continued focus on reducing expenses via a cost-out plan, he is working to reinforce customer relationships and boost retention by way of better product targeting and omnichannel distribution.

Intesa Sanpaolo’s share price gained value in the first three quarters of the year as fears over Italy’s banking system and government receded. We have always believed these fears were overblown and that Italy was in much better long-term fiscal health than many of its periphery countries. Intesa’s CEO has committed to return EUR 10 billion to shareholders via dividends over the next four years. This constitutes a cumulative payout ratio in excess of 70%. Even with this return of capital to shareholders, Intesa should be over-capitalized compared with Basel III requirements, leaving the door open for additional capital returns. Additionally, management is in the process of increasing investments in fee-based businesses, including asset management and insurance, and exiting non-core businesses and investments. In our view, at year end Intesa Sanpaolo’s strategy remained solid.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Managed by Harris Associates L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Investors remained optimistic throughout the year with regard to Olympus’ performance in the medical equipment business. Endoscope sales in North America rose in 2014 and offset weaker performance in Japan. During the third quarter, management forecasted 10% current-year medical segment growth owing to higher surgery revenues and greater sales of endoscopes in emerging markets, especially in China, where medical sales were growing at about 20%. We met with Yasuo Takeuchi, Director and member of the company’s board, who stated that Olympus is investing JPY 18 billion for the current fiscal year in its medical business, mostly to enlarge the sales staff and enhance its research and development capabilities in the surgical business.

Currency hedging was actively utilized throughout the year, as we still believe that many currencies are overvalued compared to the U.S. dollar. Approximately 23% of the Portfolio’s Australian dollar, 25% of the Portfolio’s Swiss franc and 14% of the Portfolio’s Swedish krona exposure were hedged at year-end.

The Portfolio finished the year with most of its equity assets invested in Europe (outside of the U.K.) and within that region, Switzerland (18%) held the most Portfolio weight. The U.K. (17%) held the next largest weighting. Both Canada and Israel (both less than 1%) account for the smallest Portfolio weightings, as these countries contained only one holding each.

As active value managers, we believe that today’s market provides exploitable opportunities, and we are constantly looking for ways to capitalize on these opportunities in order to add value for our shareholders. The issues that came to light in 2014 exemplify why a company’s nation of domicile is far less important to us than where it derives its revenues. What carries more weight in our analysis is the economics of a business, the company’s ownership structure and the alignment of management with shareholders. In 2014, it appears the U.S.-domiciled companies trumped all others, but the investing world has a history of restoring equilibrium to such imbalances. With that in mind, we continue to seek out value wherever we may find it, and all things considered we found that company valuations continue to be compelling.

David G. Herro

Robert A. Taylor

Portfolio Managers

Harris Associates L.P.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI EAFE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
Harris Oakmark International Portfolio                 

Class A

       -5.52           9.93           8.05   

Class B

       -5.79           9.67           7.78   

Class E

       -5.67           9.77           7.89   
MSCI EAFE Index        -4.90           5.33           4.43   

1 The MSCI Europe, Australasia and Far East Index (“MSCI EAFE Index”) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Credit Suisse Group AG      4.9   
BNP Paribas S.A.      3.7   
Daimler AG      3.2   
Cie Financiere Richemont S.A.      3.2   
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.      3.2   
Allianz SE      3.1   
Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG      3.0   
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.      3.0   
Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.      2.8   
Experian plc      2.8   

Top Countries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Switzerland      17.6   
United Kingdom      16.0   
France      14.5   
Japan      10.8   
Germany      10.5   
Netherlands      6.3   
Italy      5.3   
Sweden      4.1   
Australia      3.6   
United States      3.6   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.82    $ 1,000.00         $ 924.60         $ 3.98   
   Hypothetical*      0.82    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.07         $ 4.18   

Class B(a)

   Actual      1.07    $ 1,000.00         $ 923.30         $ 5.19   
   Hypothetical*      1.07    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,019.81         $ 5.45   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.97    $ 1,000.00         $ 923.80         $ 4.70   
   Hypothetical*      0.97    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.32         $ 4.94   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—95.9% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Australia—3.6%

  

AMP, Ltd.

    11,732,882      $ 52,211,301   

Orica, Ltd. (a)

    4,457,953        68,321,488   
   

 

 

 
      120,532,789   
   

 

 

 

Canada—0.2%

  

Thomson Reuters Corp. (a)

    164,100        6,620,216   
   

 

 

 

France—14.5%

   

BNP Paribas S.A.

    2,109,976        123,991,235   

Christian Dior S.A.

    179,171        30,612,635   

Danone S.A.

    1,045,739        68,795,499   

Kering

    391,500        75,268,862   

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.

    342,400        54,145,106   

Pernod-Ricard S.A.

    431,400        47,832,319   

Publicis Groupe S.A.

    450,915        32,295,965   

Safran S.A.

    788,300        48,519,051   
   

 

 

 
      481,460,672   
   

 

 

 

Germany—10.5%

  

Allianz SE

    613,300        101,902,059   

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG

    919,400        99,850,360   

Continental AG

    8,800        1,868,702   

Daimler AG

    1,287,400        107,408,582   

SAP SE

    523,500        37,014,325   
   

 

 

 
      348,044,028   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—1.4%

  

Melco Crown Entertainment, Ltd. (ADR) (a)

    1,876,500        47,663,100   
   

 

 

 

Ireland—2.8%

   

Experian plc

    5,420,400        91,429,789   
   

 

 

 

Israel—0.2%

   

Check Point Software Technologies,
Ltd. (a) (b)

    92,300        7,252,011   
   

 

 

 

Italy—5.3%

   

Exor S.p.A.

    273,000        11,137,668   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.

    34,385,600        99,472,052   

Prada S.p.A. (a)

    11,692,800        65,929,826   
   

 

 

 
      176,539,546   
   

 

 

 

Japan—10.8%

  

Canon, Inc.

    744,300        23,640,366   

Daiwa Securities Group, Inc. (a)

    12,108,000        94,292,428   

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

    3,612,700        105,056,223   

Meitec Corp.

    271,300        8,007,964   

Olympus Corp. (b)

    607,900        21,419,912   

Secom Co., Ltd. (a)

    253,500        14,564,108   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    1,450,400        90,447,766   
   

 

 

 
      357,428,767   
   

 

 

 

Netherlands—6.3%

  

Akzo Nobel NV

    222,161        15,405,682   

CNH Industrial NV (a)

    11,205,100        90,328,878   

Netherlands—(Continued)

  

Heineken Holding NV

    326,734      20,480,527   

Koninklijke Ahold NV

    536,779        9,541,802   

Koninklijke Philips NV

    2,499,278        72,566,938   
   

 

 

 
      208,323,827   
   

 

 

 

South Korea—2.6%

  

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

    71,795        86,301,327   
   

 

 

 

Sweden—4.1%

   

Atlas Copco AB - B Shares

    1,412,194        36,185,857   

Hennes & Mauritz AB - B Shares

    707,700        29,356,679   

SKF AB - B Shares

    2,904,900        61,110,274   

Swedish Match AB

    353,344        11,021,165   
   

 

 

 
      137,673,975   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—17.6%

  

Adecco S.A. (b)

    989,625        67,793,221   

Cie Financiere Richemont S.A.

    1,195,300        105,876,482   

Credit Suisse Group AG (b)

    6,475,966        162,344,853   

Holcim, Ltd. (b)

    1,173,600        83,337,471   

Kuehne & Nagel International AG (a)

    532,800        72,424,206   

Nestle S.A.

    675,800        49,537,182   

Schindler Holding AG (Participation Certificate)

    286,900        41,397,623   
   

 

 

 
      582,711,038   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—16.0%

  

Diageo plc

    3,143,700        90,164,929   

G4S plc

    1,896,000        8,159,569   

GlaxoSmithKline plc

    2,329,900        49,848,329   

Lloyds Banking Group plc (b)

    66,718,100        78,785,156   

Meggitt plc

    5,014,278        40,080,907   

Schroders plc

    1,529,662        63,397,556   

Schroders plc (non-voting shares)

    10,427        337,036   

Smiths Group plc

    2,252,244        38,119,469   

Willis Group Holdings plc (a)

    1,908,200        85,506,442   

Wolseley plc

    483,876        27,546,281   

WPP plc

    2,324,100        48,216,230   
   

 

 

 
      530,161,904   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $3,156,544,170)

      3,182,142,989   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—10.8%   

Mutual Fund—7.2%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    239,971,078        239,971,078   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Short-Term Investments—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Repurchase Agreement—3.6%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $120,343,349 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $122,420,000 U.S. Government Agency obligations with rates ranging from 0.110% - 1.500%, maturity dates ranging from 01/09/15 - 01/31/19 with a value of $122,752,938.

    120,343,349      $ 120,343,349   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $360,314,427)

      360,314,427   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—106.7%
(Cost $3,516,858,597) (d)

      3,542,457,416   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(6.7)%

      (222,062,459
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 3,320,394,957   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $234,324,064 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $239,971,078 and non-cash collateral with a value of $6,998,538. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $3,551,994,667. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $186,483,749 and $(196,021,000), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(9,537,251) for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

 

Ten Largest Industries as of
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Automobiles

     12.1   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     10.0   

Capital Markets

     9.7   

Banks

     9.1   

Insurance

     7.2   

Machinery

     6.9   

Professional Services

     5.0   

Beverages

     4.8   

Food Products

     3.6   

Industrial Conglomerates

     3.3   

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

   Settlement
Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     12,711,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     06/17/15       $ 10,687,790       $ (427,919
AUD     15,394,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     06/17/15         12,558,425         (132,932
SEK     47,377,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     03/18/15         6,456,154         (377,107
SEK     51,023,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     03/18/15         7,396,996         (850,124
SEK     99,397,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     03/18/15         13,065,487         (311,641

Contracts to Deliver

                           
AUD     62,293,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     06/17/15       $ 55,681,221       $ 5,400,511   
CHF     145,938,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     09/16/15         151,293,800         3,625,253   
SEK     352,344,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

     03/18/15         52,480,250         7,270,221   
             

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 14,196,262   
             

 

 

 

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(SEK)— Swedish Krona

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Australia

   $ —         $ 120,532,789      $ —         $ 120,532,789   

Canada

     6,620,216         —          —           6,620,216   

France

     —           481,460,672        —           481,460,672   

Germany

     —           348,044,028        —           348,044,028   

Hong Kong

     47,663,100         —          —           47,663,100   

Ireland

     —           91,429,789        —           91,429,789   

Israel

     7,252,011         —          —           7,252,011   

Italy

     —           176,539,546        —           176,539,546   

Japan

     —           357,428,767        —           357,428,767   

Netherlands

     —           208,323,827        —           208,323,827   

South Korea

     —           86,301,327        —           86,301,327   

Sweden

     —           137,673,975        —           137,673,975   

Switzerland

     —           582,711,038        —           582,711,038   

United Kingdom

     85,506,442         444,655,462        —           530,161,904   

Total Common Stocks

     147,041,769         3,035,101,220        —           3,182,142,989   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     239,971,078         —          —           239,971,078   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           120,343,349        —           120,343,349   

Total Short-Term Investments

     239,971,078         120,343,349        —           360,314,427   

Total Investments

   $ 387,012,847       $ 3,155,444,569      $ —         $ 3,542,457,416   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (239,971,078   $ —         $ (239,971,078
Forward Contracts           

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 16,295,985      $ —         $ 16,295,985   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —           (2,099,723     —           (2,099,723

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —         $ 14,196,262      $ —         $ 14,196,262   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 3,542,457,416   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     16,295,985   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     9,333,732   

Fund shares sold

     1,501,005   

Dividends

     7,944,329   

Prepaid expenses

     9,341   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     3,577,541,808   

Liabilities

  

Due to bank cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     5,489,349   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     2,099,723   

Collateral for securities loaned

     239,971,078   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     5,801,501   

Fund shares redeemed

     630,994   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     2,132,744   

Distribution and service fees

     291,786   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     662,252   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     257,146,851   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,320,394,957   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 2,928,031,147   

Undistributed net investment income

     87,416,523   

Accumulated net realized gain

     265,672,931   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     39,274,356   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,320,394,957   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 1,903,622,983   

Class B

     1,287,407,347   

Class E

     129,364,627   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     119,404,443   

Class B

     82,194,084   

Class E

     8,203,689   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 15.94   

Class B

     15.66   

Class E

     15.77   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $3,516,858,597.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $234,324,064.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies due to bank was $5,536,513.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 99,736,339   

Securities lending income

     3,443,942   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     103,180,281   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     26,914,192   

Administration fees

     81,107   

Custodian and accounting fees

     1,793,091   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     3,379,131   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     211,526   

Audit and tax services

     53,721   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     210,098   

Insurance

     22,380   

Miscellaneous

     26,777   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     32,770,103   

Less management fee waiver

     (628,806
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     32,141,297   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     71,038,984   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     326,122,278   

Futures contracts

     869,881   

Foreign currency transactions

     9,313,618   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     336,305,777   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (620,799,683

Foreign currency transactions

     21,019,628   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation      (599,780,055
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (263,474,278
  

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Net Assets From Operations

   $ (192,435,294
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $9,302,363.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 71,038,984      $ 57,402,577   

Net realized gain

     336,305,777        553,954,256   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (599,780,055     301,826,281   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (192,435,294     913,183,114   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (54,140,114     (55,521,937

Class B

     (32,348,334     (30,390,349

Class E

     (3,509,332     (3,443,670

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (199,114,057     0   

Class B

     (130,351,257     0   

Class E

     (13,643,974     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (433,107,068     (89,355,956
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     240,929,389        (267,313,853
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (384,612,973     556,513,305   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     3,705,007,930        3,148,494,625   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 3,320,394,957      $ 3,705,007,930   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 87,416,523      $ 97,061,701   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     6,627,066      $ 112,469,627        11,913,450      $ 197,537,987   

Reinvestments

     15,065,685        253,254,171        3,595,980        55,521,937   

Redemptions

     (16,042,559     (279,251,145     (29,878,876     (502,723,353
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     5,650,192      $ 86,472,653        (14,369,446   $ (249,663,429
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     8,507,973      $ 144,082,806        8,985,193      $ 152,590,784   

Reinvestments

     9,830,791        162,699,591        1,995,427        30,390,349   

Redemptions

     (9,369,611     (157,893,264     (12,075,347     (200,888,411
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     8,969,153      $ 148,889,133        (1,094,727   $ (17,907,278
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     705,693      $ 12,072,397        1,252,067      $ 21,113,827   

Reinvestments

     1,030,229        17,153,306        225,077        3,443,670   

Redemptions

     (1,390,810     (23,658,100     (1,433,998     (24,300,643
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     345,112      $ 5,567,603        43,146      $ 256,854   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 240,929,389        $ (267,313,853
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011     2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 19.13       $ 15.06       $ 11.85       $ 13.78      $ 12.05   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.37         0.31         0.29         0.24        0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (1.31      4.22         3.16         (2.17     1.83   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.94      4.53         3.45         (1.93     1.99   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.48      (0.46      (0.24      (0.00 )(b)      (0.26

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.77      0.00         0.00         0.00        0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.25      (0.46      (0.24      (0.00 )(b)      (0.26
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.94       $ 19.13       $ 15.06       $ 11.85      $ 13.78   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     (5.52      30.80         29.47         (13.98     16.67   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.83         0.83         0.83         0.85        0.85   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.81         0.81         0.81         0.83        0.84   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.12         1.79         2.26         1.79        1.33   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     45         58         41         48        51   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,903.6       $ 2,176.6       $ 1,929.3       $ 1,775.7      $ 1,479.3   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011     2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 18.84       $ 14.84       $ 11.67       $ 13.61      $ 11.91   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.32         0.25         0.25         0.21        0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (1.29      4.17         3.13         (2.15     1.81   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.97      4.42         3.38         (1.94     1.94   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.44      (0.42      (0.21      0.00        (0.24

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.77      0.00         0.00         0.00        0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.21      (0.42      (0.21      0.00        (0.24
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.66       $ 18.84       $ 14.84       $ 11.67      $ 13.61   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     (5.79      30.49         29.25         (14.25     16.42   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.08         1.08         1.08         1.10        1.10   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     1.06         1.06         1.06         1.08        1.09   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.88         1.50         1.98         1.60        1.07   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     45         58         41         48        51   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,287.4       $ 1,379.5       $ 1,102.6       $ 948.2      $ 975.9   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 18.95      $ 14.92      $ 11.74      $ 13.67      $ 11.96   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (a)

     0.34        0.27        0.27        0.23        0.15   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (1.29     4.20        3.13        (2.16     1.80   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.95     4.47        3.40        (1.93     1.95   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

          

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.46     (0.44     (0.22     0.00        (0.24

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.77     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.23     (0.44     (0.22     0.00        (0.24
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.77      $ 18.95      $ 14.92      $ 11.74      $ 13.67   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     (5.67     30.65        29.27        (14.12     16.50   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.98        0.98        0.98        1.00        1.00   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.96        0.96        0.96        0.98        0.99   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.98        1.60        2.10        1.74        1.22   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     45        58        41        48        51   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 129.4      $ 148.9      $ 116.6      $ 101.9      $ 134.9   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Distributions from net investment income were less than $0.01.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Harris Oakmark International Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $120,343,349, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 24, 2014 through April 29, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $102,216,216 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts    $ 16,295,985       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts    $ 2,099,723   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
     Net
Amount*
 

State Street Bank and Trust

   $ 16,295,985       $ (2,099,723   $       $ 14,196,262   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net
Amount**
 

State Street Bank and Trust

   $ 2,099,723       $ (2,099,723   $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Equity      Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $       $ 10,804,860       $ 10,804,860   

Futures contracts

     869,881                 869,881   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 869,881       $ 10,804,860       $ 11,674,741   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Equity      Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $       $ 21,701,082       $ 21,701,082   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 406,194,280   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 1,548,497,471       $ 0       $ 1,675,160,899   

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $33,014,364 in sales of investments, which are included above.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers

for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$26,914,192      0.850   First $100 million
     0.800   $100 million to $1 billion
     0.750   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Harris Associates L.P. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets  
0.025%    Over $ 1 billion   

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$89,997,780    $ 89,355,956       $ 343,109,288       $       $ 433,107,068       $ 89,355,956   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized

Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$149,195,091    $ 253,302,178       $ (10,066,034   $       $ 392,431,235   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Harris Oakmark International Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Harris Oakmark International, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Harris Oakmark International Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Harris Associates, L.P. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed its Lipper Index for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and outperformed its Lipper Index for the three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Index, for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were below the Expense Group median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median and equal to the Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio returned 5.58%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Capital markets departed from the consensus of investor expectations in the beginning of 2014. Equities, which had become investors’ preferred asset class coming into 2014, were off to their weakest start to the year since 2009. Government bonds—the most loathed asset class coming into the year—generated attractive gains in the first quarter as investors sought safe havens from equity and commodity volatility as well as geopolitical issues, including the crisis in Crimea and comments over the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) policy. Commodities were mixed, with the precious metals and agricultural complexes up strongly, while industrial metals prices languished and energy-related commodities turned-in a mixed performance.

In the second quarter, bond yields fell as geopolitical concerns out of Russia and the Middle East rekindled demand for safe-haven assets. Equities climbed higher after a weak start despite elevated valuations in key markets and lackluster economic data which indicated that investor sentiment was likely the primary driver of returns. Energy and metals prices rose on geopolitical fears. Agriculture prices tailed off over the second quarter as more favorable weather patterns helped to alleviate concerns over poor crop yields.

The third quarter saw yields decline as geopolitical concerns and evidence of slowing economic activity in Europe and Asia created safe haven demand. Developed equity markets were choppy as U.S. small caps, U.K. and Hong Kong equities trended lower while Japanese, European, and U.S. large cap equities posted gains. Commodities were the clear loser for the quarter as all four complexes registered price declines largely in response to the strength of the U.S. dollar and, in many cases, a strong supply outlook.

The year ended with several key events that shaped asset returns for the fourth quarter. The most impactful was the ending of the third round of quantitative easing, the Fed’s asset purchase program, in October. Another key event was the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (“OPEC”) decision not to curtail production of crude oil in the face of a mounting supply glut and evidence of slowing demand. In the face of these events, government bond yields fell throughout the final quarter as investors sought safety. Stock markets contended with heightened volatility and ended mixed. Across commodities, agriculture posted nominal gains while metals and particularly energy-related commodity prices contracted.

Overall for the fiscal year, high quality bonds produced the largest returns and equities contributed as well, particularly in the U.S. and Japan. Commodities struggled across the board with many energy related commodities down double digits.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio strategically balances the amount of risk exposure to equities, fixed income and commodities and targets a strategic risk level of 8%. This is intended to limit the impact of surprise outcomes on the Portfolio. Secondarily, the Portfolio tactically shifts from the strategic equal risk in order to emphasize those assets that are more likely to outperform cash on a monthly basis. Tactical allocation is applied at the individual asset level and aggregated with the strategic allocation allowing the Portfolio risk target to fluctuate between 6% and 10%.

 

Positive absolute performance from strategic equity, strategic fixed income and the overall tactical allocation drove results for the reporting period. Strategic commodity exposure was the largest detractor but tactical shifts to underweight the asset class helped offset losses. Volatility within equities provided a headwind in the tactical equity allocation over the year. Overall, the Portfolio was positive on an absolute basis and relative to the Dow Jones Moderate Index.

Government bond markets led results for the first quarter as investors sought to avoid the volatility of equity and commodity markets. Commodities added to performance as well, mainly led by price appreciation across the soy complex. Energy commodities were challenged after being the dominant performer in 2013. Equities were the weakest asset class to start the year, pulling back after impressive gains in 2013. The tactical allocation process within bonds was additive to returns during the first quarter. Conversely, contribution from the tactical element within the equity segment detracted from results. Within commodities, positive results from being underweight across the complexes early in the period were reversed as prices rebounded strongly in March.

All three asset classes added to results in the second quarter with bonds leading the way. Bond markets saw yields contract as geopolitical concerns out of Russia and the Middle East rekindled demand for safe-haven assets. Despite beginning the year weak, equities posted strong results as investor sentiment continued to shake off weaker than expected fundamental data. Across the commodity complexes, energy produced gains, precious metals prices advanced as they enjoyed safe-haven demand in the midst of geopolitical issues, and industrial metals led results. Agricultural commodities ended negative as weather turned more favorable, improving estimates for crop yields. Tactical positioning in the second quarter helped results as general overweights to equity and bond markets were rewarded.

Government bonds led results as all six markets the Portfolio invests in ended in positive territory for the third quarter. Factors driving bond yields lower included ongoing geopolitical concerns from Russia and Ukraine as well as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) campaign in the Middle East. In aggregate, tactical overweights in bonds aided results during the third quarter. Developed equities delivered mixed results for the quarter as Japanese, European and U.S. large cap equities made headway while U.S. small caps, U.K.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

and Hong Kong equity prices retreated. Tactical results from the equity allocation were slightly negative for the quarter, impacted by the negative results in September. Commodities weighed heavily on results, with the asset class vastly underperformed bonds and equities. Agricultural commodities were particularly weak, driven by substantial price declines in the main grain category as a result of increased expectations for global crop production. Precious metals were restrained by U.S. dollar strength, the energy complex also struggled, while major industrial metals drifted lower owing to an increase in mine production. Tactical commodity exposure had no meaningful impact on performance during the quarter.

The year ended with bonds leading the way. Investors sought refuge in high quality government bonds as volatility was reintroduced by the ending of QE3, resulting in equity price weakness early in the fourth quarter. However, solid economic data points served as a catalyst to lift share prices into the end of November. The decision by OPEC not to curtail production rates of crude oil resulted in stocks ending 2014 with a whimper rather than a bang. Commodities saw mixed performance over the quarter. Agricultural commodities posted gains in aggregate, industrial metals prices were soft due to weak economic data, and precious metals also saw modest price declines for the final quarter. The clear loser was the energy complex which was strongly negative on increased supply and weakening demand. The tactical allocation process aided results, with the fixed income and commodity allocations accounting for the bulk of the positive contribution.

The Portfolio is principally implemented with derivative instruments that include futures and total return swaps. Therefore, all or most of the performance of the strategy, both positive and negative, can be attributed to these instruments. Derivatives can be a more liquid and cost-effective way to gain exposure to asset classes. Additionally, the leverage used in the strategy is inherent in these instruments.

Positioning continued to overweight all sovereign bond markets, with the risk contribution from the bond sleeve hitting the maximum allowable target of 50%. Within equities, the Portfolio was neutral in Europe and Hong Kong, underweight the U.K. and had overweights to the U.S. and Japan. Within commodities, the Portfolio was underweight every asset, with the exception of copper, which had a marginal overweight.

Scott Wolle

Mark Ahnrud

Chris Devine

Scott Hixon

Christian Ulrich

Portfolio Managers

Invesco Advisers, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio            

Class B

       5.58           5.11   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           9.30   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 4/23/2012. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Risk Exposures by Asset Class*

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Global Developed Bonds      85.4   
Global Developed Equities      39.4   
Commodities - Production Weighted      21.3   

 

  * The percentages noted above are based on the notional exposures by asset class as a percentage of net assets

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.90    $ 1,000.00         $ 992.50         $ 4.52   
   Hypothetical*      0.90    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.67         $ 4.58   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—4.2% of Net Assets

 

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*/

Notional
Amount*/

Shares

    Value  

U.S. Treasury—4.2%

  

U.S. Treasury Floating Rate Notes

   

0.085%, 01/31/16 (a) (b)

    19,360,000      $ 19,354,715   

0.109%, 04/30/16 (a) (c)

    26,156,000        26,154,770   

0.110%, 07/31/16 (a)

    10,300,000        10,299,784   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $55,824,673)

      55,809,269   
   

 

 

 
Commodity-Linked Securities—2.2%   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Commodity Linked EMTN, U.S. Federal Funds (Effective) Rate minus 0.040% (linked to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Custom 2 Agriculture Commodity Index multiplied by 2), 09/21/15 (144A)

    9,220,000        8,297,078   

Cargill, Inc. Commodity Linked Note, one month LIBOR rate minus 0.010% (linked to Monthly Rebalance Commodity Excess Return Index, multiplied by 2), 09/15/15 (144A)

    18,380,000        16,302,361   

Royal Bank of Canada Commodity Linked EMTN, Commodity Linked EMTN, U.S. Federal Funds (Effective) Rate minus 0.040% (linked to Royal Bank of Canada Enhanced Agriculture Basket 01 Excess Return Index, multiplied by 2), 08/24/15 (144A) (a)

    4,630,000        4,627,940   
   

 

 

 

Total Commodity-Linked Securities
(Cost $32,230,000)

      29,227,379   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—91.7%   

Municipals—1.8%

  

Gainesville & Hall County, GA, Development Authority Revenue 0.130%, 03/01/21 (a)

    24,300,000        24,300,000   

Minnesota State Office of Higher Education Revenue 0.100%, 08/01/47 (a)

    132,000        132,000   
   

 

 

 
      24,432,000   
   

 

 

 

Mutual Funds—20.8%

  

Premier Portfolio, Institutional Class

0.016% (d) (e)

    43,003,154        43,003,154   

STIC (Global Series) plc - U.S. Dollar Liquidity Portfolio, Institutional
Class 0.000% (d) (e)

    195,268,089        195,268,089   

STIT-Liquid Assets Portfolio, Institutional Class

0.052% (d) (e)

    43,003,154        43,003,154   
   

 

 

 
      281,274,397   
   

 

 

 
Security Description       
    
    
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

U.S. Treasury—3.3%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills

   

0.048%, 01/22/15 (b) (f)

    6,060,000      6,059,823   

0.081%, 06/04/15 (b) (f)

    6,390,000        6,387,794   

0.087%, 01/08/15 (b) (c) (f)

    4,330,000        4,329,918   

0.096%, 06/11/15 (b) (f)

    8,880,000        8,876,227   

0.108%, 06/18/15 (f)

    4,020,000        4,017,983   

0.124%, 01/29/15 (b) (c) (f)

    8,620,000        8,619,836   

0.192%, 01/15/15 (b) (c) (f)

    6,490,000        6,489,934   
   

 

 

 
      44,781,515   
   

 

 

 

Certificates of Deposit—12.0%

  

Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (NY)

   

0.150%, 01/12/15 (f)

    5,000,000        5,000,000   

DNB Bank ASA

   

0.160%, 01/14/15 (f)

    39,500,000        39,500,000   

Nordea Bank Finland plc (NY)

   

0.150%, 03/09/15 (f)

    40,000,000        40,000,000   

Swedbank (Sparbank)

   

0.100%, 01/05/15 (f)

    33,000,000        33,000,000   

Toronto-Dominion Bank

   

0.170%, 01/08/15 (f)

    45,000,000        45,000,000   
   

 

 

 
      162,500,000   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Paper—53.8%

  

Abbey National North America LLC

   

0.105%, 01/16/15 (f)

    4,500,000        4,499,794   

Apple, Inc.

   

0.069%, 02/03/15 (144A) (f)

    25,000,000        24,998,396   

0.069%, 02/09/15 (144A) (f)

    20,000,000        19,998,483   

Bank of Montreal

   

0.180%, 02/10/15 (f)

    25,000,000        24,999,445   

Barton Capital LLC

   

0.164%, 02/18/15 (144A) (f)

    39,000,000        39,000,000   

BMW U.S. Capital LLC

   

0.096%, 01/20/15 (144A) (f)

    19,000,000        18,998,997   

0.109%, 02/18/15 (144A) (f)

    21,000,000        20,996,920   

Cancara Asset Securitisation LLC

   

0.127%, 01/06/15 (f)

    5,000,000        4,999,896   

0.130%, 01/12/15 (144A) (f)

    35,000,000        34,998,503   

CDP Financial, Inc.

   

0.159%, 02/17/15 (144A) (f)

    22,000,000        21,995,404   

0.160%, 03/13/15 (144A) (f)

    18,500,000        18,494,162   

0.202%, 06/09/15 (144A) (f)

    5,000,000        4,995,583   

Chariot Funding LLC

   

0.212%, 06/01/15 (f)

    25,000,000        24,977,979   

0.222%, 06/02/15 (144A) (f)

    15,000,000        14,986,067   

Charta LLC

   

0.179%, 02/24/15 (f)

    11,500,000        11,496,895   

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

   

0.084%, 01/13/15 (144A) (f)

    15,000,000        14,999,550   

0.110%, 02/24/15 (144A) (f)

    20,000,000        19,996,700   

0.200%, 03/12/15 (144A) (f)

    10,000,000        9,996,111   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Short-Term Investments—(Continued)

 

Security Description       
    
    
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Paper—(Continued)

  

Collateralized Commercial Paper II Co. LLC

   

0.170%, 01/05/15 (f)

    10,000,000      $ 9,999,767   

Gotham Funding Corp.

   

0.158%, 01/12/15 (144A) (f)

    10,000,000        9,999,481   

Jupiter Securitization Co. LLC

   

0.232%, 06/04/15 (144A) (f)

    10,000,000        9,990,161   

0.252%, 06/09/15 (144A) (f)

    15,000,000        14,983,438   

Landesbank Hessen-Thueringen

   

0.126%, 01/09/15 (144A) (f)

    29,500,000        29,499,082   

Liberty Funding LLC

   

0.169%, 02/18/15 (144A) (f)

    40,000,000        39,990,933   

Microsoft Corp.

   

0.078%, 01/28/15 (f)

    40,000,000        39,997,600   

National Australia Funding Delaware, Inc.

   

0.180%, 01/15/15 (144A) (f)

    40,000,000        39,997,045   

Nieuw Amsterdam Receivables Corp.

   

0.140%, 01/13/15 (144A) (f)

    40,135,000        40,132,993   

PepsiCo, Inc.

   

0.098%, 01/26/15 (144A) (f)

    18,000,000        17,998,750   

Proctor & Gamble Co.

   

0.108%, 01/29/15 (f)

    30,000,000        29,997,433   

Regency Market No. 1 LLC

   

0.151%, 01/15/15 (144A) (f)

    40,000,000        39,997,511   

0.155%, 01/21/15 (144A) (f)

    4,000,000        3,999,644   

Scaldis Capital LLC

   

0.218%, 02/13/15 (f)

    5,000,000        4,998,686   

Thunder Bay Funding LLC

   

0.230%, 03/04/15 (144A) (f)

    35,000,000        34,986,136   

Toyota Motor Credit Corp.

   

0.201%, 03/27/15 (f)

    25,000,000        24,988,195   
   

 

 

 
      726,985,740   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $1,239,972,565)

      1,239,973,652   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—98.1%
(Cost $1,328,027,238) (g)

      1,325,010,300   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—1.9%

      26,322,236   
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,351,332,536   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal and notional amounts stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(b) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $27,213,011.
(c) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $8,610,828.
(d) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(e) The rate shown represents the annualized seven-day yield as of December 31, 2014.
(f) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(g) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,328,027,300. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $1,595,746 and $(4,612,746), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(3,017,000) for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $575,257,429, which is 42.6% of net assets.
(EMTN)— Euro Medium-Term Note
(LIBOR)— London InterBank Offered Rate

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Australian 10 Year Treasury Bond Futures

     03/16/15         2,375         AUD         300,427,344       $ 3,197,883   

Brent Crude Oil Futures

     01/15/15         250         USD         18,163,340         (3,830,840

Canada Government Bond Year Bond Futures

     03/20/15         1,658         CAD         225,654,872         3,452,649   

Euro Stoxx 50 Index Futures

     03/20/15         2,630         EUR         81,513,591         1,070,058   

Euro-Bund Futures

     03/06/15         1,097         EUR         168,004,886         3,611,399   

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     03/20/15         947         GBP         59,459,850         3,597,602   

Gasoline RBOB Futures

     01/30/15         231         USD         15,187,555         (905,241

Hang Seng Index Futures

     01/29/15         483         HKD         565,659,176         704,632   

Japanese Government 10 Year Bond Futures

     03/11/15         94         JPY         13,808,974,000         695,325   

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         547         USD         62,813,217         2,865,073   

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         687         USD         68,492,600         2,007,340   

Silver Futures

     03/27/15         291         USD         23,967,356         (1,270,810

TOPIX Index Futures

     03/12/15         800         JPY         11,511,452,448         (2,099,286

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         874         USD         122,769,700         3,577,925   

United Kingdom Long Gilt Bond Futures

     03/27/15         1,227         GBP         142,783,337         6,047,330   

WTI Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures

     01/16/15         275         USD         18,859,769         (4,210,519
              

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 18,510,520   
              

 

 

 

Swap Agreements

OTC Total Return Swap Agreements

 

      Fixed
Rate
  Maturity
Date
    

Counterparty

  

Underlying Reference
Instrument

   Notional Amount      Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
   0.3300%     05/12/15       Barclays Bank plc    Barclays Commodity Strategy 1452 Excess Return Index      USD         26,381,652       $ (295,203   $       $ (295,203
   0.3000%     04/13/15       Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce    CIBC Dynamic Roll LME Copper Excess Return Index      USD         26,664,029         (629,636             (629,636
   0.000%     01/30/15       Goldman Sachs & Co.    Hang Seng Index Futures      HKD         250,750,935         295,741                295,741   
   0.000%     03/27/15       Goldman Sachs & Co.    R-Long Gilt Futures      GBP         19,268,165         708,048                708,048   
   0.3800%     10/16/15       Morgan Stanley    S&P GSCI Aluminum Dynamic Roll Index ER      USD         16,524,278         (481,496             (481,496
   0.2500%     05/07/15       Bank of America Corp.    MLCX Dynamic Enhanced Copper Excess Return Index      USD         25,691,749                          
   0.3300%     07/08/15       Macquarie Bank, Ltd.    Macquarie Commodity Customized Product Index      USD         9,866,664         (254,998             (254,998
   0.1400%     02/24/15       Bank of America Corp.    Merrill Lynch Gold Excess Return Index      USD         22,360,170                          
   0.0900%     04/22/15       JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A.    S&P GSCI Gold Index Excess Return      USD         18,574,425         67,705                67,705   
                   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

  

   $ (589,839   $       $ (589,839
                   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(HKD)— Hong Kong Dollar
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(USD)— United States Dollar

Cash in the amount of $440,098 has been deposited in a segregated account held by the counterparty as collateral for swap contracts.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $      $ 55,809,269      $       $ 55,809,269   

Total Commodity-Linked Securities*

            29,227,379                29,227,379   
Short-Term Investments          

Municipals

            24,432,000                24,432,000   

Mutual Funds

     281,274,397                       281,274,397   

U.S. Treasury

            44,781,515                44,781,515   

Certificates of Deposit

            162,500,000                162,500,000   

Commercial Paper

            726,985,740                726,985,740   

Total Short-Term Investments

     281,274,397        958,699,255                1,239,973,652   

Total Investments

   $ 281,274,397      $ 1,043,735,903      $       $ 1,325,010,300   
                                   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 30,827,216      $      $       $ 30,827,216   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (12,316,696                    (12,316,696

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 18,510,520      $      $       $ 18,510,520   
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $      $ 1,071,494      $       $ 1,071,494   

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

            (1,661,333             (1,661,333

Total OTC Swap Contracts

   $      $ (589,839   $       $ (589,839

 

* See Consolidated Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

 

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 1,043,735,903   

Affiliated investments at value (b)

     281,274,397   

Cash

     419,655   

Cash collateral for futures contracts

     28,395,000   

OTC swap contracts at market value

     1,071,494   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     24,115   

Fund shares sold

     27,499   

Interest

     126,096   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     166,074   

Prepaid expenses

     3,488   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,355,243,721   

Liabilities

  

OTC swap contracts at market value

     1,661,333   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     1,033,363   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     21,258   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     695,968   

Distribution and service fees

     287,072   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     42,155   

Other expenses

     170,036   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     3,911,185   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,351,332,536   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,224,539,918   

Undistributed net investment income

     37,667,173   

Accumulated net realized gain

     74,171,717   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     14,953,728   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,351,332,536   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 1,351,332,536   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     127,010,725   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.64   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $1,046,752,841.
(b) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $281,274,397.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from affiliated investments

   $ 87,514   

Interest

     1,589,590   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     1,677,104   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     8,562,678   

Administration fees

     81,162   

Custodian and accounting fees

     186,432   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     3,359,449   

Interest expense

     137,957   

Audit and tax services

     79,225   

Legal

     38,911   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     90,062   

Insurance

     8,581   

Miscellaneous

     9,454   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     12,597,672   

Less management fee waiver

     (407,557
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     12,190,115   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

     (10,513,011
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     2,377,741   

Futures contracts

     93,570,286   

Swap contracts

     (12,755,550

Foreign currency transactions

     (1,877,318
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     81,315,159   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (4,717,314

Futures contracts

     6,679,496   

Swap contracts

     (1,009,439

Foreign currency transactions

     199,639   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     1,152,382   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     82,467,541   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 71,954,530   
  

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment loss

   $ (10,513,011   $ (9,928,766

Net realized gain

     81,315,159        19,880,065   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     1,152,382        11,341,937   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     71,954,530        21,293,236   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (62,513,812     (12,689,759
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (62,513,812     (12,689,759
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     1,426,135        358,775,383   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     10,866,853        367,378,860   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,340,465,683        973,086,823   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,351,332,536      $ 1,340,465,683   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income (loss)

    

End of period

   $ 37,667,173      $ (25,346
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     8,227,235      $ 87,209,317        53,328,028      $ 563,181,207   

Reinvestments

     6,087,031        62,513,812        1,213,170        12,689,759   

Redemptions

     (13,978,245     (148,296,994     (20,645,200     (217,095,583
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     336,021      $ 1,426,135        33,895,998      $ 358,775,383   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 1,426,135        $ 358,775,383   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                     
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.58       $ 10.49       $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

        

Net investment loss (b)

     (0.08      (0.08      (0.06

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.65         0.27         0.69   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.57         0.19         0.63   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

        

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         0.00         (0.03

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.51      (0.10      (0.11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.51      (0.10      (0.14
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.64       $ 10.58       $ 10.49   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     5.58         1.86         6.34  (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

        

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.94         0.93         1.03  (e) 

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.93         0.91         1.03  (e) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (f)

     0.91         0.90         0.90  (e) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%) (f)

     0.90         0.88         0.90  (e) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets (%)

     (0.78      (0.76      (0.80 )(e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     44         34         0  (g) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,351.3       $ 1,340.5       $ 973.1   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 23, 2012.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
(g) There were no long term sale transactions during the period ended December 31, 2012.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is non-diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

 

The Portfolio has registered one class of shares: Class B shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary—Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio, Ltd., which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies.

The Portfolio has obtained an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio should constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court could disagree with the legal opinion obtained by the Portfolio.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity derivatives, exchange-traded notes, cash and cash equivalents, including money market funds affiliated with Invesco Advisers, Inc. (the “Subadviser”). Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by the Subadviser, making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio include the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

      Inception Date
of Subsidiary
     Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio, Ltd.

     4/23/2012       $ 295,428,718         21.8

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to futures transactions, foreign currency transactions, swap transactions, premium amortization and controlled foreign corporations. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Commodity Futures Contracts and Swaps on Commodity Futures Contracts - The Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Currency Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into currency swap agreements to gain or mitigate exposure to currency risk. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

Equity Swaps: Equity swaps are two-party contracts that generally obligate one party to pay the positive return and the other party to pay the negative return on a specified reference security, basket of securities, security index or index component during the period of the swap. Equity swap contracts are marked to market daily based on the value of the underlying security and the change, if any, is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, a Portfolio’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile.

Total Return Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into total return swap agreements to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market or to transfer the risk/return of one market (e.g., fixed income) to another market (e.g., equity) (equity risk and/or interest rate risk). Total return swaps are agreements in which one party agrees to make

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specific period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or floating rate or the total return from other underlying assets. When a Portfolio pays interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may be required to pay the change in value to the counterparty in addition to the interest payment; conversely, when a Portfolio receives interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may receive the change in value in addition to the interest payment. To the extent the total return of the instrument or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swaps can also be structured without an interest payment, so that one party pays the other party if the value of the underlying asset increases and receives payment from the other party if the value of the underlying asset decreases.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    OTC swap contracts at market value    $ 708,048         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts* (b)      20,582,511         
Equity    OTC swap contracts at market value      295,741         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts* (b)      10,244,705       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts*(b)    $ 2,099,286   
Commodity    OTC swap contracts at market value (a)      67,705       OTC swap contracts at market value (a)      1,661,333   
         Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts*(b)      10,217,410   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 31,898,710          $ 13,978,029   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(a) Excludes OTC swap interest payable of $21,258.
(b) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 5), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
     Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Goldman Sachs & Co.

   $ 1,003,789       $       $ (440,098 )(1)    $ 563,691   

JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A.

     67,705                        67,705   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,071,494       $       $ (440,098   $ 631,396   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
     Collateral
Pledged†
    Net Amount**  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 295,203       $       $ (295,203   $   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

     629,636                 (629,636       

Macquarie Bank, Ltd.

     254,998                 (254,998       

Morgan Stanley

     481,496                 (277,987     203,509   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,661,333       $       $ (1,457,824   $ 203,509   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  (1) Collateral was received into a segregated account in the counterparty’s name at the custodian.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Commodity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 104,392,466       $ 22,732,938      $ (33,555,118   $ 93,570,286   

Swap contracts

     4,658,212         (1,542,658     (15,871,104     (12,755,550
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 109,050,678       $ 21,190,280      $ (49,426,222   $ 80,814,736   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Commodity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 31,049,598       $ (14,094,909   $ (10,275,193   $ 6,679,496   

Swap contracts

     708,048         295,741        (2,013,228     (1,009,439
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 31,757,646       $ (13,799,168   $ (12,288,421   $ 5,670,057   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 912,243,225   

Swap contracts

     1,279,575   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$55,823,887    $ 5,330,000       $ 0       $ 34,146,404   

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$8,562,678      0.675 %     First $250 million
     0.650 %   $250 million to $750 million
     0.625 %   $750 million to $1 billion
     0.600 %     Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - The Subadviser agreed to waive the subadvisory fee it receives in an amount equal to any advisory fee it also receives due to the Portfolio’s investment in any investment company, unit investment trust or other collective investment fund, registered or nonregistered, for which the Subadviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser. The Adviser agreed to waive a portion of the management fee related to the Subadviser’s waiving of its subadvisory fee on funds where the Subadviser or any of its affiliates serves as investment adviser. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

8. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Security Description

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Premier Portfolio, Institutional Class

     18,281,408         291,345,135         (266,623,389     43,003,154   

STIC (Global Series) plc - U.S. Dollar Liquidity Portfolio, Institutional Class

     187,352,201         211,561,539         (203,645,651     195,268,089   

STIT-Liquid Assets Portfolio, Institutional Class

     18,281,407         291,345,135         (266,623,388     43,003,154   

 

Security Description

     Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Affiliated
Investments
     Capital Gain
Distributions
from Affiliated
Investments
     Dividend Income
from Affiliated
Investments
     Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Premier Portfolio, Institutional Class

     $       $       $ 7,673       $ 43,003,154   

STIC (Global Series) plc - U.S. Dollar Liquidity Portfolio, Institutional Class

                       55,227         195,268,089   

STIT-Liquid Assets Portfolio, Institutional Class

                       24,614         43,003,154   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     $       $       $ 87,514       $ 281,274,397   
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

9. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated§ Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

10. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$37,239,673    $ 9,883,370       $ 25,274,139       $ 2,806,389       $ 62,513,812       $ 12,689,759   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$84,556,374    $ 50,101,461       $ (7,823,062   $       $ 126,834,773   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

11. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of the Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio and subsidiary, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from April 23, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from the brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from April 23, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Invesco Balanced-Risk Allocation Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Invesco Advisers, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Blended Index for the one-year and since-inception (beginning April 23, 2012) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, and its blended benchmark for the one-year and since-inception periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board noted that the Portfolio commenced operations on April 23, 2012 and, thus, has limited performance history.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Managed By Invesco Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the Invesco Comstock Portfolio returned 9.60% and 9.31%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index1, returned 13.45%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The prolonged “good but not great” economic environment and historically low interest rates led U.S. equity markets higher during the year ending December 31, 2014. The U.S. economy continued along a path of slow growth amidst the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank’s (the “Fed”) gradual reduction of bond purchases, which ultimately ended in October. In the early months of 2014, equity markets turned more volatile, pulling back as investors began to worry that stocks may have risen too far, too fast in 2013. Unusually cold winter weather also impacted consumers and sentiment but only for a while, and corporate earnings bounced back and were generally strong throughout the year. Stocks rallied through the summer, with the S&P 500 Index surpassing the 2,000 level by the end of August despite upheaval in Ukraine and signs of economic sluggishness in China. As investors wrestled with the evidence that U.S. growth appeared to be on stronger footing than the rest of the world, in mid-September the price of oil began a freefall, along with U.S. equities. Despite the unknown economic impact of significantly lower oil prices for an unforeseeable period, equity markets stabilized and recovered even through a subsequent December sell-off to end the year on a positive note overall.

For the one year period, most U.S. broad equity market indexes delivered double-digit gains. Sector performance within the Russell 1000 Value Index was mixed for the year, with Information Technology (“IT”), Utilities and Health Care returning over 20%, while Materials and Telecommunication Services posted low single-digit returns, and Energy was the only sector with an absolute negative return.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

On the negative side, stock selection and an overweight within the Energy sector was the largest detractor from Portfolio performance for the period, with most of the underperformance occurring from mid-September to year-end due to the free-falling price of oil. Notably, within oil services & equipment, Weatherford International was one of the largest detractors on an absolute and relative basis, posting negative returns for the year, after being a relative and absolute contributor for the first two quarters of 2014. Also, not owning Exxon Mobil was a large detractor, as it was one of the few energy companies to post positive performance.

Weak stock selection within Consumer Discretionary also dampened relative performance. Viacom in media and General Motors in automobiles were the two largest detractors within the sector. General Motors continued to erode investor confidence after the firm announced a recall on ignition switches after a 10-year delay.

Weak stock selection within Health Care also detracted from relative performance, mainly from holdings within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Sanofi (France) posted double-digit negative returns and was an absolute and relative detractor to performance for the year.

Stock selection and an underweight within Financials also hurt relative performance. Not owning any real estate investment trusts (REITs) was one of the largest detractors within the sector, as real estate posted strong performance for the year. Also, strong gains in holdings such as Allstate Corp. were offset by anemic returns from Citigroup, Inc., who disappointed investors as the Federal Reserve failed to pass company plans for returning capital to shareholders and also declined to raise the company’s dividend early in the year.

Having a material underweight in Utilities detracted from relative performance, as Utilities was one of the best performing sectors of the Russell 1000 Value Index benchmark during the period.

On the positive side of sector performance, we used currency forward contracts during the year for the purpose of hedging currency exposure of non-U.S.-based companies held in the Portfolio. Derivatives were used solely for the purpose of hedging and not for speculative purposes or leverage. The use of currency forward contracts had a large positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance relative to the Russell 1000 Value Index for the reporting period.

Strong stock selection and an underweight in the Materials sector also enhanced relative Portfolio performance. Notably, Alcoa, Inc. had a large positive impact to absolute and relative performance, posting returns of almost 50% for the year. Additionally, having no exposure to miners, like Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. (not held in the Portfolio), boosted Portfolio performance, as margins and earnings were negatively affected by gold and other metals experiencing declines during 2014.

An overweight to the IT sector and select stocks boosted performance as well. Within the hardware and equipment industry, Hewlett-Packard was a clear contributor, as the stock posted strong returns for the period.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Managed By Invesco Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

At year end, although the Portfolio was underweight Financials and overweight in Energy compared to the benchmark, we maintained a favorable view on large diversified financials companies and had been taking advantage of weakness in the Energy sector to add to the Portfolio’s Energy position. At year end, the Portfolio’s exposure in each sector had a higher beta than the benchmark.

Kevin Holt

Devin Armstrong

Matthew Seinsheimer

Jay Warwick

Portfolio Managers

Invesco Advisers, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL 1000 VALUE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
Invesco Comstock Portfolio                 

Class A

       9.60           14.97           7.27   

Class B

       9.31           14.68           7.01   
Russell 1000 Value Index        13.45           15.42           7.75   

1 The Russell 1000 Value Index is an unmanaged measure of the largest capitalized U.S. domiciled companies with a less than average growth orientation. Companies in this index generally have a low price-to-book and price-to-earnings ratio, higher dividend yields and lower forecasted growth values.

2 Inception date of the Class A and Class B shares is 5/2/2005. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Citigroup, Inc.      4.5   
JPMorgan Chase & Co.      3.3   
General Electric Co.      2.5   
Suncor Energy, Inc.      2.3   
Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class A (ADR)      2.2   
Carnival Corp.      2.2   
Bank of America Corp.      2.0   
Cisco Systems, Inc.      2.0   
Merck & Co., Inc.      2.0   
Wells Fargo & Co.      1.9   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      23.5   
Consumer Discretionary      16.9   
Energy      14.9   
Health Care      12.8   
Information Technology      12.6   
Industrials      7.1   
Consumer Staples      4.7   
Materials      1.7   
Telecommunication Services      1.5   
Utilities      1.0   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.56    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,027.30         $ 2.86   
   Hypothetical*      0.56    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.38         $ 2.85   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.81    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,026.10         $ 4.14   
   Hypothetical*      0.81    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.12         $ 4.13   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—96.7% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—2.1%

  

Honeywell International, Inc.

    232,872      $ 23,268,571   

Textron, Inc.

    883,261        37,194,121   
   

 

 

 
      60,462,692   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—1.8%

  

Johnson Controls, Inc.

    1,024,913        49,544,294   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—1.9%

  

General Motors Co.

    1,514,108        52,857,510   
   

 

 

 

Banks—15.1%

  

Bank of America Corp.

    3,128,975        55,977,363   

Citigroup, Inc.

    2,337,427        126,478,175   

Fifth Third Bancorp

    1,562,616        31,838,301   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    1,477,641        92,470,774   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    539,896        49,254,712   

U.S. Bancorp

    255,772        11,496,951   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    990,228        54,284,299   
   

 

 

 
      421,800,575   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—6.1%

  

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)

    1,016,252        41,229,344   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    158,792        30,778,653   

Morgan Stanley

    1,322,194        51,301,127   

State Street Corp.

    623,027        48,907,620   
   

 

 

 
      172,216,744   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—2.0%

  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    1,982,608        55,146,241   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—1.5%

  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    517,564        24,211,644   

Vivendi S.A. (a)

    687,932        17,160,572   
   

 

 

 
      41,372,216   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.6%

  

FirstEnergy Corp.

    403,234        15,722,094   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—1.0%

  

Emerson Electric Co.

    473,429        29,224,772   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.9%

  

Corning, Inc.

    1,084,265        24,862,196   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—3.3%

  

Halliburton Co.

    628,674        24,725,748   

Noble Corp. plc (b)

    1,111,331        18,414,755   

Weatherford International plc (a)

    4,288,115        49,098,917   
   

 

 

 
      92,239,420   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—1.5%

  

CVS Health Corp.

    236,077        22,736,576   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

    222,161        19,079,187   
   

 

 

 
      41,815,763   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—3.2%

  

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

    1,324,895      48,067,191   

Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A

    556,693        20,221,873   

Unilever NV

    531,408        20,746,168   
   

 

 

 
      89,035,232   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.7%

  

Medtronic, Inc.

    261,160        18,855,752   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—2.7%

  

Anthem, Inc.

    260,933        32,791,450   

Express Scripts Holding Co. (a)

    275,024        23,286,282   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    198,294        20,045,541   
   

 

 

 
      76,123,273   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—2.2%

  

Carnival Corp.

    1,355,291        61,435,341   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.7%

  

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.

    530,216        20,195,927   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—2.5%

  

General Electric Co.

    2,784,131        70,354,990   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—2.3%

  

Aflac, Inc.

    395,731        24,175,207   

Allstate Corp. (The)

    565,704        39,740,706   
   

 

 

 
      63,915,913   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—2.3%

  

eBay, Inc. (a)

    862,439        48,400,077   

Yahoo!, Inc. (a)

    330,859        16,711,688   
   

 

 

 
      65,111,765   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—1.3%

  

Ingersoll-Rand plc

    598,672        37,949,818   
   

 

 

 

Media—7.4%

  

CBS Corp. - Class B

    234,576        12,981,436   

Comcast Corp. - Class A

    736,410        42,719,144   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.

    251,733        38,278,520   

Time Warner, Inc.

    219,940        18,787,275   

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. - Class B

    1,082,540        39,934,901   

Viacom, Inc. - Class B

    712,997        53,653,024   
   

 

 

 
      206,354,300   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.8%

  

Alcoa, Inc.

    1,457,536        23,014,493   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.5%

  

PG&E Corp.

    253,711        13,507,574   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—2.5%

  

Kohl’s Corp. (b)

    659,311        40,244,343   

Target Corp.

    395,017        29,985,741   
   

 

 

 
      70,230,084   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description       
    
Shares
    Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—11.6%

  

BP plc (ADR) (b)

    1,297,366      $ 49,455,592   

California Resources Corp. (a)

    134,922        743,420   

Chevron Corp.

    294,698        33,059,222   

Devon Energy Corp.

    469,520        28,739,319   

Murphy Oil Corp. (b)

    662,426        33,465,761   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    337,306        27,190,237   

QEP Resources, Inc.

    1,188,387        24,029,185   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class A (ADR)

    934,733        62,580,374   

Suncor Energy, Inc.

    2,068,829        65,747,386   
   

 

 

 
      325,010,496   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—0.9%

  

International Paper Co.

    490,447        26,278,150   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—9.4%

  

AbbVie, Inc.

    331,465        21,691,070   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    414,500        24,467,935   

GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR)

    251,405        10,745,050   

Merck & Co., Inc.

    968,436        54,997,480   

Novartis AG

    508,821        46,794,987   

Pfizer, Inc.

    1,430,499        44,560,044   

Roche Holding AG (ADR)

    715,399        24,316,412   

Sanofi (ADR)

    789,828        36,024,055   
   

 

 

 
      263,597,033   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—1.1%

  

Intel Corp.

    859,401        31,187,662   
   

 

 

 

Software—4.8%

  

Autodesk, Inc. (a)

    207,980        12,491,279   

Citrix Systems, Inc. (a)

    402,275        25,665,145   

Microsoft Corp.

    1,151,389        53,482,019   

Symantec Corp.

    1,628,983        41,791,559   
   

 

 

 
      133,430,002   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—1.5%

  

Hewlett-Packard Co.

    1,061,682        42,605,299   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.5%

  

Fossil Group, Inc. (a)

    121,462        13,450,702   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $2,109,049,041)

      2,708,908,323   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—5.1%   
Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Mutual Fund—2.0%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    56,339,040      56,339,040   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—3.1%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $85,472,293 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $87,215,000 U.S. Government Agency Obligations with rates ranging from 0.000% - 0.250%, maturity dates ranging from 08/15/15 - 08/24/15, with a value of $87,185,669.

    85,472,293        85,472,293   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $141,811,333)

      141,811,333   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—101.8%
(Cost $2,250,860,374) (d)

      2,850,719,656   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(1.8)%

      (50,074,613
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 2,800,645,043   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $78,628,925 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $56,339,040 and non-cash collateral with a value of $24,711,836. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,254,875,675. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $646,804,152 and $(50,960,171), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $595,843,981 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

   Settlement
Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 
CAD     14,203,843      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/16/15       $ 12,311,450       $ 89,387   
CAD     14,203,843      

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

     01/16/15         12,314,225         92,162   
CAD     14,203,843      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/16/15         12,307,535         85,472   
CAD     14,203,844      

Goldman Sachs International

     01/16/15         12,305,798         83,734   
CHF     15,393,702      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/16/15         15,871,923         385,955   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

   Settlement
Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 
CHF     15,393,702      

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

     01/16/15       $ 15,875,688       $ 389,719   
CHF     15,393,702      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/16/15         15,871,988         386,020   
CHF     15,393,702      

Goldman Sachs International

     01/16/15         15,872,905         386,937   
EUR     22,334,922      

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

     01/16/15         27,675,202         645,656   
EUR     22,334,922      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/16/15         27,672,499         642,953   
EUR     22,334,921      

Goldman Sachs International

     01/16/15         27,680,338         650,793   
EUR     22,334,921      

Royal Bank of Canada

     01/16/15         27,672,364         642,819   
GBP     8,100,520      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/16/15         12,720,692         96,305   
GBP     8,100,520      

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

     01/16/15         12,719,720         95,333   
GBP     8,100,520      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/16/15         12,719,866         95,479   
GBP     8,100,519      

Goldman Sachs International

     01/16/15         12,719,354         94,969   
             

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 4,863,693   
             

 

 

 

 

(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 60,462,692       $ —        $ —         $ 60,462,692   

Auto Components

     49,544,294         —          —           49,544,294   

Automobiles

     52,857,510         —          —           52,857,510   

Banks

     421,800,575         —          —           421,800,575   

Capital Markets

     172,216,744         —          —           172,216,744   

Communications Equipment

     55,146,241         —          —           55,146,241   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     24,211,644         17,160,572        —           41,372,216   

Electric Utilities

     15,722,094         —          —           15,722,094   

Electrical Equipment

     29,224,772         —          —           29,224,772   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

     24,862,196         —          —           24,862,196   

Energy Equipment & Services

     92,239,420         —          —           92,239,420   

Food & Staples Retailing

     41,815,763         —          —           41,815,763   

Food Products

     89,035,232         —          —           89,035,232   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     18,855,752         —          —           18,855,752   

Health Care Providers & Services

     76,123,273         —          —           76,123,273   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     61,435,341         —          —           61,435,341   

Household Durables

     20,195,927         —          —           20,195,927   

Industrial Conglomerates

     70,354,990         —          —           70,354,990   

Insurance

     63,915,913         —          —           63,915,913   

Internet Software & Services

     65,111,765         —          —           65,111,765   

Machinery

     37,949,818         —          —           37,949,818   

Media

     206,354,300         —          —           206,354,300   

Metals & Mining

     23,014,493         —          —           23,014,493   

Multi-Utilities

     13,507,574         —          —           13,507,574   

Multiline Retail

     70,230,084         —          —           70,230,084   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     325,010,496         —          —           325,010,496   

Paper & Forest Products

     26,278,150         —          —           26,278,150   

Pharmaceuticals

     216,802,046         46,794,987        —           263,597,033   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     31,187,662         —          —           31,187,662   

Software

     133,430,002         —          —           133,430,002   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     42,605,299         —          —           42,605,299   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     13,450,702         —          —           13,450,702   

Total Common Stocks

     2,644,952,764         63,955,559        —           2,708,908,323   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     56,339,040         —          —           56,339,040   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           85,472,293        —           85,472,293   

Total Short-Term Investments

     56,339,040         85,472,293        —           141,811,333   

Total Investments

   $ 2,701,291,804       $ 149,427,852      $ —         $ 2,850,719,656   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (56,339,040   $ —         $ (56,339,040
Forward Contracts           

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 4,863,693      $ —         $ 4,863,693   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 2,850,719,656   

Cash

     149,668   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     35   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     4,863,693   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     57,555   

Dividends

     4,115,240   

Prepaid expenses

     7,523   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     2,859,913,370   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     56,339,040   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     1,137,267   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,279,445   

Distribution and service fees

     257,491   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     187,660   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     59,268,327   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,800,645,043   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 2,039,060,405   

Undistributed net investment income

     73,661,773   

Accumulated net realized gain

     83,239,295   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     604,683,570   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,800,645,043   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 1,587,593,202   

Class B

     1,213,051,841   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     100,531,817   

Class B

     77,165,502   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 15.79   

Class B

     15.72   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $2,250,860,374.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $78,628,925.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $35.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 68,646,353   

Securities lending income

     393,336   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     69,039,689   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     15,605,346   

Administration fees

     64,364   

Custodian and accounting fees

     246,249   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,681,017   

Audit and tax services

     39,511   

Legal

     34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     131,633   

Insurance

     17,397   

Miscellaneous

     20,747   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     18,884,343   

Less management fee waiver

     (640,985
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     18,243,358   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     50,796,331   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     344,717,224   

Futures contracts

     851,256   

Foreign currency transactions

     22,418,417   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     367,986,897   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (164,578,872

Foreign currency transactions

     5,555,733   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (159,023,139
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     208,963,758   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 259,760,089   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,342,937.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 50,796,331      $ 36,913,205   

Net realized gain

     367,986,897        178,565,397   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (159,023,139     517,725,167   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     259,760,089        733,203,769   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (21,749,261     (23,547,092

Class B

     (7,092,034     (7,435,457
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (28,841,295     (30,982,549
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (90,670,600     (173,198,654
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     140,248,194        529,022,566   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     2,660,396,849        2,131,374,283   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 2,800,645,043      $ 2,660,396,849   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 73,661,773      $ 29,288,320   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     1,649,454      $ 24,172,475        9,589,741      $ 117,901,033   

Fund subscription in kind

     559,403        8,195,260  (a)      0        0   

Reinvestments

     1,510,366        21,749,261        1,987,096        23,547,092   

Redemptions

     (33,330,015     (500,326,589     (21,265,646     (272,140,082
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (29,610,792   $ (446,209,593     (9,688,809   $ (130,691,957
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     4,513,337      $ 66,951,747        5,728,174      $ 73,699,924   

Fund subscription in kind

     31,042,508        453,531,039  (a)      0        0   

Reinvestments

     493,875        7,092,034        629,057        7,435,457   

Redemptions

     (11,430,848     (172,035,827     (9,746,396     (123,642,078
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     24,618,872      $ 355,538,993        (3,389,165   $ (42,506,697
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (90,670,600     $ (173,198,654
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes cash and securities amounting to $139,245 and $8,056,015 for Class A, respectively and $7,705,906 and $445,825,133 for Class B, respectively. Securities were valued at market as of April 25, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 14.58      $ 10.90       $ 9.32       $ 9.55       $ 8.43   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.30        0.20         0.19         0.17         0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.08        3.65         1.55         (0.27      1.14   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.38        3.85         1.74         (0.10      1.27   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.17     (0.17      (0.16      (0.13      (0.15
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.17     (0.17      (0.16      (0.13      (0.15
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.79      $ 14.58       $ 10.90       $ 9.32       $ 9.55   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     9.60        35.64         18.76         (1.17      15.12   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.58        0.59         0.60         0.61         0.64   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.56        0.57         0.58         0.61         0.64   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.97        1.59         1.90         1.81         1.51   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     23  (d)      14         17         25         29   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,587.6      $ 1,897.6       $ 1,524.2       $ 1,406.5       $ 828.0   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 14.52      $ 10.85       $ 9.28       $ 9.52       $ 8.41   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.24        0.17         0.17         0.14         0.11   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.10        3.64         1.53         (0.27      1.13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.34        3.81         1.70         (0.13      1.24   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.14     (0.14      (0.13      (0.11      (0.13
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.14     (0.14      (0.13      (0.11      (0.13
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.72      $ 14.52       $ 10.85       $ 9.28       $ 9.52   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     9.31        35.39         18.43         (1.48      14.85   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.83        0.84         0.85         0.86         0.89   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.81        0.82         0.83         0.86         0.89   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.60        1.33         1.65         1.50         1.28   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     23  (d)      14         17         25         29   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,213.1      $ 762.8       $ 607.1       $ 555.3       $ 582.6   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(d) Excludes the effect of subscriptions in kind activity for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Invesco Comstock Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

 

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $85,472,293, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 25, 2014 through April 29, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $226,654,764 in equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Foreign Exchange

   Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts    $ 4,863,693   
     

 

 

 

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
     Collateral
Received†
     Net
Amount*
 

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 571,647       $       $       $ 571,647   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

     1,222,870                         1,222,870   

Deutsche Bank AG

     1,209,924                         1,209,924   

Goldman Sachs International

     1,216,433                         1,216,433   

Royal Bank of Canada

     642,819                         642,819   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 4,863,693       $       $       $ 4,863,693   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Equity      Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $       $ 22,803,173       $ 22,803,173   

Futures contracts

     851,256                 851,256   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 851,256       $ 22,803,173       $ 23,654,429   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Equity      Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $       $ 5,603,120       $ 5,603,120   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 287,523,691   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and subscriptions in kind, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 628,192,821       $ 0       $ 1,139,469,011   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. that amounted to $1,227,571 in sales of investments, which are included above.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $18,393,454 in purchases of investments and $35,295,252 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$15,605,346      0.650   First $500 million
     0.600   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.525   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.025%    $1 billion to $2 billion
0.050%    Over $2 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-
Term Capital Gain
     Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$28,841,295    $ 30,982,549       $       $       $ 28,841,295       $ 30,982,549   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$78,592,891    $ 87,254,597       $ 595,804,574       $       $ 761,652,062   

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $248,523,529.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Invesco Comstock Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Invesco Comstock Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Invesco Comstock Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Comstock Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Invesco Comstock Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Invesco Advisers, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index, for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Managed By Invesco Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio returned 9.96%, 9.64%, and 9.74%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell Midcap Value Index1, returned 14.75%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The year ended December 31, 2014, was characterized by steady improvement in the U.S. economy and strong domestic equity market returns. As the year began, the U.S. equity market turned volatile in the first four months of 2014 as investors worried that stocks may have risen too far, too fast in 2013. Adding to investor uncertainty was political upheaval in Ukraine and signs of economic sluggishness in the U.S. and China. Investors began to show confidence in the economic recovery and stocks rallied through the summer, with the S&P 500 Index surpassing the 2,000 level by the end of August. As expected, the Federal Reserve reduced monthly purchases of securities or quantitative easing throughout 2014, finally ending all purchases in October. In September, the price of oil began a steep descent, and equity markets followed suit. By the end of the year, the price of oil had hit its lowest point in several years, and equities also moved in tandem; however the major domestic equity indexes reversed course and rallied in late December, finishing 2014 on a positive note.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

For the one year period ending December 31, 2014, the Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio delivered a positive return, but underperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Value Index.

Stock selection in the Consumer Discretionary sector was the largest detractor from the Portfolio’s relative and absolute return. Performance in the sector was driven primarily by specialty retailers, Ascena Retail Group and Express. Ascena was the largest detractor, as weakness in sales at two of its store chains, Justice and Lane Bryant, led to disappointing earnings. Stock selection and an underweight position in the Financials sector was another detractor from relative results. Performance was negatively impacted by the Portfolio’s substantial underexposure to Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) relative to the benchmark. REITs comprise a large portion of the sector within the Index, and these securities had double digit returns, outperforming both the Financials sector and overall Index. Similarly, the Portfolio’s underweight in Utilities detracted from relative returns, as Utilities was one of the best performing sectors for the period. However, the Utilities sector contained one of the Portfolio’s top contributors, Edison International.

In the latter part of the year, Energy stocks came under pressure due to rapidly falling oil prices; however, despite a negative absolute return, stock selection within the sector was the largest positive contributor to the Portfolio’s relative performance. The Telecommunications sector also had a positive impact on performance. Within the sector, tw telecom was the Portfolio’s top contributor for the period. In June, Level 3 Communications (not a Portfolio holding) entered into an agreement to acquire tw telecom at a premium, and as such, tw telecom’s stock rose sharply.

Currency forward contracts were used during the year, for the purpose of hedging currency exposure of non-U.S.-based companies held in the Portfolio. The use of these contracts had a slight positive impact on the Portfolio’s performance relative to the benchmark.

During the year, we increased the Portfolio’s exposure to Information Technology, Financials, Health Care and Industrials, and decreased our exposure to Consumer Discretionary, Energy, Materials and Consumer Staples. At the end of the period, the Portfolio’s largest overweights versus the benchmark were in Industrials and Health Care, while the largest underweights were in Utilities and Financials.

Thomas Copper

Sergio Marcheli

John Mazanec

Portfolio Managers

Invesco Advisers, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

 


A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL MIDCAP VALUE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception2  
Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio                      

Class A

       9.96           14.95           6.74             

Class B

       9.64           14.65           6.47             

Class E

       9.74                               16.87   
Russell Midcap Value Index        14.75           17.43           9.43             

1 The Russell Midcap Value Index is an unmanaged measure of performance of those Russell Midcap companies (the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index) with lower price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

2 Inception dates of the Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 8/20/1997, 4/3/2001 and 4/25/2012, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Citrix Systems, Inc.

     3.1   

Johnson Controls, Inc.

     3.0   

Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B

     2.9   

Forest City Enterprises, Inc. - Class A

     2.9   

Teradata Corp.

     2.7   

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

     2.7   

FNF Group

     2.5   

Textron, Inc.

     2.5   

Comerica, Inc.

     2.5   

Owens Corning

     2.4   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Financials

     27.0   

Industrials

     19.0   

Information Technology

     12.8   

Health Care

     11.7   

Consumer Discretionary

     9.7   

Energy

     4.6   

Materials

     4.3   

Utilities

     3.1   

Consumer Staples

     2.6   

Telecommunication Services

     2.4   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,019.00         $ 3.46   
   Hypothetical*      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.78         $ 3.47   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,017.80         $ 4.73   
   Hypothetical*      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.52         $ 4.74   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,018.20         $ 4.22   
   Hypothetical*      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.02         $ 4.23   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—97.2% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—2.5%

  

Textron, Inc.

    793,699      $ 33,422,665   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—1.4%

  

UTi Worldwide, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,533,673        18,511,433   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—5.1%

  

Dana Holding Corp.

    1,313,332        28,551,838   

Johnson Controls, Inc.

    837,604        40,489,777   
   

 

 

 
      69,041,615   
   

 

 

 

Banks—8.3%

  

BB&T Corp.

    815,390        31,710,517   

Comerica, Inc.

    708,563        33,189,091   

Wintrust Financial Corp.

    609,454        28,498,069   

Zions Bancorporation

    652,701        18,608,505   
   

 

 

 
      112,006,182   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—4.5%

  

Masco Corp.

    1,096,113        27,622,048   

Owens Corning

    912,956        32,692,954   
   

 

 

 
      60,315,002   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—6.5%

  

American Capital, Ltd. (a)

    1,680,041        24,545,399   

Northern Trust Corp.

    445,422        30,021,443   

Stifel Financial Corp. (a)

    636,131        32,455,403   
   

 

 

 
      87,022,245   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—4.3%

  

Eastman Chemical Co.

    389,506        29,547,925   

WR Grace & Co. (a)

    290,530        27,713,657   
   

 

 

 
      57,261,582   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—0.9%

  

Clean Harbors, Inc. (a) (b)

    252,999        12,156,602   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—2.3%

  

Ciena Corp. (a) (b)

    1,601,055        31,076,477   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—2.4%

  

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (a)

    646,146        31,906,689   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—2.2%

  

Edison International

    445,418        29,165,971   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—2.0%

  

Babcock & Wilcox Co. (The) (b)

    885,116        26,819,015   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—1.9%

  

Amec Foster Wheeler plc

    1,471,764        19,262,406   

Amec Foster Wheeler plc (ADR)

    507,634        6,568,784   
   

 

 

 
      25,831,190   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—2.6%

  

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

    979,514      $ 35,536,768   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—2.3%

  

CareFusion Corp. (a)

    517,333        30,698,540   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—7.5%

  

Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (a)

    797,339        29,238,421   

HealthSouth Corp. (b)

    843,102        32,425,703   

Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B

    354,010        39,387,153   
   

 

 

 
      101,051,277   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—9.3%

  

ACE, Ltd.

    178,922        20,554,559   

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

    408,011        19,209,158   

FNF Group

    978,167        33,697,853   

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    490,337        28,066,890   

Willis Group Holdings plc

    516,986        23,166,143   
   

 

 

 
      124,694,603   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—2.7%

  

Teradata Corp. (a) (b)

    843,018        36,823,026   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—1.9%

  

PerkinElmer, Inc.

    570,541        24,949,758   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—7.1%

  

Ingersoll-Rand plc

    513,440        32,546,962   

Pentair plc

    446,415        29,650,884   

Snap-on, Inc.

    237,869        32,526,207   
   

 

 

 
      94,724,053   
   

 

 

 

Media—1.3%

  

Gannett Co., Inc.

    534,918        17,079,932   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.9%

  

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

    543,127        12,725,466   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.7%

  

Newfield Exploration Co. (a)

    467,917        12,689,909   

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)

    511,292        22,977,462   
   

 

 

 
      35,667,371   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development—2.9%

  

Forest City Enterprises, Inc. - Class A (a)

    1,807,013        38,489,377   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.7%

  

Swift Transportation Co. (a)

    307,260        8,796,854   
   

 

 

 

Software—5.4%

  

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,624,024        30,807,735   

Citrix Systems, Inc. (a)

    644,613        41,126,310   
   

 

 

 
      71,934,045   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Specialty Retail—3.3%

  

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

    186,543      $ 29,712,569   

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (a)

    1,155,035        14,507,240   
   

 

 

 
      44,219,809   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—2.3%

  

Diebold, Inc. (b)

    269,366        9,330,838   

NetApp, Inc.

    533,272        22,104,125   
   

 

 

 
      31,434,963   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,162,945,624)

      1,303,362,510   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—13.1%   

Mutual Fund—9.7%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    129,796,380        129,796,380   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—3.4%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $45,471,855 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $46,325,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.250% due 08/15/15 with a value of $46,382,906.

    45,471,855        45,471,855   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $175,268,235)

      175,268,235   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—110.3%
(Cost $1,338,213,859) (d)

      1,478,630,745   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(10.3)%

      (137,851,794
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,340,778,951   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $130,265,224 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $129,796,380 and non-cash collateral with a value of $5,870,640. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,338,214,401. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $168,116,879 and $(27,700,535), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $140,416,344 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation
 
GBP     5,910,692      

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

       01/09/15         $ 9,291,076         $ 78,955   
GBP     5,913,751      

State Street Bank and Trust

       01/09/15           9,298,368           81,480   
                   

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 160,435   
                   

 

 

 

 

(GBP)— British Pound

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 33,422,665       $ —        $ —         $ 33,422,665   

Air Freight & Logistics

     18,511,433         —          —           18,511,433   

Auto Components

     69,041,615         —          —           69,041,615   

Banks

     112,006,182         —          —           112,006,182   

Building Products

     60,315,002         —          —           60,315,002   

Capital Markets

     87,022,245         —          —           87,022,245   

Chemicals

     57,261,582         —          —           57,261,582   

Commercial Services & Supplies

     12,156,602         —          —           12,156,602   

Communications Equipment

     31,076,477         —          —           31,076,477   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     31,906,689         —          —           31,906,689   

Electric Utilities

     29,165,971         —          —           29,165,971   

Electrical Equipment

     26,819,015         —          —           26,819,015   

Energy Equipment & Services

     6,568,784         19,262,406        —           25,831,190   

Food Products

     35,536,768         —          —           35,536,768   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     30,698,540         —          —           30,698,540   

Health Care Providers & Services

     101,051,277         —          —           101,051,277   

Insurance

     124,694,603         —          —           124,694,603   

IT Services

     36,823,026         —          —           36,823,026   

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     24,949,758         —          —           24,949,758   

Machinery

     94,724,053         —          —           94,724,053   

Media

     17,079,932         —          —           17,079,932   

Multi-Utilities

     12,725,466         —          —           12,725,466   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     35,667,371         —          —           35,667,371   

Real Estate Management & Development

     38,489,377         —          —           38,489,377   

Road & Rail

     8,796,854         —          —           8,796,854   

Software

     71,934,045         —          —           71,934,045   

Specialty Retail

     44,219,809         —          —           44,219,809   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     31,434,963         —          —           31,434,963   

Total Common Stocks

     1,284,100,104         19,262,406        —           1,303,362,510   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     129,796,380         —          —           129,796,380   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           45,471,855        —           45,471,855   

Total Short-Term Investments

     129,796,380         45,471,855        —           175,268,235   

Total Investments

   $ 1,413,896,484       $ 64,734,261      $ —         $ 1,478,630,745   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (129,796,380   $ —         $ (129,796,380
Forward Contracts           

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 160,435      $ —         $ 160,435   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,478,630,745   

Cash

     127,792   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     22   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     160,435   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     638,029   

Fund shares sold

     124,803   

Dividends

     1,857,380   

Prepaid expenses

     3,452   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,481,542,658   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     129,796,380   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     8,958,893   

Fund shares redeemed

     811,856   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     710,504   

Distribution and service fees

     189,451   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     85,931   

Other expenses

     210,692   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     140,763,707   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,340,778,951   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,131,754,998   

Undistributed net investment income

     6,641,667   

Accumulated net realized gain

     61,808,637   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     140,573,649   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,340,778,951   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 431,368,339   

Class B

     871,306,532   

Class E

     38,104,080   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     21,189,870   

Class B

     43,524,560   

Class E

     1,887,153   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 20.36   

Class B

     20.02   

Class E

     20.19   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,338,213,859.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $130,265,224.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $22.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 16,398,290   

Interest

     29   

Securities lending income

     247,385   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     16,645,704   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     8,285,106   

Administration fees

     30,239   

Custodian and accounting fees

     96,953   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,116,503   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     58,843   

Audit and tax services

     39,510   

Legal

     52,857   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     305,890   

Insurance

     7,974   

Miscellaneous

     13,117   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     11,050,753   

Less management fee waiver

     (225,026

Less broker commission recapture

     (88,738
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     10,736,989   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     5,908,715   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     61,970,593   

Futures contracts

     (71,583

Foreign currency transactions

     968,207   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     62,867,217   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:   

Investments

     55,372,189   

Foreign currency transactions

     156,763   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     55,528,952   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     118,396,169   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 124,304,884   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 5,908,715      $ 6,865,899   

Net realized gain

     62,867,217        315,240,416   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     55,528,952        (22,332,558
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     124,304,884        299,773,757   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (2,478,244     (3,052,538

Class B

     (3,703,019     (5,619,674

Class E

     (221,390     (326,720

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (61,004,092     0   

Class B

     (138,417,488     0   

Class E

     (6,928,303     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (212,752,536     (8,998,932
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     232,762,651        (141,989,467
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     144,314,999        148,785,358   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,196,463,952        1,047,678,594   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,340,778,951      $ 1,196,463,952   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 6,641,667      $ 6,214,876   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     4,924,347      $ 92,479,547        842,899      $ 16,987,156   

Reinvestments

     3,438,913        63,482,336        162,110        3,052,538   

Redemptions

     (2,812,267     (56,697,460     (2,705,253     (54,794,205
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     5,550,993      $ 99,264,423        (1,700,244   $ (34,754,511
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     1,462,513      $ 29,089,618        2,000,605      $ 39,927,530   

Fund subscription in kind

     5,324,859        97,604,659  (a)      0        0   

Reinvestments

     7,813,112        142,120,507        302,133        5,619,674   

Redemptions

     (6,763,078     (136,061,717     (7,302,722     (145,890,608
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     7,837,406      $ 132,753,067        (4,999,984   $ (100,343,404
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     26,529      $ 532,168        69,965      $ 1,409,481   

Reinvestments

     390,054        7,149,693        17,453        326,720   

Redemptions

     (340,291     (6,936,700     (431,778     (8,627,753
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     76,292      $ 745,161        (344,360   $ (6,891,552
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 232,762,651        $ (141,989,467
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes cash and securities amounting to $5,931,767 and $91,672,892, respectively. Securities were valued at market as of April 25, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data  
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 22.73      $ 17.57       $ 15.38       $ 16.04       $ 12.84   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.13        0.16         0.23         0.10         0.12   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.70        5.18         2.07         (0.64      3.19   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.83        5.34         2.30         (0.54      3.31   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.16     (0.18      (0.11      (0.12      (0.11

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (4.04     0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (4.20     (0.18      (0.11      (0.12      (0.11
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.36      $ 22.73       $ 17.57       $ 15.38       $ 16.04   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     9.96        30.63         15.00         (3.46      25.84   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.69        0.70         0.69         0.73         0.75   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.67        0.69         0.69         0.73         0.75   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.62        0.78         1.37         0.65         0.86   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     42  (g)      144         66         47         77   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 431.4      $ 355.5       $ 304.7       $ 35.6       $ 42.5   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 22.42      $ 17.34       $ 15.18       $ 15.84       $ 12.69   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.08        0.11         0.16         0.06         0.08   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.67        5.12         2.07         (0.64      3.15   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.75        5.23         2.23         (0.58      3.23   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.11     (0.15      (0.07      (0.08      (0.08

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (4.04     0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (4.15     (0.15      (0.07      (0.08      (0.08
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.02      $ 22.42       $ 17.34       $ 15.18       $ 15.84   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     9.64        30.30         14.70         (3.70      25.53   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.94        0.95         0.94         0.98         1.00   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.92        0.94         0.94         0.98         1.00   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.38        0.53         1.00         0.41         0.62   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     42  (g)      144         66         47         77   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 871.3      $ 800.0       $ 705.4       $ 357.1       $ 382.3   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                    
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012(d)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 22.58      $ 17.46       $ 16.44   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

       

Net investment income (a)

     0.10        0.13         0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     1.68        5.15         0.88   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.78        5.28         1.02   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

       

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.13     (0.16      0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (4.04     0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (4.17     (0.16      0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.19      $ 22.58       $ 17.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     9.74        30.46         6.20 (e) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

       

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.84        0.85         0.84 (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.82        0.84         0.84 (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.47        0.62         1.26 (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     42  (g)      144         66   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 38.1      $ 40.9       $ 37.6   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(d) Commencement of operations was April 25, 2012.
(e) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Excludes the effect of subscriptions in kind activity for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to broker commission recapture, and foreign currency transactions. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $45,471,855, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the period April 29, 2014 through April 30, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $40,681,847 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Foreign Exchange

  

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign

currency exchange contracts

   $ 160,435   
     

 

 

 

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
     Collateral
Received†
     Net
Amount*
 

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

   $ 78,955       $       $       $ 78,955   

State Street Bank and Trust

     81,480                         81,480   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 160,435       $       $       $ 160,435   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $ 965,163       $ 965,163   

Futures contracts

     (71,583             (71,583
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (71,583   $ 965,163       $ 893,580   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $ 160,435       $ 160,435   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 13,738,353   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and subscriptions in kind, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 530,330,032       $ 0       $ 563,856,127   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. that amounted to $4,614,517 in purchases of investments, which are included above.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $27,568,397 in purchases of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$8,285,106      0.700   First $200 million
     0.650   $200 million to $500 million
     0.625   Over $500 million

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

If average daily net assets are between $750 million and $1.4 billion:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.075%    First $200 million
0.025%    $200 million to $500 million

If average daily net assets are less than $750 million or above $1.4 billion:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets  
0.025%    Over $ 500 million   

An identical agreement was in place for the period October 1, 2013, through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$6,402,653    $ 8,998,932       $ 206,349,883       $       $ 212,752,536       $ 8,998,932   

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$48,866,058    $ 19,831,151       $ 140,412,675       $       $ 209,109,884   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Invesco Advisers, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board took into account that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Value Index, for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board further noted that Invesco assumed portfolio management responsibilities for the Portfolio effective October 1, 2013 and that performance prior to that date represents that of the previous sub-adviser. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further considered that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year. The Board noted the Portfolio’s advisory fee and two-tiered sub-advisory fee.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio returned 8.18%, 7.91%, and 8.04%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 2000 Growth Index1, returned 5.60%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The persistent “good but not great” economic environment and historically low interest rates led U.S. equity markets higher during the year ending December 31, 2014. The U.S. economy carried on a slow growth path and the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank continued to reduce monthly purchases of securities throughout 2014, finally ending all purchases in October. In the early months of 2014, equity markets turned more volatile, pulling back as investors began to worry that stocks may have risen too far, too fast in 2013. Unusually cold winter weather also impacted consumers and sentiment, but only for a while and corporate earnings bounced back and were generally strong through the year. Stocks rallied through the summer, with the S&P 500 Index surpassing the 2,000 level by the end of August despite upheaval in Ukraine and signs of economic sluggishness in China. As investors wrestled with the evidence that U.S. growth appeared to be on stronger footing than the rest of the world, in mid-September the price of oil began a freefall, along with U.S. equities. Despite the unknown economic impact of significantly lower oil prices for an unforeseeable period, equity markets stabilized and recovered even through a subsequent December sell-off to end the year on a positive note overall.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio did well in this environment, posting a positive return and solidly outperforming the benchmark Russell 2000 Growth Index due to stock selection decisions across most sectors. The Portfolio particularly outperformed in the Health Care, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials sectors. These sectors more than offset underperformance in the Energy sector, where the Portfolio’s modest overweight exposure impacted performance as oil prices plummeted.

The Portfolio outperformed by the widest margin in the Health Care sector due primarily to stock selection. Intermune Pharmaceuticals was the Portfolio’s largest contributor. During the year, the biotechnology company reported better than expected trial results and confirmed efficacy of their key lung disease treatment. The stock outperformed on this news and then further appreciated when the company was subsequently acquired for a significant premium. Exact Sciences also benefitted performance based on the promising outlook for adoption of their non-invasive screening tool for colorectal cancer.

The Portfolio also outperformed in the Consumer Discretionary sector due to stock selection. Top contributors in this sector included Jack in the Box which reported strong sales and earnings growth throughout the year and Domino’s Pizza which benefitted from its investments in on-line and mobile technology to increase market share.

In the fall, the impact of unexpected new oil supply and decreased global demand hit oil markets simultaneously. As the commodity price tumbled, energy stocks fell and were the worst performing sector of the Index by a wide margin. The Portfolio underperformed in the sector primarily due to a modest overweight, as most of the Portfolio’s energy stocks held up better than those of the Index. However, a few Portfolio holdings did underperform including Oasis Petroleum and Laredo Petroleum, two exploration and production companies which trailed the broader Energy sector.

Portfolio positioning is based primarily on our bottom-up stock selection process, and our long term investment horizon leads to relatively low turnover. Portfolio positioning did not change dramatically during the year. At period end, within modest ranges, Industrials and Information Technology were the largest overweight exposures relative to the benchmark, while Consumer Discretionary and Health Care stocks represented underweights.

Juliet Ellis

Juan Hartsfield

Clay Manley

Portfolio Managers

Invesco Advisers, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL 2000 GROWTH INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio                 

Class A

       8.18           17.71           9.88   

Class B

       7.91           17.42           9.65   

Class E

       8.04           17.55           9.77   
Russell 2000 Growth Index        5.60           16.80           8.54   

1 The Russell 2000 Growth Index is an unmanaged measure of performance of those Russell 2000 companies (small capitalization companies) that have higher price-to book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Manhattan Associates, Inc.

     2.0   

Jack in the Box, Inc.

     1.6   

CoStar Group, Inc.

     1.5   

SBA Communications Corp. - Class A

     1.4   

Wabtec Corp.

     1.4   

Exact Sciences Corp.

     1.3   

VCA, Inc.

     1.3   

AO Smith Corp.

     1.2   

Incyte Corp.

     1.1   

Knight Transportation, Inc.

     1.1   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Information Technology

     28.6   

Health Care

     21.5   

Industrials

     17.1   

Consumer Discretionary

     12.9   

Financials

     8.0   

Energy

     3.6   

Materials

     3.1   

Consumer Staples

     1.5   

Telecommunication Services

     1.4   

Utilities

     0.9   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.86    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,030.50         $ 4.40   
   Hypothetical*      0.86    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.87         $ 4.38   

Class B(a)

   Actual      1.11    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,029.40         $ 5.68   
   Hypothetical*      1.11    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,019.61         $ 5.65   

Class E(a)

   Actual      1.01    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,029.90         $ 5.17   
   Hypothetical*      1.01    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.11         $ 5.14   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—98.6% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—1.5%

  

Hexcel Corp. (a)

    256,782      $ 10,653,885   

TransDigm Group, Inc.

    60,764        11,931,012   
   

 

 

 
      22,584,897   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—0.9%

  

Forward Air Corp.

    260,815        13,137,252   
   

 

 

 

Banks—3.0%

  

Hancock Holding Co.

    291,098        8,936,709   

Home BancShares, Inc.

    368,990        11,866,718   

SVB Financial Group (a)

    120,644        14,003,149   

UMB Financial Corp.

    189,257        10,766,831   
   

 

 

 
      45,573,407   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—5.0%

  

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    126,383        12,259,151   

Exact Sciences Corp. (a) (b)

    726,516        19,935,599   

Incyte Corp. (a) (b)

    237,265        17,346,444   

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    361,081        12,915,868   

Repligen Corp. (a) (b)

    259,896        5,145,941   

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (a) (b)

    254,510        8,177,406   
   

 

 

 
      75,780,409   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—1.2%

  

AO Smith Corp.

    321,674        18,145,630   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—3.2%

  

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (a)

    54,613        11,591,063   

Greenhill & Co., Inc. (b)

    147,520        6,431,872   

Janus Capital Group, Inc. (b)

    871,320        14,054,392   

Stifel Financial Corp. (a)

    323,494        16,504,664   
   

 

 

 
      48,581,991   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.9%

  

PolyOne Corp.

    371,832        14,096,151   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—2.4%

  

Pitney Bowes, Inc.

    586,406        14,290,714   

Steelcase, Inc. - Class A

    711,951        12,779,521   

Tetra Tech, Inc.

    359,460        9,597,582   
   

 

 

 
      36,667,817   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—1.6%

  

ARRIS Group, Inc. (a)

    520,330        15,708,762   

Finisar Corp. (a) (b)

    413,280        8,021,765   
   

 

 

 
      23,730,527   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—0.5%

  

MasTec, Inc. (a) (b)

    326,010        7,371,086   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.7%

  

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (b)

    90,568        9,991,462   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—1.0%

  

Berry Plastics Group, Inc. (a)

    478,718      15,103,553   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.8%

  

Pool Corp.

    197,227        12,512,081   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.9%

  

ITC Holdings Corp.

    336,042        13,586,178   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—1.0%

  

Acuity Brands, Inc.

    112,720        15,788,690   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—3.2%

  

Cognex Corp. (a)

    282,041        11,656,755   

IPG Photonics Corp. (a) (b)

    130,846        9,802,982   

National Instruments Corp. (b)

    302,126        9,393,097   

SYNNEX Corp.

    216,896        16,952,592   
   

 

 

 
      47,805,426   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—1.2%

  

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (a)

    171,043        4,852,490   

Dril-Quip, Inc. (a)

    124,321        9,539,150   

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

    251,818        4,177,661   
   

 

 

 
      18,569,301   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—1.4%

  

B&G Foods, Inc. (b)

    299,556        8,956,724   

Diamond Foods, Inc. (a)

    5,151        145,413   

Lancaster Colony Corp.

    136,043        12,739,067   
   

 

 

 
      21,841,204   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—5.1%

  

DexCom, Inc. (a)

    273,752        15,070,048   

Insulet Corp. (a) (b)

    243,084        11,196,449   

NuVasive, Inc. (a)

    313,252        14,772,964   

Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. (a)

    146,124        12,766,854   

STERIS Corp. (b)

    244,501        15,855,890   

Thoratec Corp. (a)

    233,603        7,582,753   
   

 

 

 
      77,244,958   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—5.6%

  

Chemed Corp. (b)

    144,071        15,223,983   

Community Health Systems, Inc. (a)

    279,871        15,090,644   

Envision Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (a)

    317,491        11,013,763   

HealthSouth Corp.

    322,676        12,410,119   

Select Medical Holdings Corp.

    788,826        11,359,094   

VCA, Inc. (a)

    387,287        18,887,987   
   

 

 

 
      83,985,590   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Technology—0.3%

  

HMS Holdings Corp. (a) (b)

    224,194        4,739,461   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—4.8%

  

BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (a)

    240,873        12,094,233   

Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The) (b)

    222,281        11,182,957   

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (b)

    233,179        13,062,688   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—(Continued)

  

Domino’s Pizza, Inc.

    119,918      $ 11,292,678   

Jack in the Box, Inc.

    301,213        24,084,992   
   

 

 

 
      71,717,548   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.7%

   

Standard Pacific Corp. (a) (b)

    1,350,236        9,843,220   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.9%

   

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.

    484,546        14,143,898   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—3.7%

   

CoStar Group, Inc. (a)

    124,548        22,870,749   

Dealertrack Technologies, Inc. (a) (b)

    273,029        12,097,915   

Envestnet, Inc. (a)

    220,075        10,814,485   

HomeAway, Inc. (a)

    318,284        9,478,498   
   

 

 

 
      55,261,647   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—1.8%

   

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp.

    441,217        11,705,487   

EPAM Systems, Inc. (a)

    315,910        15,084,702   
   

 

 

 
      26,790,189   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Products—0.8%

   

Brunswick Corp.

    237,409        12,169,585   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—2.3%

   

Bio-Techne Corp.

    124,999        11,549,907   

PAREXEL International Corp. (a) (b)

    231,412        12,857,251   

PerkinElmer, Inc.

    243,607        10,652,934   
   

 

 

 
      35,060,092   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—4.9%

   

Crane Co.

    169,959        9,976,593   

ITT Corp.

    365,285        14,779,431   

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.

    210,633        14,552,634   

WABCO Holdings, Inc. (a)

    134,788        14,123,087   

Wabtec Corp.

    235,467        20,459,728   
   

 

 

 
      73,891,473   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.8%

   

Kirby Corp. (a)

    140,435        11,338,722   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.6%

   

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. - Class A (b)

    349,912        9,573,592   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.5%

   

Carpenter Technology Corp.

    158,780        7,819,915   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.3%

   

Energen Corp.

    162,320        10,349,523   

Laredo Petroleum, Inc. (a) (b)

    390,216        4,038,736   

Oasis Petroleum, Inc. (a) (b)

    289,523        4,788,710   

SemGroup Corp. - Class A

    133,381        9,121,927   

Ultra Petroleum Corp. (a) (b)

    514,809        6,774,886   
   

 

 

 
      35,073,782   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—3.2%

  

Catalent, Inc. (a)

    10,561      294,441   

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (a) (b)

    69,946        11,452,259   

Nektar Therapeutics (a) (b)

    887,228        13,752,034   

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    105,349        9,340,242   

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (a)

    114,094        13,113,964   
   

 

 

 
      47,952,940   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.9%

  

Corrections Corp. of America (b)

    360,293        13,093,048   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—2.3%

  

Knight Transportation, Inc. (b)

    513,993        17,301,004   

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (a)

    20,610        1,600,160   

Swift Transportation Co. (a) (b)

    553,255        15,839,691   
   

 

 

 
      34,740,855   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—5.6%

  

Atmel Corp. (a)

    1,550,336        13,015,071   

Cavium, Inc. (a) (b)

    223,156        13,795,504   

MKS Instruments, Inc.

    290,545        10,633,947   

Monolithic Power Systems, Inc.

    246,229        12,247,431   

Power Integrations, Inc.

    232,433        12,026,083   

Silicon Laboratories, Inc. (a)

    231,833        11,039,887   

Teradyne, Inc.

    590,319        11,682,413   
   

 

 

 
      84,440,336   
   

 

 

 

Software—11.8%

  

Aspen Technology, Inc. (a)

    315,691        11,055,499   

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a) (b)

    660,317        12,526,213   

CommVault Systems, Inc. (a)

    137,523        7,108,564   

Guidewire Software, Inc. (a) (b)

    253,704        12,845,034   

Interactive Intelligence Group, Inc. (a) (b)

    210,670        10,091,093   

Manhattan Associates, Inc. (a) (b)

    750,483        30,559,668   

Mentor Graphics Corp.

    557,468        12,219,699   

MicroStrategy, Inc. - Class A (a)

    81,489        13,233,814   

NetScout Systems, Inc. (a) (b)

    178,956        6,539,052   

QLIK Technologies, Inc. (a)

    408,218        12,609,854   

Qualys, Inc. (a)

    342,181        12,917,333   

SolarWinds, Inc. (a)

    260,035        12,957,544   

Ultimate Software Group, Inc. (The) (a) (b)

    84,522        12,409,097   

Verint Systems, Inc. (a)

    200,048        11,658,797   
   

 

 

 
      178,731,261   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—3.5%

  

ANN, Inc. (a)

    272,356        9,935,547   

DSW, Inc. - Class A

    310,546        11,583,366   

Five Below, Inc. (a) (b)

    254,222        10,379,884   

Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (b)

    150,294        13,469,348   

Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. (a) (b)

    139,915        6,797,071   
   

 

 

 
      52,165,216   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—1.0%

  

Cray, Inc. (a) (b)

    427,322        14,734,063   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description       
Shares
    Value  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—1.8%

  

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (a)

    158,044      $ 15,964,024   

Steven Madden, Ltd. (a)

    347,823        11,071,206   
   

 

 

 
      27,035,230   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—1.6%

  

Watsco, Inc.

    120,333        12,875,631   

WESCO International, Inc. (a) (b)

    140,639        10,718,098   
   

 

 

 
      23,593,729   
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services—1.4%

  

SBA Communications Corp. - Class A (a)

    197,074        21,827,916   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,011,279,504)

      1,487,835,328   
   

 

 

 
Rights—0.0%   

Health Care Providers & Services—0.0%

  

Community Health Systems, Inc.,
Expires 01/04/16 (a)
(Cost $50,585)

    778,232        19,456   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—20.8%   

Mutual Fund—19.3%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    291,040,030        291,040,030   
   

 

 

 

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Repurchase Agreement—1.5%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $22,733,734 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $23,190,000 Federal Home Loan Bank at 0.160% due 03/11/15 with a value of $23,190,000.

    22,733,734      $ 22,733,734   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $313,773,764)

      313,773,764   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—119.4%
(Cost $1,325,103,853) (d)

      1,801,628,548   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(19.4)%

      (292,463,695
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,509,164,853   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $285,417,939 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $291,040,030 and non-cash collateral with a value of $3,440,256. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,324,355,898. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $518,056,340 and $(40,783,690), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $477,272,650 for federal income tax purposes.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Common Stocks*

   $ 1,487,835,328       $ —        $ —         $ 1,487,835,328   

Total Rights*

     19,456         —          —           19,456   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     291,040,030         —          —           291,040,030   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           22,733,734        —           22,733,734   

Total Short-Term Investments

     291,040,030         22,733,734        —           313,773,764   

Total Investments

   $ 1,778,894,814       $ 22,733,734      $ —         $ 1,801,628,548   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (291,040,030   $ —         $ (291,040,030

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,801,628,548   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     448,524   

Fund shares sold

     80,266   

Dividends

     682,245   

Prepaid expenses

     3,826   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,802,843,409   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     291,040,030   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     508,502   

Fund shares redeemed

     767,518   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,063,969   

Distribution and service fees

     90,426   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     140,687   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     293,678,556   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,509,164,853   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 702,855,466   

Undistributed net investment income

     1,712,103   

Accumulated net realized gain

     328,072,589   

Unrealized appreciation on investments

     476,524,695   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,509,164,853   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 1,075,654,746   

Class B

     417,005,469   

Class E

     16,504,638   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     54,813,310   

Class B

     22,063,682   

Class E

     855,600   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 19.62   

Class B

     18.90   

Class E

     19.29   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Includes securities loaned at value of $285,417,939.
(b) Identified cost of investments was $1,325,103,853.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 15,937,926   

Securities lending income

     1,624,306   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     17,562,232   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     13,394,309   

Administration fees

     36,947   

Custodian and accounting fees

     125,148   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,044,431   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     24,354   

Audit and tax services

     39,510   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     106,283   

Insurance

     9,776   

Miscellaneous

     17,124   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     14,875,962   

Less management fee waiver

     (250,000

Less broker commission recapture

     (58,657
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     14,567,305   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     2,994,927   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     329,370,789   

Futures contracts

     (1,927,003
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     327,443,786   

Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments

     (215,367,995
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     112,075,791   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 115,070,718   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 2,994,927      $ (1,315,951

Net realized gain

     327,443,786        197,052,575   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (215,367,995     369,422,662   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     115,070,718        565,159,286   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     0        (5,352,864

Class B

     0        (813,978

Class E

     0        (43,094

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (144,739,748     (72,744,049

Class B

     (49,457,582     (22,123,511

Class E

     (1,902,860     (815,717
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (196,100,190     (101,893,213
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (195,278,985     (282,344,958
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (276,308,457     180,921,115   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,785,473,310        1,604,552,195   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,509,164,853      $ 1,785,473,310   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income (loss)

    

End of period

   $ 1,712,103      $ (53,885
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     4,779,639      $ 86,096,925        4,330,920      $ 75,103,898   

Reinvestments

     8,154,353        144,739,748        4,987,031        78,096,913   

Redemptions

     (23,151,946     (427,830,332     (24,900,559     (436,591,837
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (10,217,954   $ (196,993,659     (15,582,608   $ (283,391,026
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     2,121,054      $ 39,434,589        3,494,132      $ 60,318,809   

Reinvestments

     2,887,193        49,457,582        1,508,053        22,937,489   

Redemptions

     (4,729,443     (87,749,918     (4,887,653     (83,787,241
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     278,804      $ 1,142,253        114,532      $ (530,943
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     178,849      $ 3,403,487        245,077      $ 4,210,462   

Reinvestments

     108,922        1,902,860        55,515        858,811   

Redemptions

     (250,196     (4,733,926     (200,172     (3,492,262
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     37,575      $ 572,421        100,420      $ 1,577,011   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (195,278,985     $ (282,344,958
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 20.53      $ 15.67      $ 14.07       $ 14.19       $ 11.22   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     0.05        (0.00 )(b)      0.07         (0.03      (0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.38        6.00        2.48         (0.09      3.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.43        6.00        2.55         (0.12      2.97   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00        (0.08     0.00         0.00         0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (2.34     (1.06     (0.95      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.34     (1.14     (0.95      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 19.62      $ 20.53      $ 15.67       $ 14.07       $ 14.19   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     8.18        40.54        18.51         (0.85      26.47   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.87        0.87        0.87         0.88         0.89   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.86        0.85        0.86         0.87         0.87   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     0.26        (0.02     0.48         (0.21      (0.22

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28        18        28         40         36   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,075.7      $ 1,335.2      $ 1,263.5       $ 1,111.8       $ 1,074.4   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 19.91      $ 15.23      $ 13.73       $ 13.88       $ 11.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     (0.00 )(b)      (0.05     0.03         (0.07      (0.06

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.33        5.83        2.42         (0.08      2.94   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.33        5.78        2.45         (0.15      2.88   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00        (0.04     0.00         0.00         0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (2.34     (1.06     (0.95      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.34     (1.10     (0.95      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 18.90      $ 19.91      $ 15.23       $ 13.73       $ 13.88   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     7.91        40.17        18.23         (1.08      26.18   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.12        1.12        1.12         1.13         1.14   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     1.11        1.10        1.11         1.12         1.12   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     (0.00 )(e)      (0.27     0.22         (0.46      (0.47

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28        18        28         40         36   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 417.0      $ 433.7      $ 330.0       $ 299.4       $ 282.4   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 20.25       $ 15.47       $ 13.92       $ 14.06       $ 11.13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     0.02         (0.03      0.04         (0.05      (0.05

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.36         5.93         2.46         (0.09      2.98   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.38         5.90         2.50         (0.14      2.93   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.06      0.00         0.00         0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (2.34      (1.06      (0.95      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.34      (1.12      (0.95      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 19.29       $ 20.25       $ 15.47       $ 13.92       $ 14.06   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     8.04         40.34         18.34         (1.00      26.33   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.02         1.02         1.02         1.03         1.04   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     1.01         1.00         1.01         1.02         1.02   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     0.10         (0.16      0.30         (0.36      (0.38

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28         18         28         40         36   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 16.5       $ 16.6       $ 11.1       $ 11.2       $ 11.5   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Net investment income (loss) was less than $0.01.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(e) Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets was less than 0.01%.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to broker commission recapture, return of capital adjustments, and real estate investment trust (REIT) adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $22,733,734, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 21, 2014 through April 29, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $108,141,181 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized losses in the amount of $1,927,003 which are shown under Net realized loss on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 438,695,626       $ 0       $ 808,192,872   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. that amounted to $1,892,342 in purchases of investments and $76,419,426 in sales of investments, which are included above.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $52,509,892 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$13,394,309      0.880   First $500 million
     0.830   Over $500 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to manging the Portfolio. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets  
0.050%    First $ 500 million   

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$24,439,290    $ 22,458,040       $ 171,660,900       $ 79,435,173       $ 196,100,190       $ 101,893,213   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$41,860,152    $ 287,244,006       $ 477,272,654       $       $ 806,376,812   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Invesco Advisers, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Growth Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were equal to the Expense Group median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median and above the Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were equal to the Expense Group median and below the Expense Universe median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio returned 5.36% and 5.09%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1, returned 5.97%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Investors entered the year with widely-held expectations of higher Treasury yields in 2014. Despite those expectations, longer-maturity yields actually declined, helping all U.S. fixed income sectors produce positive total returns in 2014. A combination of lingering doubts about the domestic economy, concerns over weaker global growth, and a series of geopolitical quasi-crises depressed U.S. yields for most of the year. The spread between the 2- and 10-year Treasuries finished the year at 1.61%, down 104 basis points (“bps”) from the end of 2013. In addition, increasingly accommodative monetary policy from the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank likely contributed to an 8.2% rise in the U.S. dollar since June. After an expansion of its balance sheet since 2008 of over $3.5 trillion, the Federal Reserve ended its asset purchase program and came to the conclusion that the costs of further balance sheet expansion outweigh the additional benefits to the broader economy. All told, 2014 was a good year for U.S. dollar assets. Both bonds and equities generally did well, although key commodities sold off, underscoring market concerns about global growth.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio’s duration positioning was a detractor from performance, as the Portfolio maintained an underweight position relative to the benchmark (roughly 91% of the benchmark’s duration). Rates reversed course from 2013 (when the ten year rose from 1.76% to finish at 3.03%) with the 10-year Treasury finishing at 2.17%, down 86 bps during the year. Yield curve positioning was a slight negative over the past twelve months as the overweight position to the 10-year part of the curve contributed to performance but was more than offset by the underweight to the very long end of the curve (20+ years), as this segment was the strongest. During 2014, spreads on Corporate bonds widened 17 bps with the market Option Adjusted Spread (OAS) moving from 114 bps to 131bps. The Barclays Corporate Index trailed comparable duration Treasuries by 48 bps on the year. The Portfolio’s underweight to Credit was a contributor to performance on the year as Credit trailed other sectors in the Index. The Portfolio’s underweight to the Non-Corporate sector of the market (U.S. dollar denominated sovereigns and supra-nationals) was a detractor as this segment of the market performed well during the year. The Portfolio’s Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) allocation underperformed the MBS segment held in the benchmark. Security selection worked against the Portfolio as pass-through mortgage structures performed well during the year, outpacing Collateralized Mortgage Obligations.

The Portfolio’s underweight in U.S Treasury debt was a detractor from performance, as the 10-year Treasury moved 86 bps lower during the year (as prices move lower, yields move higher). Within Treasuries, the 30-year bellwether rebounded from a rough 2013, posting performance of 29.38% during the year. The Portfolio maintained a shorter duration posture throughout the year, which was a detractor to excess returns as rates fell across the Treasury curve. Within structured credit, the Portfolio’s overweight to Non-Agency MBS and Asset-Backed Securities (“ABS”) were additive to performance, as these sectors generated positive excess returns for the year.

Portfolio allocations at the end of the year were: Treasury 26.0%, Agency 2.2%, MBS 37.1%, ABS 7.1%, CMBS 5.9%, Credit 19.2%, and cash 2.5%.

Douglas Swanson

Peter Simons

Henry Song

Portfolio Managers

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio                 

Class A

       5.36                     1.36   

Class B

       5.09           3.71           2.97   
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index        5.97           4.45           4.83   

1 The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities.

2 Inception dates of the Class A and Class B shares are 2/28/2013 and 4/28/2008, respectively. Class C shares were converted to Class B shares effective 1/7/2013. Index since inception return is based on the Class B inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      62.4   
Corporate Bonds & Notes      18.8   
Asset-Backed Securities      8.3   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      6.7   
Foreign Government      0.9   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.45    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,017.50         $ 2.29   
   Hypothetical*      0.45    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.94         $ 2.29   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,016.50         $ 3.56   
   Hypothetical*      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.68         $ 3.57   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—62.4% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—35.1%

  

Fannie Mae 10 Yr. Pool
4.500%, 07/01/21

    1,060,662      $ 1,115,058   

Fannie Mae 15 Yr. Pool

   

3.500%, 08/01/26

    888,222        921,733   

Fannie Mae 20 Yr. Pool

   

4.000%, 02/01/31

    3,106,257        3,349,193   

4.500%, 10/01/30

    775,829        846,746   

5.000%, 11/01/29

    1,842,104        2,040,289   

6.000%, 02/01/28

    435,979        493,610   

6.000%, 07/01/28

    634,336        721,310   

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool
3.500%, 07/01/42

    2,889,154        3,015,444   

3.500%, 08/01/42

    1,851,862        1,932,592   

3.500%, 01/01/43

    3,443,312        3,593,419   

3.500%, 03/01/43

    18,556,397        19,368,364   

4.500%, 02/01/40

    908,886        993,694   

5.000%, 09/01/35

    2,102,549        2,324,687   

6.000%, 12/01/39

    882,807        1,000,859   

Fannie Mae ARM Pool
0.486%, 05/01/23 (a)

    20,645,873        20,824,729   

0.526%, 05/01/24 (a)

    2,733,000        2,733,198   

0.536%, 02/01/23 (a)

    5,000,000        4,997,449   

0.586%, 07/01/24 (a)

    5,000,000        5,000,484   

0.596%, 09/01/24 (a)

    3,000,000        2,999,277   

0.616%, 11/01/23 (a)

    4,900,103        4,938,877   

0.636%, 08/01/23 (a)

    4,972,279        5,010,210   

0.636%, 09/01/24 (a)

    3,980,292        3,980,915   

0.856%, 01/01/21 (a)

    963,182        974,101   

Fannie Mae Benchmark REMIC (CMO)
5.500%, 06/25/37

    2,122,517        2,383,249   

Fannie Mae Interest Strip (CMO)
4.500%, 11/25/20 (b)

    1,003,109        64,389   

Fannie Mae Pool
1.735%, 05/01/20

    15,000,000        14,807,375   

1.750%, 06/01/20

    7,340,617        7,244,758   

1.800%, 02/01/20

    3,031,781        3,008,611   

1.810%, 01/01/20

    4,344,028        4,315,735   

2.010%, 07/01/19

    2,976,341        2,991,628   

2.010%, 06/01/20

    12,541,000        12,552,639   

2.240%, 12/01/22

    2,000,000        1,979,580   

2.330%, 11/01/22

    17,810,000        17,669,870   

2.350%, 05/01/23

    4,849,590        4,802,794   

2.360%, 05/01/23

    9,408,381        9,319,441   

2.420%, 05/01/23

    5,853,057        5,808,934   

2.420%, 06/01/23

    4,869,661        4,838,243   

2.450%, 11/01/22

    3,000,000        2,998,217   

2.460%, 02/01/23

    1,440,475        1,447,454   

2.500%, 04/01/23

    2,000,000        1,997,135   

2.510%, 06/01/23

    3,891,216        3,890,958   

2.520%, 05/01/23

    25,000,000        24,909,849   

2.530%, 05/01/23

    4,247,392        4,254,016   

2.540%, 05/01/23

    5,000,000        5,011,391   

2.640%, 04/01/23

    1,953,217        1,970,038   

2.640%, 05/01/23

    2,343,248        2,362,878   

2.680%, 04/01/19

    988,546        1,022,593   

2.690%, 10/01/23

    2,000,000        2,019,268   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae Pool

   

2.700%, 05/01/23

    5,000,000      $ 5,031,211   

2.703%, 04/01/23

    2,436,229        2,475,054   

2.720%, 03/01/23

    3,210,694        3,257,895   

2.740%, 06/01/23

    2,976,886        3,019,707   

2.900%, 06/01/22

    7,639,894        7,876,356   

2.920%, 12/01/24

    1,000,000        1,020,608   

2.980%, 07/01/22

    2,000,000        2,071,513   

2.990%, 01/01/25

    1,250,000        1,269,138   

3.000%, 05/01/22

    3,500,000        3,630,596   

3.000%, 01/01/43

    5,672,662        5,737,831   

3.050%, 04/01/22

    3,446,168        3,588,200   

3.110%, 12/01/24

    1,500,000        1,553,508   

3.200%, 11/01/20

    10,717,626        11,284,471   

3.235%, 10/01/26

    1,496,057        1,543,558   

3.240%, 12/01/26

    1,500,000        1,551,120   

3.260%, 12/01/26

    1,000,000        1,033,591   

3.290%, 08/01/26

    2,000,000        2,082,708   

3.340%, 02/01/27 (c)

    1,500,000        1,502,578   

3.380%, 12/01/23

    2,000,000        2,113,279   

3.430%, 10/01/23

    12,106,156        12,832,496   

3.440%, 11/01/21

    4,069,824        4,326,852   

3.450%, 01/01/24

    1,000,000        1,061,593   

3.490%, 09/01/23

    4,000,000        4,256,876   

3.500%, 02/01/33

    6,052,008        6,377,361   

3.500%, 05/01/33

    7,134,656        7,517,581   

3.500%, 12/01/42

    7,794,551        8,136,815   

3.500%, 05/01/43

    30,691,931        32,039,949   

3.500%, 06/01/43

    7,553,955        7,885,928   

3.500%, 07/01/43

    4,433,239        4,627,877   

3.500%, 08/01/43

    9,973,058        10,411,053   

3.550%, 01/01/30 (c)

    1,500,000        1,501,406   

3.558%, 01/01/21

    12,776,477        13,697,935   

3.560%, 03/01/24

    7,400,000        7,917,971   

3.630%, 10/01/29

    1,502,477        1,597,731   

3.670%, 07/01/23

    2,500,000        2,698,183   

3.730%, 07/01/22

    5,930,205        6,382,772   

3.743%, 06/01/18

    1,899,250        2,020,920   

3.760%, 10/01/23

    1,496,906        1,622,055   

3.760%, 11/01/23

    1,100,000        1,192,105   

3.770%, 12/01/20

    2,348,039        2,535,073   

3.804%, 05/01/22

    9,361,640        10,064,255   

3.970%, 07/01/21

    4,784,005        5,224,707   

4.000%, 10/01/32

    2,242,896        2,422,021   

4.000%, 12/01/40

    1,013,120        1,094,038   

4.000%, 07/01/42

    4,353,299        4,695,260   

4.260%, 12/01/19

    2,786,243        3,053,861   

4.330%, 04/01/20

    3,917,169        4,318,203   

4.380%, 04/01/21

    3,201,732        3,562,249   

4.770%, 06/01/19

    3,574,316        3,957,171   

5.913%, 10/01/17

    2,885,308        3,179,266   

Fannie Mae REMICS (CMO)
Zero Coupon, 09/25/43 (d)

    2,794,161        2,219,383   

Zero Coupon, 10/25/43 (d)

    1,398,942        1,101,973   

Zero Coupon, 12/25/43 (d)

    3,254,385        2,624,000   

0.520%, 03/25/43 (a)

    2,596,736        2,588,883   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae REMICS (CMO)
0.630%, 03/25/27 (a)

    832,123      $ 822,218   

0.670%, 05/25/35 (a)

    4,701,818        4,694,620   

0.670%, 10/25/42 (a)

    1,718,150        1,733,618   

0.770%, 10/25/43 (a)

    3,176,033        3,212,685   

0.770%, 12/25/43 (a)

    3,881,623        3,909,881   

1.070%, 03/25/38 (a)

    865,308        878,266   

1.170%, 08/25/32 (a)

    1,526,511        1,573,476   

3.000%, 05/25/26

    5,908,549        6,049,551   

3.500%, 07/25/24

    2,909,947        3,075,512   

3.500%, 02/25/43

    8,820,228        9,057,660   

3.500%, 03/25/43

    5,242,856        5,422,581   

4.500%, 07/25/38

    384,559        392,334   

5.000%, 03/25/40

    13,200,000        14,244,080   

5.500%, 12/25/35

    1,698,578        1,808,996   

6.000%, 01/25/36

    1,095,793        1,167,623   

6.361%, 01/25/41 (a) (b)

    8,261,572        1,842,450   

6.500%, 07/18/28

    311,108        351,418   

Fannie Mae-ACES
0.447%, 12/25/17 (a)

    1,504,536        1,502,634   

0.507%, 01/25/17 (a)

    1,431,596        1,432,323   

2.034%, 03/25/19

    9,091,000        9,167,837   

2.207%, 01/25/22

    10,000,000        9,840,390   

2.280%, 12/27/22

    9,391,000        9,178,106   

2.389%, 01/25/23 (a)

    3,000,000        2,963,046   

2.614%, 10/25/21 (a)

    2,000,000        2,025,556   

3.103%, 07/25/24 (a)

    1,394,000        1,439,132   

3.346%, 03/25/24 (a)

    2,500,000        2,631,655   

3.477%, 01/25/24 (a)

    2,500,000        2,655,020   

Freddie Mac 15 Yr. Gold Pool
3.500%, 05/01/26

    1,145,584        1,213,579   

Freddie Mac 20 Yr. Gold Pool
3.500%, 03/01/32

    2,366,086        2,490,405   

Freddie Mac 30 Yr. Gold Pool
3.500%, 08/01/42

    5,545,053        5,772,153   

3.500%, 10/01/42

    5,020,837        5,226,106   

3.500%, 11/01/42

    6,657,364        6,931,297   

3.500%, 04/01/43

    2,935,438        3,055,449   

4.000%, 08/01/42

    8,901,947        9,500,519   

4.000%, 05/01/43

    1,331,026        1,426,596   

4.000%, 06/01/43

    1,285,963        1,378,503   

4.000%, 08/01/43

    8,573,100        9,189,606   

5.000%, 08/01/39

    2,343,774        2,621,990   

6.000%, 12/01/39

    1,147,095        1,297,439   

Freddie Mac ARM Non-Gold Pool
3.986%, 07/01/40 (a)

    5,393,735        5,688,786   

Freddie Mac Gold Pool
3.500%, 12/01/32

    7,844,018        8,244,708   

3.500%, 01/01/33

    10,426,896        10,959,616   

3.500%, 02/01/33

    14,473,607        15,213,710   

3.500%, 03/01/33

    9,620,946        10,110,879   

3.500%, 04/01/33

    12,652,329        13,298,903   

3.500%, 05/01/33

    4,763,779        5,007,554   

3.500%, 06/01/43

    4,594,842        4,795,748   

4.000%, 09/01/32

    2,310,920        2,499,498   

4.000%, 11/01/32

    5,757,536        6,213,875   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Freddie Mac Gold Pool
4.000%, 12/01/32

    2,869,581      3,096,665   

4.000%, 01/01/33

    1,311,346        1,415,395   

4.000%, 02/01/33

    1,193,899        1,288,530   

5.000%, 02/01/34

    782,204        850,874   

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates
2.522%, 01/25/23

    2,085,000        2,081,516   

2.615%, 01/25/23

    7,275,000        7,277,168   

3.320%, 02/25/23 (a)

    4,346,000        4,574,521   

3.389%, 03/25/24

    5,714,000        6,034,664   

3.490%, 01/25/24

    4,000,000        4,256,280   

Freddie Mac REMICS (CMO)
0.511%, 02/15/43 (a)

    2,593,759        2,564,707   

0.611%, 01/15/41 (a)

    684,120        690,890   

0.611%, 08/15/42 (a)

    8,167,590        8,215,967   

0.661%, 08/15/43 (a)

    8,014,953        8,031,263   

0.841%, 11/15/37 (a)

    2,233,068        2,264,784   

0.861%, 03/15/24 (a)

    1,043,665        1,060,587   

1.511%, 03/15/38 (a)

    600,000        604,489   

3.000%, 02/15/26

    1,915,000        1,958,721   

3.500%, 12/15/25

    1,000,000        1,038,048   

3.500%, 12/15/29

    1,279,589        1,321,772   

3.500%, 08/15/39

    4,476,768        4,681,790   

3.500%, 06/15/48

    9,623,677        9,932,077   

4.500%, 03/15/40

    1,000,000        1,036,515   

5.000%, 05/15/22

    11,508,160        11,705,836   

5.000%, 10/15/34

    2,083,927        2,160,812   

5.000%, 08/15/35

    1,650,000        1,870,640   

5.500%, 08/15/39

    4,551,285        4,934,185   

5.750%, 06/15/35

    10,412,151        11,016,915   

6.000%, 07/15/35

    10,792,373        11,846,961   

6.000%, 03/15/36

    2,532,373        3,122,161   

6.209%, 10/15/37 (a) (b)

    7,684,542        1,398,799   

6.239%, 11/15/36 (a) (b)

    4,657,397        632,958   

6.500%, 05/15/28

    782,402        883,526   

6.500%, 03/15/37

    1,446,334        1,644,508   

Freddie Mac Strips (CMO)
Zero Coupon, 09/15/43 (d)

    1,419,448        1,112,159   

0.611%, 09/15/42 (a)

    9,051,390        9,120,068   

0.661%, 08/15/42 (a)

    5,282,236        5,338,010   

0.661%, 10/15/42 (a)

    1,306,212        1,305,817   

3.000%, 01/15/43

    8,987,859        8,964,300   

3.000%, 01/15/44

    10,702,946        10,872,566   

Ginnie Mae II ARM Pool
3.500%, 04/20/41 (a)

    1,407,508        1,476,134   

Ginnie Mae II Pool
4.375%, 06/20/63

    9,794,733        10,691,499   

4.433%, 05/20/63

    15,593,268        17,048,572   

4.462%, 05/20/63

    10,295,207        11,262,627   

4.479%, 04/20/63

    5,164,284        5,649,933   

Government National Mortgage Association (CMO)
0.456%, 08/20/60 (a)

    1,030,227        1,031,048   

0.456%, 11/20/62 (a)

    636,207        636,667   

0.496%, 12/20/62 (a)

    2,918,598        2,892,696   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Government National Mortgage Association (CMO)
0.556%, 02/20/62 (a)

    9,469,635      $ 9,476,794   

0.566%, 03/20/63 (a)

    920,943        914,232   

0.576%, 02/20/63 (a)

    2,388,633        2,369,025   

0.606%, 02/20/63 (a)

    8,720,306        8,674,995   

0.626%, 03/20/63 (a)

    4,446,570        4,427,761   

0.626%, 07/20/64 (a)

    4,918,235        4,895,124   

0.626%, 09/20/64 (a)

    1,974,414        1,960,157   

0.636%, 04/20/63 (a)

    9,276,093        9,239,860   

0.656%, 01/20/63 (a)

    4,333,586        4,350,366   

0.656%, 04/20/63 (a)

    8,571,768        8,539,007   

0.656%, 06/20/64 (a)

    6,967,244        6,927,433   

0.656%, 07/20/64 (a)

    3,444,531        3,425,166   

0.666%, 09/20/37 (a)

    513,588        518,164   

0.706%, 04/20/62 (a)

    955,526        959,949   

0.756%, 04/20/64 (a)

    17,088,435        17,108,940   

0.756%, 05/20/64 (a)

    11,919,857        11,926,914   

0.806%, 07/20/63 (a)

    7,433,859        7,462,442   

0.806%, 01/20/64 (a)

    1,734,132        1,741,079   

0.806%, 02/20/64 (a)

    5,938,106        5,961,918   

0.806%, 03/20/64 (a)

    2,303,792        2,312,674   

0.846%, 02/20/64 (a)

    2,847,921        2,865,638   

0.856%, 09/20/63 (a)

    4,843,499        4,873,577   

0.906%, 09/20/63 (a)

    4,893,869        4,935,510   

1.650%, 02/20/63

    16,933,248        16,787,723   

1.650%, 04/20/63

    9,638,273        9,543,326   

1.750%, 03/20/63

    2,489,717        2,475,247   

2.000%, 06/20/62

    3,634,270        3,662,359   

3.500%, 05/20/35

    277,089        280,505   

4.000%, 03/16/25

    1,119,702        1,187,976   

4.000%, 02/20/37

    325,389        332,254   

4.500%, 01/16/25

    1,068,733        1,207,140   

4.500%, 08/20/33

    402,033        405,254   

4.500%, 06/20/36

    408,318        418,670   

4.516%, 04/20/43 (a)

    3,009,801        3,220,241   

4.709%, 11/20/42 (a)

    12,595,930        13,559,657   

5.000%, 12/20/33

    2,000,000        2,204,404   

5.000%, 09/20/38

    5,741,715        6,244,560   

5.000%, 06/16/39

    1,471,383        1,585,090   

5.000%, 07/20/39

    5,241,276        5,868,405   

5.000%, 10/20/39

    3,542,128        4,007,985   

5.227%, 06/20/40 (a)

    6,186,869        6,847,602   

5.500%, 02/20/33

    338,435        358,166   

5.500%, 07/16/33 (b)

    1,732,460        367,600   

5.500%, 06/20/36

    362,604        370,494   
   

 

 

 
      1,144,143,595   
   

 

 

 

Federal Agencies—1.4%

   

Residual Funding Corp. Principal Strip
Zero Coupon, 07/15/20 (d)

    42,209,000        37,490,245   

Tennessee Valley Authority
1.750%, 10/15/18 (e)

    850,000        857,949   

5.250%, 09/15/39

    600,000        763,839   

5.880%, 04/01/36

    1,000,000        1,364,081   

6.235%, 07/15/45

    4,250,000        4,928,849   

Federal Agencies—(Continued)

  

Tennessee Valley Authority Principal Strip
Zero Coupon, 11/01/25 (d)

    1,000,000      718,338   

Zero Coupon, 06/15/35 (d)

    750,000        377,711   
   

 

 

 
      46,501,012   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—25.9%

   

U.S. Treasury Bonds
4.250%, 05/15/39

    200,000        257,078   

4.375%, 02/15/38

    18,100,000        23,684,140   

4.500%, 05/15/38

    1,000,000        1,332,422   

4.750%, 02/15/37

    2,000,000        2,758,906   

5.000%, 05/15/37 (e)

    21,550,000        30,739,049   

5.250%, 11/15/28 (e)

    13,000,000        17,429,139   

5.250%, 02/15/29

    500,000        672,188   

5.375%, 02/15/31 (e)

    13,000,000        18,119,764   

5.500%, 08/15/28

    3,000,000        4,095,936   

6.125%, 08/15/29 (e)

    5,000,000        7,310,545   

U.S. Treasury Coupon Strips
Zero Coupon, 02/15/18

    5,000,000        4,813,540   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/18

    6,000,000        5,743,536   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/19

    16,000,000        14,820,880   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/19

    1,500,000        1,381,728   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/20

    2,815,000        2,573,070   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/20

    2,475,000        2,244,159   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/21

    25,050,000        22,217,446   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/21

    16,285,000        14,317,007   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/21

    2,500,000        2,186,342   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/21

    22,500,000        19,526,085   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/22

    3,975,000        3,423,246   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/22

    7,000,000        5,986,155   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/22

    6,000,000        5,102,820   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/22

    6,250,000        5,275,175   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/23 (e)

    19,100,000        15,967,371   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/23

    57,400,000        47,660,885   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/23 (e)

    1,700,000        1,402,476   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/23

    1,500,000        1,228,335   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/24

    1,500,000        1,189,367   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/25

    1,500,000        1,171,797   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/27

    400,000        290,438   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/27 (e)

    600,000        432,624   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/28

    1,750,000        1,231,948   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/29

    800,000        546,278   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/29

    1,000,000        676,954   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/30

    8,300,000        5,575,417   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/30

    700,000        466,486   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/30

    3,925,000        2,596,293   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/30

    4,400,000        2,890,567   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/31

    2,800,000        1,826,630   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/31

    10,500,000        6,795,138   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/31

    2,800,000        1,797,127   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/31

    3,000,000        1,911,210   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/32

    9,900,000        6,252,998   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/32

    10,700,000        6,712,335   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/32

    900,000        560,195   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/33

    9,000,000        5,398,857   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/35 (e)

    4,000,000        2,298,176   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

U.S. Treasury—(Continued)

   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds
1.750%, 01/15/28

    566,575      $ 641,425   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes
0.125%, 01/15/22

    1,573,680        1,530,649   

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.250%, 01/15/15

    10,500,000        10,500,000   

0.375%, 04/30/16 (e)

    13,000,000        12,997,972   

0.750%, 12/31/17

    10,000,000        9,894,530   

0.750%, 02/28/18

    13,000,000        12,821,250   

0.875%, 11/30/16 (e)

    20,000,000        20,087,500   

0.875%, 01/31/18

    15,000,000        14,879,295   

1.000%, 06/30/19

    1,000,000        975,859   

1.000%, 08/31/19

    22,000,000        21,400,148   

1.250%, 10/31/18

    3,000,000        2,980,548   

1.250%, 02/29/20 (e)

    11,000,000        10,765,392   

1.375%, 11/30/18

    8,000,000        7,984,376   

1.375%, 01/31/20

    3,000,000        2,958,516   

1.500%, 08/31/18

    28,000,000        28,135,632   

1.750%, 05/15/22 (e)

    2,500,000        2,457,617   

2.000%, 11/30/20

    28,000,000        28,245,000   

2.125%, 08/31/20

    38,500,000        39,182,759   

2.125%, 01/31/21

    2,000,000        2,030,000   

2.125%, 08/15/21

    41,000,000        41,483,677   

2.500%, 04/30/15

    6,000,000        6,047,346   

2.625%, 01/31/18 (e)

    14,000,000        14,620,158   

2.625%, 08/15/20

    13,000,000        13,575,861   

2.625%, 11/15/20

    19,500,000        20,354,646   

2.750%, 02/15/19

    1,500,000        1,578,047   

3.125%, 04/30/17 (e)

    8,555,000        9,011,486   

3.125%, 05/15/21

    27,000,000        28,974,375   

3.250%, 05/31/16

    8,000,000        8,314,376   

3.500%, 02/15/18 (e)

    20,000,000        21,432,820   

3.625%, 02/15/21

    44,000,000        48,468,728   

4.500%, 02/15/16

    23,000,000        24,065,544   

5.125%, 05/15/16

    40,000,000        42,562,480   
   

 

 

 
      843,848,270   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $2,026,688,455)

      2,034,492,877   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—18.8%           

Aerospace/Defense—0.2%

  

Airbus Group Financial B.V.
2.700%, 04/17/23 (144A)

    249,000        245,687   

BAE Systems Holdings, Inc.
4.750%, 10/07/44 (144A)

    338,000        360,976   

BAE Systems plc
4.750%, 10/11/21 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,091,248   

Northrop Grumman Corp.
1.750%, 06/01/18

    418,000        414,996   

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.
7.750%, 02/15/31

    350,000        490,515   

Raytheon Co.
3.150%, 12/15/24

    361,000        362,083   

Aerospace/Defense—(Continued)

  

United Technologies Corp.
7.500%, 09/15/29

    1,568,000      2,239,883   
   

 

 

 
      5,205,388   
   

 

 

 

Agriculture—0.1%

  

Bunge N.A. Finance L.P.
5.900%, 04/01/17

    247,000        268,557   

Bunge, Ltd. Finance Corp.
8.500%, 06/15/19

    1,084,000        1,328,485   

Cargill, Inc.
7.350%, 03/06/19 (144A)

    1,055,000        1,266,568   
   

 

 

 
      2,863,610   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.1%

  

Air Canada Pass-Through Trust
4.125%, 05/15/25 (144A)

    369,495        373,189   

American Airlines Pass-Through Trust
4.950%, 01/15/23

    1,218,663        1,305,493   

United Airlines Pass-Through Trust
4.300%, 08/15/25

    534,000        552,690   
   

 

 

 
      2,231,372   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.3%

  

American Honda Finance Corp.
1.550%, 12/11/17 (e)

    481,000        483,051   

1.600%, 02/16/18 (144A)

    219,000        217,934   

2.125%, 02/28/17 (144A)

    1,300,000        1,323,702   

2.250%, 08/15/19

    1,027,000        1,030,304   

Daimler Finance North America LLC
1.875%, 01/11/18 (144A)

    328,000        329,140   

2.250%, 07/31/19 (144A)

    2,300,000        2,292,937   

2.375%, 08/01/18 (144A) (e)

    378,000        383,303   

2.875%, 03/10/21 (144A)

    500,000        504,473   

Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp.
1.800%, 03/15/18 (144A)

    789,000        784,365   

2.650%, 09/26/18 (144A)

    300,000        305,483   

PACCAR Financial Corp.
0.800%, 02/08/16

    117,000        117,173   

Toyota Motor Credit Corp.

   

1.375%, 01/10/18

    700,000        696,279   

1.750%, 05/22/17

    500,000        504,417   

2.100%, 01/17/19

    1,046,000        1,050,388   
   

 

 

 
      10,022,949   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.1%

  

Johnson Controls, Inc.
3.625%, 07/02/24

    277,000        279,418   

4.950%, 07/02/64

    737,000        759,825   

5.000%, 03/30/20

    635,000        696,887   
   

 

 

 
      1,736,130   
   

 

 

 

Banks—5.0%

  

ABN AMRO Bank NV
2.500%, 10/30/18 (144A)

    1,160,000        1,171,619   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—(Continued)

  

American Express Bank FSB
6.000%, 09/13/17

    1,800,000      $ 2,006,572   

American Express Centurion Bank
5.950%, 06/12/17

    250,000        276,667   

ANZ New Zealand International, Ltd.
2.600%, 09/23/19 (144A)

    1,300,000        1,312,888   

Bank of America Corp.
2.000%, 01/11/18

    2,450,000        2,448,138   

2.600%, 01/15/19

    1,710,000        1,723,297   

2.650%, 04/01/19

    1,300,000        1,309,535   

3.300%, 01/11/23

    971,000        971,075   

4.125%, 01/22/24

    1,780,000        1,869,276   

4.250%, 10/22/26

    520,000        518,833   

5.625%, 07/01/20 (e)

    2,320,000        2,641,529   

5.700%, 01/24/22

    950,000        1,100,515   

5.875%, 01/05/21 (e)

    2,500,000        2,898,682   

6.000%, 09/01/17

    360,000        396,955   

6.050%, 05/16/16

    2,494,000        2,640,961   

6.400%, 08/28/17

    1,276,000        1,421,676   

6.500%, 07/15/18 (e)

    997,000        1,136,968   

Bank of Montreal
2.375%, 01/25/19

    797,000        804,660   

2.550%, 11/06/22 (e)

    500,000        490,428   

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)
2.100%, 01/15/19

    1,052,000        1,055,334   

2.200%, 05/15/19

    354,000        354,990   

3.250%, 09/11/24

    1,200,000        1,200,574   

4.150%, 02/01/21

    670,000        729,962   

5.450%, 05/15/19

    278,000        315,168   

Bank of Nova Scotia (The)
2.550%, 01/12/17

    300,000        307,662   

2.800%, 07/21/21 (e)

    500,000        500,208   

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (The)
2.700%, 09/09/18 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,034,654   

4.100%, 09/09/23 (144A)

    1,114,000        1,199,549   

Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel S.A.
1.700%, 01/20/17 (144A)

    1,600,000        1,603,488   

Barclays Bank plc
2.250%, 05/10/17 (144A) (e)

    1,000,000        1,020,217   

3.750%, 05/15/24 (e)

    324,000        333,963   

5.125%, 01/08/20 (e)

    1,080,000        1,210,931   

BB&T Corp.
2.050%, 06/19/18

    833,000        838,489   

2.150%, 03/22/17

    485,000        491,999   

2.250%, 02/01/19

    300,000        300,614   

2.450%, 01/15/20 (e)

    750,000        746,947   

6.850%, 04/30/19

    525,000        622,814   

BNZ International Funding, Ltd.
2.350%, 03/04/19 (144A)

    842,000        842,100   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
1.550%, 01/23/18

    330,000        328,376   

Capital One Financial Corp.
2.450%, 04/24/19

    176,000        175,597   

4.750%, 07/15/21

    907,000        999,639   

5.250%, 02/21/17

    170,000        183,092   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Capital One N.A.
1.500%, 03/22/18

    500,000      492,310   

Citigroup, Inc.
1.850%, 11/24/17

    776,000        775,108   

2.500%, 09/26/18

    441,000        446,153   

2.500%, 07/29/19

    450,000        450,361   

2.550%, 04/08/19

    1,350,000        1,358,879   

3.375%, 03/01/23

    231,000        233,066   

3.500%, 05/15/23

    1,100,000        1,070,839   

3.750%, 06/16/24 (e)

    629,000        642,365   

4.300%, 11/20/26

    1,500,000        1,496,640   

5.375%, 08/09/20

    86,000        97,744   

5.500%, 09/13/25 (e)

    692,000        765,701   

8.500%, 05/22/19

    4,138,000        5,156,225   

Comerica, Inc.
3.800%, 07/22/26

    1,116,000        1,123,900   

Credit Suisse
2.300%, 05/28/19

    250,000        249,571   

3.000%, 10/29/21 (e)

    379,000        377,231   

3.625%, 09/09/24

    250,000        254,310   

4.375%, 08/05/20

    1,000,000        1,084,034   

5.300%, 08/13/19

    300,000        336,513   

Deutsche Bank AG
2.500%, 02/13/19 (e)

    900,000        911,020   

3.700%, 05/30/24 (e)

    667,000        676,850   

6.000%, 09/01/17

    200,000        222,177   

Discover Bank
3.200%, 08/09/21

    1,650,000        1,657,097   

4.200%, 08/08/23 (e)

    493,000        517,320   

Fifth Third Bancorp
8.250%, 03/01/38

    500,000        751,092   

Fifth Third Bank
1.450%, 02/28/18

    500,000        494,393   

2.375%, 04/25/19 (e)

    650,000        652,959   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)
1.600%, 11/23/15

    420,000        422,200   

2.550%, 10/23/19 (e)

    714,000        711,392   

2.625%, 01/31/19

    764,000        768,665   

3.625%, 01/22/23 (e)

    1,300,000        1,316,409   

3.850%, 07/08/24 (e)

    1,447,000        1,484,040   

4.000%, 03/03/24

    412,000        427,717   

5.375%, 03/15/20

    1,650,000        1,849,150   

5.750%, 01/24/22

    1,000,000        1,156,787   

5.950%, 01/18/18

    1,425,000        1,583,129   

5.950%, 01/15/27

    1,000,000        1,144,147   

6.150%, 04/01/18

    1,475,000        1,655,568   

7.500%, 02/15/19

    3,000,000        3,568,383   

HSBC Bank plc
1.500%, 05/15/18 (144A)

    1,821,000        1,801,144   

3.500%, 06/28/15 (144A) (e)

    1,550,000        1,572,063   

4.125%, 08/12/20 (144A) (e)

    2,002,000        2,167,121   

4.750%, 01/19/21 (144A)

    1,600,000        1,781,187   

HSBC USA, Inc.
1.625%, 01/16/18

    500,000        498,075   

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd.
2.351%, 11/13/17

    626,000        624,335   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—(Continued)

  

ING Bank NV
1.375%, 03/07/16 (144A) (e)

    500,000      $ 501,798   

3.750%, 03/07/17 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,046,502   

KeyCorp
5.100%, 03/24/21 (e)

    896,000        1,011,224   

Macquarie Bank, Ltd.
2.000%, 08/15/16 (144A)

    1,008,000        1,020,276   

2.600%, 06/24/19 (144A)

    699,000        704,855   

5.000%, 02/22/17 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,599,906   

Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co.
6.625%, 12/04/17

    970,000        1,097,387   

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
3.600%, 09/25/24 (144A)

    1,350,000        1,371,708   

Morgan Stanley
1.750%, 02/25/16

    107,000        107,580   

1.875%, 01/05/18

    517,000        515,108   

2.375%, 07/23/19 (e)

    700,000        697,418   

3.700%, 10/23/24

    500,000        506,810   

5.000%, 11/24/25

    1,269,000        1,354,169   

5.500%, 01/26/20

    2,930,000        3,296,628   

5.625%, 09/23/19

    3,030,000        3,420,246   

5.750%, 10/18/16

    2,757,000        2,960,218   

5.750%, 01/25/21

    2,500,000        2,869,877   

National Australia Bank, Ltd.
2.400%, 12/09/19 (144A) (e)

    1,000,000        998,323   

Nordea Bank AB
1.625%, 05/15/18 (144A)

    1,400,000        1,386,685   

4.875%, 01/27/20 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,113,327   

Northern Trust Corp.
3.375%, 08/23/21 (e)

    887,000        931,765   

PNC Funding Corp.
5.125%, 02/08/20

    800,000        898,936   

6.700%, 06/10/19

    1,300,000        1,539,236   

Rabobank Nederland
3.375%, 01/19/17

    1,230,000        1,283,119   

3.875%, 02/08/22

    700,000        744,643   

3.950%, 11/09/22

    872,000        888,244   

Royal Bank of Canada
1.200%, 09/19/17

    1,000,000        994,290   

2.000%, 10/01/18

    2,092,000        2,111,267   

2.200%, 07/27/18 (e)

    705,000        712,825   

2.300%, 07/20/16

    275,000        280,649   

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
1.750%, 03/19/18 (144A)

    402,000        399,953   

Stadshypotek AB
1.875%, 10/02/19 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,481,599   

Standard Chartered Bank
6.400%, 09/26/17 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,227,113   

Standard Chartered plc
5.200%, 01/26/24 (144A) (e)

    1,000,000        1,039,063   

State Street Corp.
3.100%, 05/15/23

    407,000        401,266   

3.700%, 11/20/23

    1,608,000        1,689,455   

SunTrust Banks, Inc.
2.750%, 05/01/23 (e)

    2,000,000        1,951,286   

3.500%, 01/20/17

    310,000        323,161   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)
1.400%, 04/30/18

    1,450,000      1,440,916   

2.250%, 11/05/19 (e)

    255,000        255,507   

2.500%, 07/14/16

    300,000        307,322   

U.S. Bancorp

   

2.200%, 04/25/19 (e)

    1,540,000        1,547,041   

4.125%, 05/24/21

    635,000        694,191   

UBS AG
5.750%, 04/25/18

    917,000        1,031,569   

5.875%, 12/20/17

    900,000        1,004,931   

US Bank N.A.
2.125%, 10/28/19

    350,000        348,865   

Wachovia Corp.
5.750%, 02/01/18

    2,800,000        3,135,384   

Wells Fargo & Co.
2.150%, 01/15/19

    179,000        179,473   

3.000%, 01/22/21

    1,900,000        1,935,701   

3.300%, 09/09/24 (e)

    770,000        774,818   

4.100%, 06/03/26

    1,291,000        1,319,476   

4.600%, 04/01/21

    4,470,000        4,973,586   

4.650%, 11/04/44

    595,000        613,957   

5.375%, 11/02/43

    1,005,000        1,143,402   

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.
6.000%, 11/15/17

    2,491,000        2,792,194   

Westpac Banking Corp.
1.375%, 05/30/18 (144A) (e)

    2,000,000        1,973,258   
   

 

 

 
      163,311,517   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.2%

   

Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc.
3.700%, 02/01/24 (e)

    1,000,000        1,038,766   

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc.
2.500%, 07/15/22

    950,000        923,288   

7.750%, 01/15/19 (e)

    310,000        375,485   

Beam Suntory, Inc.
3.250%, 05/15/22

    760,000        760,842   

Coca-Cola Co. (The)
1.150%, 04/01/18

    182,000        179,895   

Heineken NV
3.400%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    1,339,000        1,376,744   

PepsiCo, Inc.
0.444%, 02/26/16 (a)

    182,000        182,208   

SABMiller Holdings, Inc.
3.750%, 01/15/22 (144A)

    1,700,000        1,774,307   
   

 

 

 
      6,611,535   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.2%

   

Amgen, Inc.
3.625%, 05/22/24

    873,000        887,353   

4.500%, 03/15/20

    100,000        109,218   

5.700%, 02/01/19

    100,000        112,488   

6.375%, 06/01/37

    2,116,000        2,663,314   

Celgene Corp.
3.250%, 08/15/22

    250,000        251,609   

3.625%, 05/15/24

    455,000        464,613   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Biotechnology—(Continued)

   

Celgene Corp.
3.950%, 10/15/20

    500,000      $ 528,924   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.
3.500%, 02/01/25 (e)

    115,000        118,036   

3.700%, 04/01/24

    600,000        629,299   

4.400%, 12/01/21

    630,000        694,670   
   

 

 

 
      6,459,524   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.0%

   

CRH America, Inc.
6.000%, 09/30/16

    404,000        434,831   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.4%

   

Agrium, Inc.
5.250%, 01/15/45

    712,000        769,042   

CF Industries, Inc.
7.125%, 05/01/20

    1,000,000        1,191,365   

Dow Chemical Co. (The)
4.250%, 11/15/20

    212,000        226,656   

7.375%, 11/01/29

    1,000,000        1,331,218   

8.850%, 09/15/21

    640,000        846,288   

Ecolab, Inc.
4.350%, 12/08/21

    700,000        762,712   

EI du Pont de Nemours & Co.
4.150%, 02/15/43

    107,000        107,785   

Monsanto Co.
2.750%, 07/15/21 (e)

    647,000        644,932   

3.375%, 07/15/24

    500,000        508,035   

4.200%, 07/15/34 (e)

    159,000        165,678   

4.700%, 07/15/64

    133,000        139,454   

Mosaic Co. (The)
3.750%, 11/15/21

    1,520,000        1,582,018   

4.250%, 11/15/23

    460,000        485,390   

5.450%, 11/15/33

    1,163,000        1,315,826   

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc.
3.250%, 12/01/17

    100,000        104,311   

Praxair, Inc.
1.250%, 11/07/18

    900,000        879,215   

Rohm & Haas Co.
6.000%, 09/15/17

    68,000        75,207   

7.850%, 07/15/29

    418,000        576,851   
   

 

 

 
      11,711,983   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.1%

   

ADT Corp. (The)
4.125%, 06/15/23 (e)

    625,000        565,625   

4.875%, 07/15/42

    420,000        310,800   

ERAC USA Finance LLC
3.850%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    925,000        938,087   

4.500%, 08/16/21 (144A)

    1,740,000        1,860,514   

7.000%, 10/15/37 (144A)

    500,000        673,806   
   

 

 

 
      4,348,832   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.4%

   

Apple, Inc.
0.482%, 05/03/18 (a)

    1,100,000      1,100,738   

2.400%, 05/03/23

    1,679,000        1,631,983   

2.850%, 05/06/21

    1,569,000        1,605,023   

EMC Corp.
2.650%, 06/01/20 (e)

    1,939,000        1,929,669   

3.375%, 06/01/23

    510,000        511,852   

Hewlett-Packard Co.
4.375%, 09/15/21

    605,000        634,328   

HP Enterprise Services LLC
7.450%, 10/15/29

    700,000        884,441   

International Business Machines Corp.
1.625%, 05/15/20 (e)

    3,420,000        3,296,405   

3.375%, 08/01/23

    650,000        664,147   
   

 

 

 
      12,258,586   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—1.5%

   

AIG Global Funding
1.650%, 12/15/17 (144A)

    314,000        313,946   

American Express Credit Corp.
2.125%, 07/27/18

    231,000        233,050   

2.125%, 03/18/19

    700,000        699,121   

2.250%, 08/15/19

    1,000,000        1,000,160   

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
4.000%, 10/15/23

    1,380,000        1,461,786   

Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. LLC
6.625%, 08/15/19 (144A)

    1,200,000        1,401,396   

Capital One Bank USA N.A.
3.375%, 02/15/23

    600,000        596,665   

8.800%, 07/15/19

    300,000        374,071   

CDP Financial, Inc.
4.400%, 11/25/19 (144A)

    600,000        660,676   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
1.482%, 05/09/16 (a)

    840,000        847,310   

1.500%, 01/17/17

    678,000        674,352   

1.684%, 09/08/17 (e)

    630,000        624,987   

2.375%, 03/12/19

    1,969,000        1,955,292   

2.597%, 11/04/19

    950,000        944,890   

3.000%, 06/12/17

    400,000        410,403   

4.250%, 02/03/17

    1,200,000        1,260,083   

4.375%, 08/06/23 (e)

    900,000        962,140   

General Electric Capital Corp.
1.500%, 07/12/16

    1,050,000        1,060,856   

3.100%, 01/09/23

    1,000,000        1,012,495   

4.375%, 09/16/20

    3,700,000        4,052,373   

5.400%, 02/15/17

    2,000,000        2,171,234   

5.500%, 01/08/20

    2,150,000        2,460,838   

5.625%, 09/15/17

    1,000,000        1,110,054   

5.625%, 05/01/18

    1,250,000        1,406,540   

6.000%, 08/07/19

    2,350,000        2,733,457   

6.750%, 03/15/32

    1,800,000        2,458,588   

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
2.500%, 10/15/18

    931,000        947,964   

IntercontinentalExchange Group, Inc.
4.000%, 10/15/23

    716,000        753,672   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

 

Invesco Finance plc
4.000%, 01/30/24

    500,000      $ 524,270   

Jefferies Group LLC
5.125%, 01/20/23

    300,000        304,955   

6.875%, 04/15/21

    475,000        539,961   

Macquarie Group, Ltd.
6.000%, 01/14/20 (144A)

    1,572,000        1,780,563   

MassMutual Global Funding II
2.100%, 08/02/18 (144A)

    764,000        771,204   

5.250%, 07/31/18 (144A)

    880,000        972,792   

Murray Street Investment Trust I
4.647%, 03/09/17 (f)

    1,600,000        1,688,635   

Private Export Funding Corp.
2.800%, 05/15/22

    1,000,000        1,014,492   

3.550%, 01/15/24

    7,383,000        7,823,012   
   

 

 

 
      50,008,283   
   

 

 

 

Electric—1.5%

   

Alabama Power Co.

   

3.550%, 12/01/23

    461,000        485,932   

4.150%, 08/15/44

    218,000        228,872   

Arizona Public Service Co.

   

3.350%, 06/15/24

    696,000        718,658   

4.500%, 04/01/42

    200,000        211,834   

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.

   

5.200%, 06/15/33

    1,510,000        1,802,514   

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co.

   

1.100%, 05/15/17

    460,000        455,305   

2.400%, 02/01/20 (144A)

    364,000        362,415   

3.500%, 02/01/25 (144A) (e)

    542,000        545,446   

3.750%, 11/15/23

    1,736,000        1,809,929   

4.500%, 02/01/45 (144A)

    333,000        348,434   

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC

   

2.250%, 08/01/22

    950,000        909,932   

Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. (The)

   

7.880%, 11/01/17

    1,118,000        1,299,276   

CMS Energy Corp.

   

8.750%, 06/15/19

    885,000        1,107,968   

Commonwealth Edison Co.

   

5.950%, 08/15/16

    200,000        215,690   

Consumers Energy Co.

   

4.350%, 08/31/64 (e)

    191,000        199,388   

5.650%, 04/15/20

    200,000        230,202   

DTE Electric Co.

   

3.900%, 06/01/21

    1,000,000        1,082,103   

5.700%, 10/01/37

    300,000        392,477   

DTE Energy Co.

   

3.500%, 06/01/24

    449,000        456,787   

3.850%, 12/01/23

    225,000        236,357   

Duke Energy Carolinas LLC

   

4.300%, 06/15/20

    619,000        672,875   

6.000%, 01/15/38

    600,000        789,700   

Duke Energy Ohio, Inc.

   

3.800%, 09/01/23 (e)

    815,000        866,652   

Duke Energy Progress, Inc.

   

4.100%, 03/15/43

    200,000        212,269   

Electric—(Continued)

   

Duke Energy Progress, Inc.

   

4.150%, 12/01/44

    306,000      325,278   

4.375%, 03/30/44

    247,000        271,207   

5.300%, 01/15/19

    200,000        224,090   

5.700%, 04/01/35

    360,000        438,916   

Electricite de France S.A.

   

2.150%, 01/22/19 (144A)

    704,000        705,733   

6.000%, 01/22/14 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,281,436   

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

   

3.050%, 06/01/23

    765,000        765,051   

Florida Power & Light Co.

   

3.250%, 06/01/24

    370,000        378,932   

5.625%, 04/01/34

    1,250,000        1,550,342   

Hydro-Quebec

   

8.050%, 07/07/24

    1,100,000        1,545,154   

9.400%, 02/01/21

    845,000        1,151,781   

Indiana Michigan Power Co.

   

3.200%, 03/15/23

    330,000        331,794   

Kansas City Power & Light Co.

   

3.150%, 03/15/23

    604,000        605,985   

5.300%, 10/01/41

    315,000        363,339   

MidAmerican Energy Co.

   

3.700%, 09/15/23 (e)

    1,100,000        1,177,433   

Nevada Power Co.

   

6.650%, 04/01/36

    360,000        497,818   

7.125%, 03/15/19

    200,000        238,606   

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc.

   

1.339%, 09/01/15

    133,000        133,401   

3.625%, 06/15/23

    410,000        415,996   

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

   

3.508%, 10/01/24 (144A)

    305,000        314,112   

Nisource Finance Corp.

   

4.800%, 02/15/44

    162,000        172,602   

6.125%, 03/01/22

    1,875,000        2,222,554   

Northern States Power Co.

   

6.500%, 03/01/28

    628,000        814,963   

Ohio Power Co.

   

5.375%, 10/01/21 (e)

    305,000        352,818   

6.600%, 02/15/33

    258,000        343,606   

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

   

3.500%, 10/01/20

    782,000        812,659   

6.050%, 03/01/34

    1,200,000        1,527,725   

PacifiCorp

   

3.600%, 04/01/24

    315,000        325,535   

5.500%, 01/15/19

    500,000        564,950   

PPL Electric Utilities Corp.

   

2.500%, 09/01/22

    300,000        296,436   

4.125%, 06/15/44

    208,000        217,622   

PSEG Power LLC

   

4.300%, 11/15/23

    201,000        210,745   

5.320%, 09/15/16

    568,000        606,838   

5.500%, 12/01/15

    1,070,000        1,114,233   

Public Service Co. of Colorado

   

2.500%, 03/15/23

    800,000        779,722   

3.200%, 11/15/20

    375,000        390,134   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—(Continued)

   

Public Service Co. of New Hampshire

   

3.500%, 11/01/23

    272,000      $ 280,887   

Public Service Co. of Oklahoma

   

5.150%, 12/01/19

    1,010,000        1,128,957   

6.625%, 11/15/37

    600,000        808,589   

Public Service Electric & Gas Co.

   

3.800%, 01/01/43

    700,000        707,788   

Sierra Pacific Power Co.

   

3.375%, 08/15/23

    556,000        577,166   

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.

   

4.500%, 06/01/64

    173,000        186,995   

Southern Co. (The)

   

2.150%, 09/01/19

    855,000        849,500   

State Grid Overseas Investment 2013, Ltd.

   

1.750%, 05/22/18 (144A)

    499,000        489,389   

Virginia Electric & Power Co.

   

2.750%, 03/15/23

    400,000        395,533   

2.950%, 01/15/22

    489,000        493,838   

3.450%, 02/15/24

    102,000        105,026   

4.450%, 02/15/44

    126,000        137,631   

6.000%, 05/15/37

    685,000        902,505   

Wisconsin Electric Power Co.

   

1.700%, 06/15/18

    840,000        836,286   

4.250%, 12/15/19

    618,000        671,415   

Xcel Energy, Inc.

   

0.750%, 05/09/16

    290,000        289,482   
   

 

 

 
      47,971,548   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.1%

   

Arrow Electronics, Inc.

   

3.000%, 03/01/18

    49,000        50,246   

6.000%, 04/01/20

    536,000        601,887   

6.875%, 06/01/18

    300,000        339,818   

7.500%, 01/15/27

    300,000        367,659   

Koninklijke Philips NV

   

3.750%, 03/15/22

    1,680,000        1,749,431   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

   

1.300%, 02/01/17

    551,000        547,915   

4.150%, 02/01/24 (e)

    1,030,000        1,086,225   
   

 

 

 
      4,743,181   
   

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction—0.0%

   

Fluor Corp.

   

3.375%, 09/15/21

    550,000        568,181   
   

 

 

 

Environmental Control—0.1%

   

Republic Services, Inc.

   

5.500%, 09/15/19

    650,000        732,276   

6.086%, 03/15/35

    500,000        619,242   

Waste Management, Inc.

   

7.100%, 08/01/26

    400,000        523,779   

7.375%, 03/11/19

    512,000        618,774   
   

 

 

 
      2,494,071   
   

 

 

 

Food—0.2%

   

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

   

1.300%, 01/25/16

    104,000      103,982   

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

   

6.125%, 08/23/18

    700,000        800,390   

6.875%, 01/26/39

    600,000        793,054   

Kroger Co. (The)

   

4.000%, 02/01/24

    229,000        240,397   

7.500%, 04/01/31

    1,140,000        1,539,555   

8.000%, 09/15/29

    610,000        840,544   

Mondelez International, Inc.

   

4.000%, 02/01/24 (e)

    1,800,000        1,883,281   

Sysco Corp.

   

3.000%, 10/02/21

    203,000        206,080   

Tyson Foods, Inc.

   

3.950%, 08/15/24 (e)

    1,456,000        1,505,098   
   

 

 

 
      7,912,381   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.3%

   

AGL Capital Corp.

   

3.500%, 09/15/21

    1,000,000        1,035,027   

4.400%, 06/01/43

    375,000        395,156   

6.000%, 10/01/34

    1,000,000        1,294,697   

Atmos Energy Corp.

   

4.125%, 10/15/44

    450,000        466,462   

4.150%, 01/15/43

    460,000        461,854   

8.500%, 03/15/19

    200,000        248,582   

CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp.

   

4.500%, 01/15/21

    429,000        470,449   

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

   

6.500%, 05/01/18

    706,000        807,068   

Sempra Energy

   

2.875%, 10/01/22

    1,625,000        1,597,356   

3.550%, 06/15/24

    709,000        715,582   

4.050%, 12/01/23

    1,054,000        1,115,038   
   

 

 

 
      8,607,271   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.1%

   

Baxter International, Inc.

   

1.850%, 06/15/18

    431,000        428,844   

Becton Dickinson & Co.

   

2.675%, 12/15/19

    145,000        146,907   

3.734%, 12/15/24 (e)

    184,000        189,442   

Medtronic, Inc.

   

3.150%, 03/15/22 (144A)

    775,000        784,824   

4.375%, 03/15/35 (144A)

    956,000        1,014,178   
   

 

 

 
      2,564,195   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.2%

   

Aetna, Inc.

   

6.625%, 06/15/36

    297,000        395,823   

Anthem, Inc.

   

2.300%, 07/15/18

    751,000        755,157   

3.500%, 08/15/24

    1,035,000        1,042,506   

4.650%, 08/15/44

    324,000        343,125   

5.950%, 12/15/34

    272,000        336,037   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Healthcare-Services—(Continued)

   

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

   

4.750%, 01/30/20 (e)

    400,000      $ 431,407   

Roche Holdings, Inc.

   

3.350%, 09/30/24 (144A) (e)

    660,000        679,277   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   

2.875%, 03/15/23 (e)

    250,000        248,389   

5.800%, 03/15/36

    375,000        464,332   

Ventas Realty L.P.

   

3.750%, 05/01/24 (e)

    147,000        147,968   
   

 

 

 
      4,844,021   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.0%

   

Hutchison Whampoa International, Ltd.

   

4.625%, 01/13/22 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,191,787   
   

 

 

 

Household Products/Wares—0.0%

   

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

   

2.400%, 06/01/23

    600,000        578,902   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.9%

   

ACE INA Holdings, Inc.

   

2.700%, 03/13/23

    400,000        388,392   

3.350%, 05/15/24

    435,000        439,567   

AIG SunAmerica Global Financing X

   

6.900%, 03/15/32 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,376,927   

Allstate Corp. (The)

   

3.150%, 06/15/23

    407,000        408,983   

American International Group, Inc.

   

3.375%, 08/15/20

    246,000        255,545   

4.125%, 02/15/24 (e)

    622,000        662,126   

5.850%, 01/16/18

    600,000        670,860   

6.400%, 12/15/20

    500,000        596,235   

Aon plc

   

3.500%, 06/14/24

    730,000        731,499   

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp.

   

3.000%, 05/15/22

    1,000,000        1,015,606   

4.300%, 05/15/43 (e)

    831,000        880,966   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

   

3.400%, 01/31/22

    1,627,000        1,694,070   

CNA Financial Corp.

   

6.950%, 01/15/18

    550,000        625,233   

7.350%, 11/15/19

    500,000        596,773   

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.

   

5.000%, 06/01/21 (144A)

    700,000        762,511   

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.

   

7.875%, 10/15/26 (144A)

    500,000        630,097   

8.500%, 05/15/25 (144A)

    300,000        381,192   

Lincoln National Corp.

   

6.250%, 02/15/20

    800,000        928,238   

8.750%, 07/01/19

    350,000        437,336   

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

   

3.500%, 03/10/25

    621,000        624,947   

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.

   

5.625%, 05/15/33 (144A)

    720,000        877,067   

7.625%, 11/15/23 (144A)

    550,000        705,646   

Insurance—(Continued)

   

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

   

8.250%, 12/01/31 (144A)

    1,000,000      1,420,582   

New York Life Global Funding

   

0.800%, 02/12/16 (144A)

    600,000        601,027   

1.125%, 03/01/17 (144A)

    317,000        316,288   

1.650%, 05/15/17 (144A) (e)

    956,000        963,277   

2.150%, 06/18/19 (144A)

    746,000        744,544   

Pacific Life Insurance Co.

   

9.250%, 06/15/39 (144A)

    650,000        1,022,452   

Pricoa Global Funding I

   

1.600%, 05/29/18 (144A)

    1,678,000        1,654,966   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

   

8.875%, 05/15/19

    690,000        868,162   

Principal Life Global Funding II

   

2.250%, 10/15/18 (144A)

    2,151,000        2,166,698   

Prudential Insurance Co. of America (The)

   

8.300%, 07/01/25 (144A)

    2,150,000        2,903,736   

XLIT, Ltd.

   

6.375%, 11/15/24

    921,000        1,095,730   
   

 

 

 
      29,447,278   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.1%

   

Amazon.com, Inc.

   

3.300%, 12/05/21

    1,020,000        1,033,965   

4.800%, 12/05/34 (e)

    815,000        855,536   

eBay, Inc.

   

2.600%, 07/15/22

    990,000        939,455   

2.875%, 08/01/21 (e)

    450,000        445,443   

3.250%, 10/15/20

    400,000        406,873   

4.000%, 07/15/42

    700,000        623,221   
   

 

 

 
      4,304,493   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.0%

   

Nucor Corp.

   

4.000%, 08/01/23

    1,049,000        1,098,642   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.1%

  

Caterpillar Financial Services Corp.

   

1.300%, 03/01/18

    500,000        496,527   

2.750%, 08/20/21

    360,000        363,128   

3.250%, 12/01/24 (e)

    393,000        398,193   

3.750%, 11/24/23

    769,000        815,894   

7.150%, 02/15/19

    1,000,000        1,196,299   
   

 

 

 
      3,270,041   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Diversified—0.1%

   

Deere & Co.

   

8.100%, 05/15/30

    600,000        914,191   

John Deere Capital Corp.

   

1.050%, 10/11/16

    663,000        663,938   

1.125%, 06/12/17

    700,000        697,296   

1.300%, 03/12/18 (e)

    400,000        395,778   
   

 

 

 
      2,671,203   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Media—1.0%

   

21st Century Fox America, Inc.

   

3.000%, 09/15/22

    700,000      $ 695,278   

6.550%, 03/15/33

    370,000        480,606   

6.900%, 03/01/19

    900,000        1,061,237   

CBS Corp.

   

3.700%, 08/15/24 (e)

    359,000        358,017   

4.300%, 02/15/21

    515,000        554,519   

4.900%, 08/15/44

    135,000        137,088   

5.500%, 05/15/33

    255,000        289,939   

5.900%, 10/15/40

    125,000        146,320   

Comcast Corp.

   

3.125%, 07/15/22

    1,600,000        1,625,925   

4.200%, 08/15/34 (e)

    556,000        581,379   

4.250%, 01/15/33 (e)

    1,880,000        1,990,783   

5.700%, 07/01/19

    1,000,000        1,148,077   

COX Communications, Inc.

   

2.950%, 06/30/23 (144A) (e)

    690,000        661,670   

3.250%, 12/15/22 (144A) (e)

    1,010,000        991,657   

4.800%, 02/01/35 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,146,060   

DIRECTV Holdings LLC / DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc.

   

3.800%, 03/15/22

    982,000        999,057   

3.950%, 01/15/25

    213,000        214,676   

5.000%, 03/01/21

    1,400,000        1,526,699   

6.350%, 03/15/40 (e)

    530,000        615,367   

6.375%, 03/01/41

    300,000        350,749   

Discovery Communications LLC

   

3.300%, 05/15/22

    625,000        617,980   

4.375%, 06/15/21

    1,240,000        1,311,683   

Historic TW, Inc.

   

6.625%, 05/15/29

    300,000        380,301   

NBCUniversal Media LLC

   

4.375%, 04/01/21

    1,000,000        1,099,797   

Sky plc

   

3.750%, 09/16/24 (144A)

    431,000        433,639   

TCI Communications, Inc.

   

7.125%, 02/15/28

    801,000        1,077,514   

Thomson Reuters Corp.

   

3.950%, 09/30/21

    2,252,000        2,373,205   

5.850%, 04/15/40

    100,000        116,152   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.

   

8.250%, 04/01/19

    1,300,000        1,591,386   

Time Warner, Inc.

   

3.550%, 06/01/24 (e)

    3,050,000        3,038,129   

4.000%, 01/15/22

    1,570,000        1,641,019   

4.050%, 12/15/23

    450,000        472,069   

4.750%, 03/29/21

    300,000        327,413   

7.625%, 04/15/31

    826,000        1,151,556   

Viacom, Inc.

   

3.250%, 03/15/23

    222,000        214,395   

3.875%, 12/15/21

    380,000        393,359   

4.250%, 09/01/23 (e)

    420,000        433,062   

6.875%, 04/30/36

    348,000        441,736   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

   

1.850%, 05/30/19

    750,000        746,491   
   

 

 

 
      33,435,989   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.3%

   

BHP Billiton Finance USA, Ltd.

   

2.050%, 09/30/18 (e)

    437,000      438,622   

2.875%, 02/24/22

    200,000        199,755   

3.850%, 09/30/23 (e)

    1,000,000        1,052,745   

5.000%, 09/30/43

    414,000        469,278   

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

   

3.550%, 03/01/22

    650,000        614,322   

3.875%, 03/15/23

    1,043,000        983,378   

5.450%, 03/15/43

    62,000        58,625   

Placer Dome, Inc.

   

6.450%, 10/15/35

    700,000        772,850   

Rio Tinto Finance USA plc

   

3.500%, 03/22/22

    1,800,000        1,799,496   

Teck Resources, Ltd.

   

3.750%, 02/01/23 (e)

    257,000        230,347   

4.500%, 01/15/21

    680,000        665,122   

4.750%, 01/15/22

    1,023,000        997,129   
   

 

 

 
      8,281,669   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.2%

  

Eaton Corp.

   

6.950%, 03/20/19

    282,000        328,223   

General Electric Co.

   

3.375%, 03/11/24

    393,000        405,988   

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

   

1.950%, 03/01/19 (e)

    252,000        252,136   

Ingersoll-Rand Global Holding Co., Ltd.

   

2.875%, 01/15/19

    400,000        406,309   

Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Finance S.A.

   

2.625%, 05/01/20

    320,000        317,929   

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

   

3.300%, 11/21/24

    143,000        145,938   

4.450%, 11/21/44

    333,000        359,013   

Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV

   

5.750%, 10/17/16 (144A)

    820,000        886,569   

6.125%, 08/17/26 (144A)

    800,000        992,571   

Tyco International Finance S.A.

   

8.500%, 01/15/19

    734,000        894,302   

Tyco International Finance S.A. / Tyco Fire & Security Finance SCA

   

7.000%, 12/15/19

    160,000        189,719   
   

 

 

 
      5,178,697   
   

 

 

 

Multi-National—0.1%

   

African Development Bank

   

8.800%, 09/01/19

    1,275,000        1,607,543   
   

 

 

 

Office/Business Equipment—0.0%

   

Xerox Corp.

   

6.750%, 02/01/17

    800,000        881,782   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—1.5%

   

Anadarko Finance Co.

   

7.500%, 05/01/31

    805,000        1,058,642   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

   

Anadarko Holding Co.

   

7.150%, 05/15/28

    949,000      $ 1,172,421   

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

   

8.700%, 03/15/19

    1,600,000        1,959,922   

Apache Corp.

   

3.625%, 02/01/21

    870,000        879,502   

5.100%, 09/01/40

    650,000        636,697   

BP Capital Markets plc

   

1.375%, 11/06/17 (e)

    500,000        494,550   

1.375%, 05/10/18

    518,000        508,805   

2.241%, 09/26/18

    1,020,000        1,022,885   

3.245%, 05/06/22

    800,000        786,431   

3.535%, 11/04/24 (e)

    300,000        298,293   

3.814%, 02/10/24 (e)

    650,000        654,218   

4.500%, 10/01/20

    675,000        730,329   

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.

   

1.750%, 01/15/18

    500,000        497,059   

3.900%, 02/01/25

    512,000        504,712   

6.250%, 03/15/38

    200,000        222,439   

Cenovus Energy, Inc.

   

3.000%, 08/15/22

    310,000        290,143   

6.750%, 11/15/39

    600,000        683,523   

Chevron Corp.

   

2.355%, 12/05/22 (e)

    690,000        669,104   

3.191%, 06/24/23

    425,000        432,935   

CNOOC Finance 2013, Ltd.

   

1.125%, 05/09/16

    400,000        398,583   

3.000%, 05/09/23

    848,000        802,553   

ConocoPhillips Holding Co.

   

6.950%, 04/15/29

    700,000        932,529   

Devon Energy Corp.

   

4.000%, 07/15/21 (e)

    300,000        310,208   

Devon Financing Corp. LLC

   

7.875%, 09/30/31

    886,000        1,208,634   

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.

   

4.875%, 11/01/43

    779,000        663,643   

Ecopetrol S.A.

   

4.125%, 01/16/25 (e)

    433,000        411,350   

Ensco plc

   

4.700%, 03/15/21 (e)

    450,000        452,039   

EOG Resources, Inc.

   

4.100%, 02/01/21

    880,000        944,255   

Korea National Oil Corp.

   

3.125%, 04/03/17 (144A)

    426,000        437,106   

Marathon Oil Corp.

   

2.800%, 11/01/22

    900,000        842,848   

6.600%, 10/01/37

    200,000        235,560   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

   

3.625%, 09/15/24 (e)

    371,000        363,581   

Nabors Industries, Inc.

   

4.625%, 09/15/21

    1,670,000        1,569,035   

5.000%, 09/15/20

    605,000        594,213   

Noble Energy, Inc.

   

5.050%, 11/15/44

    360,000        355,834   

Noble Holding International, Ltd.

   

5.250%, 03/15/42 (e)

    600,000        473,304   

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

   

Noble Holding International, Ltd.

   

6.050%, 03/01/41

    200,000      171,969   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

   

4.100%, 02/01/21

    1,120,000        1,188,592   

Petro-Canada

   

5.950%, 05/15/35

    210,000        242,771   

9.250%, 10/15/21

    243,000        326,627   

Petrobras Global Finance B.V.

   

3.250%, 03/17/17 (e)

    1,000,000        942,500   

4.375%, 05/20/23 (e)

    873,000        750,850   

6.250%, 03/17/24

    1,532,000        1,457,759   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A.

   

5.375%, 01/27/21 (e)

    1,000,000        926,570   

6.750%, 01/27/41 (e)

    150,000        136,436   

7.875%, 03/15/19 (e)

    500,000        526,185   

Petroleos Mexicanos

   

4.250%, 01/15/25 (144A) (e)

    326,000        323,881   

4.875%, 01/18/24 (e)

    317,000        329,363   

6.375%, 01/23/45

    918,000        1,039,635   

Shell International Finance B.V.

   

3.400%, 08/12/23 (e)

    420,000        433,486   

4.300%, 09/22/19

    800,000        877,967   

6.375%, 12/15/38

    600,000        806,292   

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2013, Ltd.

   

4.375%, 10/17/23 (144A)

    1,246,000        1,304,328   

Statoil ASA

   

1.150%, 05/15/18

    389,000        381,514   

2.650%, 01/15/24 (e)

    393,000        381,773   

2.900%, 11/08/20 (e)

    196,000        200,489   

3.250%, 11/10/24

    399,000        400,311   

6.700%, 01/15/18

    180,000        205,097   

7.250%, 09/23/27

    1,040,000        1,421,394   

Suncor Energy, Inc.

   

3.600%, 12/01/24

    678,000        669,968   

5.950%, 12/01/34

    268,000        313,069   

6.100%, 06/01/18

    1,070,000        1,200,229   

Talisman Energy, Inc.

   

7.750%, 06/01/19

    800,000        921,495   

Tosco Corp.

   

7.800%, 01/01/27

    700,000        959,900   

Total Capital Canada, Ltd.

   

0.611%, 01/15/16 (a)

    154,000        154,271   

Total Capital International S.A.

   

2.750%, 06/19/21

    1,800,000        1,806,732   

2.875%, 02/17/22 (e)

    815,000        806,757   

3.700%, 01/15/24 (e)

    654,000        677,175   

Transocean, Inc.

   

2.500%, 10/15/17

    700,000        618,831   

6.375%, 12/15/21

    500,000        461,225   

6.500%, 11/15/20 (e)

    480,000        452,625   
   

 

 

 
      48,315,951   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Services—0.2%

   

Cameron International Corp.

   

4.000%, 12/15/23

    203,000        202,485   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas Services—(Continued)

   

Halliburton Co.

   

6.750%, 02/01/27

    650,000      $ 800,512   

7.450%, 09/15/39

    200,000        280,934   

8.750%, 02/15/21

    350,000        447,611   

Schlumberger Investment S.A.

   

3.300%, 09/14/21 (144A)

    650,000        667,128   

3.650%, 12/01/23 (e)

    614,000        641,844   

Schlumberger Oilfield UK plc

   

4.200%, 01/15/21 (144A)

    600,000        650,989   

Weatherford International, Ltd.

   

9.625%, 03/01/19

    1,298,000        1,539,532   
   

 

 

 
      5,231,035   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.3%

   

Actavis, Inc.

   

3.250%, 10/01/22

    172,000        167,463   

Bayer U.S. Finance LLC

   

2.375%, 10/08/19 (144A)

    423,000        424,678   

3.375%, 10/08/24 (144A)

    472,000        480,294   

Express Scripts Holding Co.

   

3.500%, 06/15/24

    300,000        298,948   

3.900%, 02/15/22

    500,000        520,666   

4.750%, 11/15/21

    400,000        441,421   

Forest Laboratories, Inc.

   

4.875%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    300,000        321,666   

5.000%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    1,504,000        1,628,570   

Medco Health Solutions, Inc.

   

4.125%, 09/15/20

    800,000        849,492   

Merck & Co., Inc.

   

2.800%, 05/18/23 (e)

    625,000        620,657   

Novartis Capital Corp.

   

3.400%, 05/06/24

    863,000        897,763   

Pfizer, Inc.

   

3.000%, 06/15/23 (e)

    1,100,000        1,112,386   

Sanofi

   

1.250%, 04/10/18

    157,000        155,502   

Zoetis, Inc.

   

1.875%, 02/01/18

    93,000        92,163   

4.700%, 02/01/43

    26,000        26,462   
   

 

 

 
      8,038,131   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—0.5%

   

ANR Pipeline Co.

   

7.375%, 02/15/24

    226,000        283,461   

Boardwalk Pipelines L.P.

   

4.950%, 12/15/24

    233,000        231,646   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

   

2.550%, 10/15/19

    417,000        412,802   

3.750%, 02/15/25 (e)

    515,000        516,961   

3.900%, 02/15/24

    662,000        674,239   

4.950%, 10/15/54

    179,000        183,213   

5.100%, 02/15/45

    379,000        407,497   

Gulf South Pipeline Co. L.P.

   

4.000%, 06/15/22

    900,000        887,231   

Pipelines—(Continued)

   

Magellan Midstream Partners L.P.

   

4.250%, 02/01/21

    492,000      530,878   

5.150%, 10/15/43

    401,000        425,101   

6.400%, 07/15/18

    1,420,000        1,610,186   

ONEOK Partners L.P.

   

6.650%, 10/01/36

    250,000        287,719   

Plains All American Pipeline L.P. / PAA Finance Corp.

   

2.600%, 12/15/19

    176,000        174,777   

2.850%, 01/31/23

    975,000        921,963   

3.600%, 11/01/24

    900,000        883,544   

4.900%, 02/15/45 (e)

    814,000        827,226   

Spectra Energy Capital LLC

   

3.300%, 03/15/23

    308,000        292,561   

5.650%, 03/01/20

    2,200,000        2,444,110   

6.750%, 07/15/18

    218,000        246,317   

8.000%, 10/01/19

    1,000,000        1,210,111   

Sunoco Logistics Partners Operations L.P.

   

4.250%, 04/01/24

    233,000        235,621   

4.950%, 01/15/43

    394,000        377,554   

5.300%, 04/01/44

    200,000        201,590   

5.350%, 05/15/45

    633,000        640,005   

TransCanada PipeLines, Ltd.

   

0.750%, 01/15/16

    350,000        349,023   

2.500%, 08/01/22

    350,000        329,714   

3.750%, 10/16/23 (e)

    910,000        911,053   

7.125%, 01/15/19

    490,000        569,453   

7.250%, 08/15/38

    200,000        267,525   
   

 

 

 
      17,333,081   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.4%

  

 

American Tower Corp.

   

3.500%, 01/31/23

    790,000        763,304   

Boston Properties L.P.

   

5.625%, 11/15/20

    800,000        912,761   

5.875%, 10/15/19

    500,000        572,712   

Duke Realty L.P.

   

3.875%, 02/15/21

    1,128,000        1,171,574   

6.750%, 03/15/20

    584,000        687,468   

8.250%, 08/15/19

    170,000        209,729   

Equity CommonWealth

   

5.875%, 09/15/20

    100,000        110,013   

6.250%, 06/15/17

    840,000        905,097   

ERP Operating L.P.

   

2.375%, 07/01/19

    538,000        535,701   

4.625%, 12/15/21

    250,000        273,502   

4.750%, 07/15/20

    578,000        635,007   

HCP, Inc.

   

2.625%, 02/01/20

    1,100,000        1,088,574   

4.250%, 11/15/23

    346,000        363,728   

5.375%, 02/01/21

    1,240,000        1,384,715   

Health Care REIT, Inc.

   

4.500%, 01/15/24

    1,024,000        1,084,404   

5.250%, 01/15/22

    600,000        666,709   

ProLogis L.P.

   

4.250%, 08/15/23 (e)

    114,000        120,456   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

 

ProLogis L.P.

   

6.875%, 03/15/20 (e)

    325,000      $ 381,747   

Simon Property Group L.P.

   

2.750%, 02/01/23

    200,000        195,821   

5.650%, 02/01/20

    1,185,000        1,360,213   

Ventas Realty L.P. / Ventas Capital Corp.

   

4.750%, 06/01/21

    500,000        543,448   
   

 

 

 
      13,966,683   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.3%

   

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

   

4.500%, 01/15/22

    1,001,000        1,062,566   

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.

   

4.915%, 08/01/34

    689,000        710,964   

CVS Health Corp.

   

4.000%, 12/05/23

    929,000        983,135   

5.300%, 12/05/43

    303,000        362,213   

CVS Pass-Through Trust

   

6.204%, 10/10/25 (144A)

    833,087        959,210   

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

   

3.750%, 02/15/24 (e)

    586,000        625,904   

4.400%, 04/01/21

    700,000        778,735   

4.400%, 03/15/45 (e)

    143,000        156,287   

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

   

3.120%, 04/15/22

    900,000        920,914   

3.125%, 09/15/24

    276,000        278,389   

Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc.

   

3.625%, 06/01/24 (e)

    700,000        708,238   

4.375%, 09/01/23 (e)

    154,000        165,432   

4.500%, 12/15/34

    279,000        280,939   

6.375%, 03/15/37

    300,000        379,619   

Target Corp.

   

3.500%, 07/01/24 (e)

    484,000        502,476   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

   

1.125%, 04/11/18

    541,000        534,796   

3.300%, 04/22/24 (e)

    575,000        593,696   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

   

3.300%, 11/18/21

    399,000        401,776   

4.500%, 11/18/34 (e)

    349,000        363,449   
   

 

 

 
      10,768,738   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.3%

   

Intuit, Inc.

   

5.750%, 03/15/17

    267,000        293,435   

Microsoft Corp.

   

2.375%, 05/01/23 (e)

    540,000        530,006   

3.000%, 10/01/20

    750,000        781,915   

3.625%, 12/15/23 (e)

    711,000        760,868   

Oracle Corp.

   

2.375%, 01/15/19

    455,000        462,873   

2.500%, 10/15/22

    3,410,000        3,321,667   

2.800%, 07/08/21

    750,000        759,328   

4.300%, 07/08/34

    857,000        917,566   

5.750%, 04/15/18

    400,000        452,186   

Software—(Continued)

   

Oracle Corp.

   

6.500%, 04/15/38

    300,000      403,699   
   

 

 

 
      8,683,543   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—1.1%

   

America Movil S.A.B. de C.V.

   

1.241%, 09/12/16 (a)

    1,700,000        1,712,160   

3.125%, 07/16/22

    600,000        591,984   

5.000%, 03/30/20

    1,000,000        1,102,740   

AT&T, Inc.

   

3.000%, 02/15/22

    3,440,000        3,375,259   

4.450%, 05/15/21

    700,000        752,089   

6.300%, 01/15/38

    200,000        241,986   

6.450%, 06/15/34

    500,000        611,897   

British Telecommunications plc

   

1.625%, 06/28/16

    308,000        310,218   

2.350%, 02/14/19

    228,000        227,673   

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   

2.900%, 03/04/21

    886,000        902,206   

3.625%, 03/04/24 (e)

    700,000        729,442   

5.900%, 02/15/39

    900,000        1,132,802   

Crown Castle Towers LLC

   

6.113%, 01/15/20 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,148,642   

Deutsche Telekom International Finance B.V.

   

2.250%, 03/06/17 (144A)

    400,000        406,318   

8.750%, 06/15/30

    500,000        738,579   

Embarq Corp.

   

7.082%, 06/01/16

    747,000        804,979   

Orange S.A.

   

9.000%, 03/01/31

    400,000        610,153   

Qwest Corp.

   

6.875%, 09/15/33

    690,000        692,115   

Rogers Communications, Inc.

   

4.100%, 10/01/23

    736,000        773,271   

5.450%, 10/01/43

    482,000        553,211   

8.750%, 05/01/32

    940,000        1,359,731   

Telefonica Emisiones S.A.U.

   

3.192%, 04/27/18

    210,000        215,951   

5.134%, 04/27/20

    334,000        369,740   

5.877%, 07/15/19

    217,000        246,961   

6.421%, 06/20/16

    500,000        534,876   

Verizon Communications, Inc.

   

1.350%, 06/09/17

    889,000        884,887   

2.625%, 02/21/20 (144A)

    263,000        259,993   

3.000%, 11/01/21

    1,564,000        1,542,470   

3.450%, 03/15/21

    677,000        691,922   

4.400%, 11/01/34

    963,000        957,204   

4.500%, 09/15/20

    1,068,000        1,159,588   

4.600%, 04/01/21

    1,500,000        1,628,061   

4.862%, 08/21/46 (144A)

    1,719,000        1,765,803   

5.050%, 03/15/34 (e)

    1,124,000        1,198,999   

5.150%, 09/15/23

    1,500,000        1,656,349   

6.400%, 09/15/33

    591,000        727,984   

Verizon New England, Inc.

   

7.875%, 11/15/29

    1,000,000        1,308,522   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Telecommunications—(Continued)

   

Verizon Pennsylvania LLC

   

6.000%, 12/01/28

    260,000      $ 290,747   

8.750%, 08/15/31

    1,300,000        1,891,951   

Vodafone Group plc

   

1.500%, 02/19/18

    300,000        294,621   

6.150%, 02/27/37 (e)

    500,000        603,314   
   

 

 

 
      37,007,398   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.3%

   

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC

   

3.000%, 03/15/23

    240,000        239,236   

3.050%, 09/01/22

    300,000        301,905   

3.850%, 09/01/23

    700,000        738,370   

7.950%, 08/15/30

    1,185,000        1,706,120   

Burlington Northern, Inc.

   

8.750%, 02/25/22

    812,000        1,083,098   

Canadian Pacific Railway Co.

   

6.500%, 05/15/18

    680,000        779,061   

7.125%, 10/15/31

    872,000        1,199,270   

CSX Corp.

   

6.000%, 10/01/36

    300,000        377,174   

7.900%, 05/01/17

    1,000,000        1,141,543   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

   

3.850%, 01/15/24

    1,079,000        1,134,520   

Ryder System, Inc.

   

2.450%, 09/03/19

    555,000        551,090   

3.500%, 06/01/17

    485,000        505,103   

Union Pacific Corp.

   

3.750%, 03/15/24 (e)

    650,000        695,152   
   

 

 

 
      10,451,642   
   

 

 

 

Trucking & Leasing—0.0%

   

Penske Truck Leasing Co. L.P. / PTL Finance Corp.

   

2.500%, 06/15/19 (144A)

    175,000        173,933   

2.875%, 07/17/18 (144A)

    80,000        81,345   

4.250%, 01/17/23 (144A)

    718,000        745,270   
   

 

 

 
      1,000,548   
   

 

 

 

Water—0.0%

   

American Water Capital Corp.

   

3.400%, 03/01/25

    319,000        321,032   

3.850%, 03/01/24

    1,130,000        1,189,746   
   

 

 

 
      1,510,778   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $614,637,927)

      611,164,943   
   

 

 

 
Asset-Backed Securities—8.3%           

Asset-Backed - Automobile—3.1%

  

 

Ally Auto Receivables Trust

   

0.630%, 05/15/17

    1,030,125        1,030,317   

0.720%, 05/20/16

    1,472,660        1,473,155   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—(Continued)

  

 

Ally Auto Receivables Trust

   

0.790%, 01/15/18

    1,435,000      1,433,776   

1.030%, 09/20/17

    660,000        658,446   

1.240%, 11/15/18

    405,000        403,652   

American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust

   

0.990%, 10/10/17 (144A)

    2,812,212        2,810,018   

1.140%, 03/12/18 (144A)

    183,038        183,088   

1.320%, 02/15/17 (144A)

    349,927        350,168   

1.450%, 04/16/18 (144A)

    639,468        640,018   

2.260%, 03/10/20 (144A)

    1,182,000        1,180,858   

AmeriCredit Automobile Receivables Trust

   

0.610%, 10/10/17

    146,852        146,875   

0.740%, 11/08/16

    1,644,284        1,644,687   

0.900%, 09/10/18

    393,220        393,087   

BMW Vehicle Lease Trust

   

0.540%, 09/21/15

    187,707        187,737   

BMW Vehicle Owner Trust

   

0.670%, 11/27/17

    678,000        677,955   

Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust

   

0.596%, 11/20/15 (a)

    757,413        757,470   

0.620%, 07/20/16

    338,807        338,856   

Carfinance Capital Auto Trust

   

1.440%, 11/16/20 (144A)

    3,506,167        3,503,253   

1.460%, 12/17/18 (144A)

    848,551        849,709   

1.650%, 07/17/17 (144A)

    302,052        302,380   

1.750%, 11/15/17 (144A)

    289,416        290,208   

2.720%, 04/15/20 (144A)

    375,000        378,250   

2.750%, 11/15/18 (144A)

    667,000        675,017   

CarMax Auto Owner Trust

   

0.600%, 10/16/17

    401,938        401,735   

0.800%, 07/16/18

    615,000        614,293   

0.980%, 01/15/19

    5,472,000        5,455,381   

1.280%, 05/15/19

    275,000        273,324   

CarNow Auto Receivables Trust

   

0.960%, 01/17/17 (144A)

    1,378,779        1,377,259   

1.160%, 10/16/17 (144A)

    115,037        115,043   

1.890%, 11/15/18 (144A)

    1,000,000        997,167   

1.970%, 11/15/17 (144A)

    668,000        667,785   

CPS Auto Receivables Trust

   

1.110%, 11/15/18 (144A)

    4,366,485        4,345,828   

1.210%, 08/15/18 (144A)

    689,556        687,725   

1.310%, 02/15/19 (144A)

    3,570,445        3,559,123   

1.310%, 06/15/20 (144A)

    868,490        864,228   

1.490%, 04/15/19 (144A)

    1,650,000        1,645,908   

1.540%, 07/16/18 (144A)

    1,978,838        1,980,554   

1.640%, 04/16/18 (144A)

    1,517,016        1,518,369   

1.820%, 09/15/20 (144A)

    1,285,983        1,283,628   

3.770%, 08/17/20 (144A)

    558,000        557,520   

4.350%, 11/16/20 (144A)

    450,000        448,954   

DT Auto Owner Trust

   

0.980%, 04/16/18 (144A)

    1,823,000        1,821,897   

1.780%, 06/15/17 (144A)

    1,625,000        1,630,002   

Exeter Automobile Receivables Trust

   

1.060%, 08/15/18 (144A)

    1,371,955        1,369,782   

1.290%, 10/16/17 (144A)

    1,734,990        1,738,067   

1.290%, 05/15/18 (144A)

    986,946        987,745   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Automobile—(Continued)

  

 

Exeter Automobile Receivables Trust

   

1.320%, 01/15/19 (144A)

    3,278,772      $ 3,278,201   

1.490%, 11/15/17 (144A)

    907,522        908,627   

2.770%, 11/15/19 (144A)

    556,000        554,635   

3.260%, 12/16/19 (144A)

    335,000        327,780   

Fifth Third Auto Trust

   

0.450%, 01/15/16

    95,645        95,642   

0.570%, 05/15/17

    400,000        399,629   

0.880%, 10/16/17

    1,745,000        1,747,612   

First Investors Auto Owner Trust

   

0.900%, 10/15/18 (144A)

    164,547        164,515   

1.060%, 11/15/18 (144A)

    677,000        676,423   

1.670%, 11/16/20 (144A)

    276,000        275,173   

Flagship Credit Auto Trust

   

1.210%, 04/15/19 (144A)

    1,134,173        1,131,291   

1.320%, 04/16/18 (144A)

    1,398,985        1,400,141   

1.430%, 12/16/19 (144A)

    1,896,632        1,894,255   

1.940%, 01/15/19 (144A)

    1,386,485        1,395,348   

2.550%, 02/18/20 (144A)

    245,000        244,507   

2.840%, 11/16/20 (144A)

    892,000        890,422   

3.950%, 12/15/20 (144A)

    440,000        440,277   

Ford Credit Auto Lease Trust

   

0.500%, 10/15/16

    345,487        345,275   

0.760%, 09/15/16

    1,007,000        1,007,635   

0.890%, 09/15/17

    1,391,000        1,388,982   

0.960%, 10/15/16

    500,000        500,738   

1.100%, 11/15/17

    484,000        484,877   

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust

   

0.900%, 10/15/18

    890,000        889,320   

Harley Davidson Motorcycle Trust

   

0.650%, 07/16/18

    1,248,830        1,248,870   

Honda Auto Receivables Owner Trust

   

0.370%, 10/16/15

    10,469        10,468   

0.530%, 02/16/17

    1,404,000        1,403,973   

0.690%, 09/18/17

    1,527,000        1,525,852   

0.770%, 03/19/18

    2,171,000        2,166,211   

1.040%, 02/18/20

    700,000        700,292   

Hyundai Auto Receivables Trust

   

0.560%, 07/17/17

    341,644        341,772   

0.750%, 09/17/18

    600,000        598,990   

0.900%, 12/17/18

    5,612,000        5,596,909   

Nissan Auto Lease Trust

   

0.750%, 06/15/16

    508,784        509,182   

0.800%, 02/15/17

    582,000        581,611   

Nissan Auto Receivables Owner Trust

   

0.420%, 11/15/16

    618,025        617,583   

1.110%, 05/15/19

    400,000        399,008   

Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust

   

3.010%, 04/16/18

    2,000,000        2,028,634   

SNAAC Auto Receivables Trust

   

1.030%, 09/17/18 (144A)

    593,436        593,251   

1.140%, 07/16/18 (144A)

    156,124        156,264   

Tidewater Auto Receivables Trust

   

1.400%, 07/15/18 (144A)

    2,047,000        2,042,339   

1.850%, 12/15/18 (144A)

    2,406,000        2,401,809   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—(Continued)

  

 

Toyota Auto Receivables Owner Trust

   

0.550%, 01/17/17

    683,454      683,830   

USAA Auto Owner Trust

   

0.380%, 10/17/16

    424,316        424,215   

World Omni Auto Receivables Trust

   

0.830%, 08/15/18

    873,000        872,437   

1.320%, 01/15/20

    476,000        474,653   
   

 

 

 
      100,469,755   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Credit Card—0.0%

  

 

Discover Card Execution Note Trust

   

1.040%, 04/15/19

    1,080,000        1,078,936   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Home Equity—0.0%

  

 

Asset Backed Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust

   

0.920%, 02/25/35 (a)

    530,000        518,102   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Other—5.1%

   

American Homes 4 Rent Trust

   

4.290%, 10/17/36 (144A)

    300,000        306,628   

Axis Equipment Finance Receivables II LLC

   

1.750%, 03/20/17 (144A)

    966,558        966,286   

Carlyle Global Market Strategies Commodities Funding, Ltd.

   

2.131%, 10/15/21 (144A) (a) (g)

    2,686,667        2,661,681   

Conix Mortgage Asset Trust

   

4.704%, 12/25/47 (144A) (a) (c) (g)

    1,078,519        571,615   

Ford Credit Floorplan Master Owner Trust

   

0.541%, 01/15/18 (a)

    725,000        725,267   

Fortress Opportunities Residential Transaction Trust

   

3.960%, 10/25/33 (144A) (g)

    98,965        99,039   

4.210%, 10/25/18 (144A) (g)

    51,425        51,396   

GCAT Trust

   

3.228%, 07/25/19 (144A) (a)

    2,766,578        2,775,404   

GLC II Trust

   

4.000%, 12/18/20 (144A)

    4,500,000        4,491,450   

GLC Trust

   

3.000%, 07/15/21 (144A)

    3,702,910        3,685,136   

GMAT Trust

   

3.721%, 02/25/44 (144A)

    498,214        498,390   

3.967%, 11/25/43 (144A)

    1,314,918        1,324,217   

Gold Key Resorts LLC

   

3.220%, 03/17/31 (144A)

    1,282,208        1,282,345   

HLSS Servicer Advance Receivables Backed Notes

   

1.147%, 05/16/44 (144A)

    4,495,000        4,490,505   

1.843%, 05/16/44 (144A)

    2,000,000        1,999,000   

1.981%, 11/15/46 (144A)

    1,783,000        1,765,527   

HLSS Servicer Advance Receivables Trust

   

1.244%, 01/17/45 (144A)

    2,897,000        2,897,000   

1.495%, 01/16/46 (144A)

    748,000        747,402   

1.744%, 01/16/46 (144A)

    174,000        174,035   

2.217%, 01/15/47 (144A)

    1,385,000        1,383,199   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

   

John Deere Owner Trust

   

0.600%, 03/15/17

    1,802,586      $ 1,804,771   

LV Tower 52 Issuer LLC

   

5.500%, 06/15/18 (144A) (g)

    1,752,106        1,752,901   

7.500%, 06/15/18 (144A) (g)

    695,316        695,316   

Nationstar Agency Advance Funding Trust

   

0.997%, 02/15/45 (144A)

    1,253,000        1,252,549   

1.892%, 02/18/48 (144A)

    115,000        112,492   

Navitas Equipment Receivables LLC

   

1.950%, 11/15/16 (144A)

    476,629        476,899   

Normandy Mortgage Loan Co. LLC

   

4.949%, 09/16/43 (144A)

    5,300,670        5,292,719   

NYMT Residential LLC

   

4.850%, 09/25/18 (144A) (g)

    2,353,602        2,353,602   

Oak Hill Advisors Residential Loan Trust

   

3.475%, 04/25/54 (144A)

    3,694,719        3,694,538   

4.000%, 04/25/54 (144A)

    857,000        829,783   

OnDeck Asset Securitization Trust

   

3.150%, 05/17/18 (144A)

    2,602,000        2,594,852   

OneMain Financial Issuance Trust

   

2.430%, 06/18/24 (144A)

    2,744,000        2,743,945   

2.470%, 09/18/24 (144A)

    5,049,000        5,068,792   

3.020%, 09/18/24 (144A)

    1,864,000        1,865,156   

3.240%, 06/18/24 (144A)

    321,000        324,017   

PFS Tax Lien Trust

   

1.440%, 05/15/29 (144A)

    784,961        785,374   

Progreso Receivables Funding I LLC

   

4.000%, 07/09/18 (144A)

    2,650,000        2,654,770   

Progreso Receivables Funding II LLC

   

3.500%, 07/08/19 (144A)

    3,500,000        3,470,950   

RBSHD Trust

   

4.685%, 10/25/47 (144A) (g)

    2,479,190        2,486,350   

Real Estate Asset Trust

   

3.230%, 05/25/52 (144A) (a) (g)

    1,371,612        1,368,183   

Selene Non-Performing Loans LLC

   

2.981%, 05/25/54 (144A)

    1,409,465        1,397,091   

SpringCastle America Funding LLC

   

2.700%, 05/25/23 (144A)

    9,078,899        9,064,436   

4.610%, 10/25/27 (144A)

    1,750,000        1,763,716   

Springleaf Funding Trust

   

2.410%, 12/15/22 (144A)

    5,066,000        5,061,805   

2.580%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    7,150,000        7,170,585   

3.450%, 12/15/22 (144A)

    496,000        496,245   

3.920%, 01/16/23 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,526,500   

4.820%, 01/16/23 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,008,800   

Stanwich Mortgage Loan Co. LLC

   

3.228%, 04/16/59 (144A)

    1,916,267        1,892,314   

Stanwich Mortgage Loan Trust

   

2.981%, 02/16/43 (144A)

    188,851        187,907   

Sunset Mortgage Loan Co. LLC

   

3.721%, 11/16/44 (144A)

    4,909,119        4,909,119   

Trafigura Securitisation Finance plc

   

1.111%, 10/15/21 (144A) (a)

    3,188,000        3,175,567   

Truman Capital Mortgage Loan Trust

   

3.125%, 04/25/53 (144A)

    2,903,282        2,899,635   

3.125%, 06/25/54 (144A)

    3,145,967        3,142,110   

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

   

Truman Capital Mortgage Loan Trust

   

3.228%, 07/25/53 (144A)

    3,184,079      3,179,943   

4.000%, 06/25/54 (144A)

    877,000        858,044   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Transferee LLC

   

3.125%, 04/27/54 (144A)

    7,980,844        7,934,395   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust X LLC

   

3.375%, 10/25/54 (144A)

    1,832,798        1,828,955   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XIX LLC

   

3.875%, 04/26/55 (144A)

    3,636,000        3,617,820   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XV LLC

   

3.250%, 05/26/54 (144A)

    2,015,178        2,009,391   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XVI LLC

   

3.228%, 09/25/58 (144A)

    4,784,645        4,777,421   

4.000%, 09/25/58 (144A)

    748,680        735,834   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XXII LLC

   

3.625%, 10/27/53 (144A)

    1,454,696        1,455,717   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XXIII LLC

   

3.625%, 11/25/53 (144A)

    1,472,518        1,477,928   

4.750%, 11/25/53 (144A)

    597,525        598,292   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XXIV LLC

   

3.250%, 11/25/53 (144A)

    3,379,596        3,382,790   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XXVI LLC

   

3.125%, 09/25/43 (144A)

    5,015,446        5,008,114   

4.250%, 09/25/43 (144A)

    1,406,000        1,376,453   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XXVII LLC

   

3.125%, 08/27/57 (144A)

    4,598,157        4,591,738   

Westgate Resorts LLC

   

2.250%, 08/20/25 (144A)

    1,072,052        1,073,725   
   

 

 

 
      164,125,871   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Student Loan—0.1%

   

Academic Loan Funding Trust

   

0.969%, 12/26/44 (144A) (a)

    1,756,207        1,750,617   

0.970%, 12/27/22 (144A) (a)

    1,457,765        1,466,174   
   

 

 

 
      3,216,791   
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $270,066,673)

      269,409,455   
   

 

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities—6.7%           

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—2.9%

  

 

AJAX Mortgage Loan Trust

   

3.500%, 02/25/51 (144A) (a) (g)

    396,958        393,138   

3.750%, 03/25/52 (144A) (a) (g)

    2,030,591        2,027,694   

4.000%, 10/25/57 (144A)

    1,467,202        1,459,866   

4.500%, 03/25/35 (144A) (g)

    1,369,758        1,372,074   

American Tower Trust I

   

1.551%, 03/15/43 (144A)

    1,145,000        1,131,443   

3.070%, 03/15/48 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,491,195   

Banc of America Funding Trust

   

2.563%, 05/20/34 (a)

    2,155,056        2,185,007   

Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust

   

0.810%, 07/25/34 (a)

    3,657,694        3,505,703   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

 

CAM Mortgage Trust

   

2.600%, 05/15/48 (144A)

    900,622      $ 900,537   

3.500%, 11/25/57 (144A) (a) (g)

    1,867,855        1,868,559   

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust

   

0.835%, 08/25/34 (a)

    1,959,458        1,938,587   

FDIC Trust

   

4.500%, 10/25/18 (144A)

    274,577        276,709   

Global Mortgage Securitization, Ltd.

   

0.490%, 11/25/32 (144A) (a)

    1,747,247        1,692,464   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust

   

5.307%, 08/10/44 (144A) (a)

    500,000        527,217   

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust

   

2.582%, 05/19/34 (a)

    2,097,748        2,090,519   

Homeowner Assistance Program Reverse Mortgage Loan Trust

   

4.000%, 05/26/53 (144A) (g)

    3,600,216        3,515,971   

Impac CMB Trust

   

0.910%, 11/25/34 (a)

    5,055,932        4,798,110   

JP Morgan Mortgage Trust

   

2.503%, 08/25/34 (a)

    453,066        454,207   

MASTR Asset Securitization Trust

   

5.500%, 12/25/33

    1,308,200        1,387,373   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust

   

0.630%, 04/25/29 (a)

    1,121,370        1,068,471   

0.670%, 05/25/29 (a)

    2,334,858        2,226,339   

0.790%, 10/25/28 (a)

    1,233,025        1,214,035   

0.810%, 10/25/28 (a)

    2,151,285        2,136,286   

1.007%, 01/25/29 (a)

    1,469,589        1,370,616   

Sequoia Mortgage Trust

   

0.466%, 12/20/34 (a)

    2,887,941        2,753,958   

0.506%, 10/20/34 (a)

    2,983,103        2,843,020   

0.806%, 01/20/34 (a)

    1,450,446        1,382,397   

0.826%, 07/20/33 (a)

    1,772,210        1,734,583   

0.926%, 04/20/33 (a)

    1,624,185        1,619,593   

Springleaf Mortgage Loan Trust

   

1.270%, 06/25/58 (144A) (a)

    2,080,891        2,073,753   

1.780%, 12/25/65 (144A) (a)

    4,390,288        4,382,596   

1.870%, 09/25/57 (144A) (a)

    1,491,408        1,487,517   

2.310%, 06/25/58 (144A) (a)

    1,240,000        1,215,124   

3.140%, 06/25/58 (144A) (a)

    792,000        793,478   

3.520%, 12/25/65 (144A) (a)

    2,177,000        2,221,067   

3.790%, 09/25/57 (144A) (a)

    1,274,000        1,283,005   

3.790%, 06/25/58 (144A) (a)

    603,000        607,505   

4.480%, 12/25/65 (144A) (a)

    3,000,000        3,088,446   

6.000%, 10/25/57 (144A) (a)

    350,000        363,789   

Station Place Securitization Trust

   

1.870%, 02/25/15

    1,000,000        1,000,000   

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust

   

2.390%, 06/25/34 (a)

    1,318,809        1,326,423   

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust

   

0.864%, 01/19/34 (a)

    2,455,169        2,379,965   

0.864%, 03/19/34 (a)

    2,619,286        2,563,047   

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments Trust

   

1.064%, 05/19/33 (a)

    2,526,020        2,466,934   

Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Loan Trust

   

0.770%, 10/25/27 (a)

    637,608        623,217   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

 

Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates

   

2.477%, 11/25/33 (a)

    1,558,238      1,536,677   

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust

   

0.810%, 09/25/43 (a)

    1,377,249        1,315,564   

1.972%, 12/25/44 (a)

    2,139,921        2,127,060   

2.246%, 04/25/45 (a)

    4,830,392        4,851,602   

VML LLC

   

3.875%, 04/25/54 (144A) (a)

    1,009,419        1,004,372   

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust

   

2.619%, 03/25/35 (a)

    3,119,453        3,142,737   

Wells Fargo Mortgage Loan Trust

   

2.847%, 08/27/37 (144A) (a)

    1,227,447        1,209,035   
   

 

 

 
      94,428,584   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—3.8%

  

A10 Securitization LLC

   

2.400%, 11/15/25 (144A)

    697,836        699,757   

A10 Term Asset Financing LLC

   

1.720%, 04/15/33 (144A)

    1,719,000        1,716,552   

2.620%, 11/15/27 (144A)

    2,767,284        2,779,499   

3.020%, 04/15/33 (144A)

    1,807,000        1,810,068   

4.380%, 11/15/27 (144A)

    425,000        432,352   

ACRE Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

2.212%, 08/15/31 (144A) (a)

    447,500        444,921   

2.662%, 08/15/31 (144A) (a)

    597,500        595,439   

3.562%, 08/15/31 (144A) (a)

    350,000        348,762   

BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust

   

4.214%, 08/15/46 (144A) (a)

    1,200,000        1,205,086   

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

5.492%, 02/10/51

    2,250,000        2,401,423   

5.622%, 04/10/49 (a)

    1,000,000        1,080,504   

5.889%, 07/10/44 (a)

    1,553,969        1,635,538   

Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage, Inc.

   

5.115%, 10/10/45 (a)

    5,183,991        5,271,429   

BB-UBS Trust

   

2.892%, 06/05/30 (144A)

    1,250,000        1,223,850   

3.430%, 11/05/36 (144A)

    2,950,000        3,001,584   

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust

   

0.823%, 06/11/50 (144A) (a)

    1,500,000        1,468,128   

4.674%, 06/11/41

    3,035,413        3,049,358   

CGBAM Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

0.961%, 02/15/31 (144A) (a)

    1,300,000        1,293,421   

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

2.110%, 01/12/30 (144A)

    560,296        566,222   

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates

   

0.219%, 07/10/45 (144A) (a) (b)

    120,000,000        1,977,060   

0.961%, 08/13/27 (144A) (a)

    990,000        987,477   

1.004%, 02/13/32 (144A) (a)

    2,605,000        2,595,622   

1.059%, 06/11/27 (144A) (a)

    4,937,000        4,928,903   

1.754%, 02/13/32 (144A) (a)

    1,000,000        997,824   

2.365%, 02/10/29 (144A)

    2,789,132        2,843,146   

3.612%, 06/10/46 (a)

    2,934,000        3,073,805   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

  

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates

   

3.796%, 08/10/47

    3,500,000      $ 3,694,733   

3.977%, 05/10/47

    3,000,000        3,218,229   

4.353%, 08/10/30 (144A)

    3,000,000        3,284,304   

5.116%, 06/10/44 (a)

    975,697        986,100   

Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

2.987%, 04/12/35 (144A)

    1,871,000        1,873,535   

COOF Securitization Trust, Ltd.

   

3.023%, 06/15/40 (144A) (a) (b)

    3,370,125        476,536   

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.

   

5.100%, 08/15/38 (a)

    1,421,469        1,440,338   

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates

   

0.955%, 04/15/27 (144A) (a)

    3,363,000        3,357,105   

DBRR Trust

   

0.853%, 02/25/45 (144A) (a)

    436,286        435,667   

1.636%, 12/18/49 (144A) (a)

    2,506,095        2,519,017   

GE Capital Commercial Mortgage Corp.

   

4.974%, 07/10/45 (a)

    3,015,000        3,047,468   

GE Capital Commercial Mortgage Corp. Trust

   

5.274%, 03/10/44 (a)

    1,201,532        1,231,225   

GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II

   

2.318%, 01/10/30 (144A)

    733,000        741,704   

2.706%, 12/10/27 (144A)

    287,533        290,654   

GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust

   

3.551%, 04/10/34 (144A)

    3,500,000        3,646,853   

Hilton Mortgage Trust

   

1.061%, 07/15/29 (144A) (a)

    570,000        567,741   

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust

   

0.941%, 04/15/30 (144A) (a)

    2,600,000        2,597,767   

5.236%, 12/15/44 (a)

    916,599        931,947   

5.716%, 02/15/51

    2,987,612        3,213,129   

KGS-Alpha SBA COOF Trust

   

0.598%, 05/25/39 (144A) (a) (b)

    11,190,624        258,783   

0.859%, 08/25/38

    14,386,041        537,229   

0.963%, 03/25/39

    9,762,687        559,829   

3.125%, 04/25/40 (144A) (a) (b)

    2,753,387        406,125   

Ladder Capital Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

3.985%, 02/15/36 (144A)

    768,000        804,709   

LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

5.430%, 02/15/40

    1,226,242        1,311,855   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust

   

5.288%, 11/12/37 (a)

    1,588,454        1,618,607   

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust

   

3.669%, 02/15/47

    3,000,000        3,144,030   

Morgan Stanley Re-REMIC Trust

   

0.250%, 07/27/49 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,296,900   

2.000%, 07/27/49 (144A)

    1,302,921        1,306,179   

N-Star Real Estate CDO, Ltd.

   

2.020%, 08/25/29 (144A) (a)

    2,871,655        2,868,209   

5.170%, 08/25/29 (144A) (a)

    880,000        880,176   

NCUA Guaranteed Notes Trust

   

2.650%, 10/29/20

    3,379,661        3,456,173   

2.900%, 10/29/20

    5,000,000        5,134,015   

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

  

ORES NPL LLC

   

3.081%, 09/25/25 (144A)

    1,431,622      1,431,622   

RAIT Trust

   

1.411%, 12/15/31 (144A) (a)

    1,669,000        1,669,289   

1.961%, 12/15/31 (144A) (a)

    1,500,000        1,499,922   

RBS Commercial Funding, Inc. Trust

   

3.260%, 03/11/31 (144A)

    531,000        539,087   

UBS-BAMLL Trust

   

3.663%, 06/10/30 (144A)

    578,000        592,883   

UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

3.244%, 04/10/46

    2,228,000        2,271,967   

VNDO Mortgage Trust

   

2.996%, 11/15/30 (144A)

    1,400,000        1,401,375   

VNO Mortgage Trust

   

3.808%, 12/13/29 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,645,362   

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

5.118%, 07/15/42 (a)

    1,683,749        1,697,740   

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

2.710%, 03/18/28 (144A) (a)

    1,000,000        1,001,491   

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

4.182%, 03/15/45 (144A) (a)

    300,000        286,057   
   

 

 

 
      124,601,396   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $218,561,195)

      219,029,980   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—0.9%                

Provincial—0.0%

   

Province of Ontario

   

1.650%, 09/27/19

    1,000,000        988,490   

Province of Quebec Canada

   

7.125%, 02/09/24

    200,000        265,578   
   

 

 

 
      1,254,068   
   

 

 

 

Sovereign—0.9%

   

Brazilian Government International Bonds

   

4.250%, 01/07/25

    601,000        601,000   

5.000%, 01/27/45

    408,000        399,840   

Colombia Government International Bonds

   

4.000%, 02/26/24

    423,000        432,518   

5.625%, 02/26/44

    200,000        225,000   

Israel Government AID Bonds

   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/20

    1,500,000        1,326,949   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/22

    3,000,000        2,524,527   

Zero Coupon, 11/01/22

    8,000,000        6,568,608   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/24

    5,000,000        3,914,490   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/25

    2,000,000        1,506,958   

Zero Coupon, 08/15/25

    2,500,000        1,852,395   

Mexico Government International Bonds

   

3.500%, 01/21/21

    2,948,000        3,009,908   

3.600%, 01/30/25

    537,000        535,121   

4.000%, 10/02/23

    1,374,000        1,425,525   

5.550%, 01/21/45

    737,000        856,762   

5.750%, 10/12/10

    500,000        537,500   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Sovereign—(Continued)

   

Panama Government International Bond

   

4.000%, 09/22/24

    323,000      $ 331,883   

Poland Government International Bond

   

4.000%, 01/22/24 (e)

    930,000        986,962   

South Africa Government International Bonds

   

5.375%, 07/24/44

    1,077,000        1,137,581   

5.875%, 09/16/25

    384,000        432,480   

Turkey Government International Bonds

   

5.750%, 03/22/24

    500,000        558,750   

6.625%, 02/17/45 (e)

    214,000        262,632   
   

 

 

 
      29,427,389   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $30,352,688)

      30,681,457   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—7.5%           

Mutual Fund—5.2%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (h)

    168,709,056        168,709,056   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—2.3%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $76,552,371 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $75,250,000 U.S. Government Agency obligations with rates ranging from 1.750% - 5.250%, maturity dates ranging from 03/15/16 - 05/31/16 with a value of $78,088,342.

    76,552,371        76,552,371   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $245,261,427)

      245,261,427   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—104.6%
(Cost $3,405,568,365) (i)

      3,410,040,139   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(4.6)%

      (150,572,764
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 3,259,467,375   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(b) Interest only security.
(c) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.1% of net assets.
(d) Principal only security.
(e) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $166,320,710 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $168,709,056 and non-cash collateral with a value of $1,905,750. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(f) Security is a “step-down” bond where the coupon decreases or steps down at a predetermined date. Rate shown is current coupon rate.
(g) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $21,217,519, which is 0.7% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
(h) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(i) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $3,426,643,397. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $33,700,960 and $(50,304,218), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(16,603,258) for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $424,837,509, which is 13.0% of net assets.
(ACES)— Alternative Credit Enhancement Securities.
(ARM)— Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
(CDO)— Collateralized Debt Obligation
(CMO)— Collateralized Mortgage Obligation
(REMIC)— Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

AJAX Mortgage Loan Trust

     01/28/13       $ 2,030,591       $ 2,024,084       $ 2,027,694   

AJAX Mortgage Loan Trust

     03/20/13         1,369,758         1,364,209         1,372,074   

AJAX Mortgage Loan Trust

     11/15/13         396,958         394,312         393,138   

CAM Mortgage Trust

     10/02/14         1,867,855         1,867,855         1,868,559   

Carlyle Global Market Strategies Commodities Funding, Ltd.

     05/22/14         2,686,667         2,686,667         2,661,681   

Conix Mortgage Asset Trust

     05/16/13         1,078,519         1,078,519         571,615   

Fortress Opportunities Residential Transaction Trust

     11/08/13         98,965         98,955         99,039   

Fortress Opportunities Residential Transaction Trust

     11/08/13         51,425         51,422         51,396   

Homeowner Assistance Program Reverse Mortgage Loan Trust

     05/03/13         3,600,216         3,549,073         3,515,971   

LV Tower 52 Issuer LLC

     06/19/13         1,752,106         1,752,106         1,752,901   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Restricted Securities—(Continued)

   Acquisition
Date
     Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

LV Tower 52 Issuer LLC

     10/08/13       $ 695,316       $ 694,594       $ 695,316   

NYMT Residential LLC

     09/18/13         2,353,602         2,353,602         2,353,602   

RBSHD Trust

     09/27/13         2,479,190         2,479,190         2,486,350   

Real Estate Asset Trust

     04/01/13         1,371,612         1,370,755         1,368,183   
           

 

 

 
            $ 21,217,519   
           

 

 

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies           

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed

   $ —         $ 1,141,139,611      $ 3,003,984       $ 1,144,143,595   

Federal Agencies

     —           46,501,012        —           46,501,012   

U.S. Treasury

     —           843,848,270        —           843,848,270   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies

     —           2,031,488,893        3,003,984         2,034,492,877   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

     —           611,164,943        —           611,164,943   
Asset-Backed Securities           

Asset-Backed - Automobile

     —           100,469,755        —           100,469,755   

Asset-Backed - Credit Card

     —           1,078,936        —           1,078,936   

Asset-Backed - Home Equity

     —           518,102        —           518,102   

Asset-Backed - Other

     —           163,554,256        571,615         164,125,871   

Asset-Backed - Student Loan

     —           3,216,791        —           3,216,791   

Total Asset-Backed Securities

     —           268,837,840        571,615         269,409,455   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —           219,029,980        —           219,029,980   

Total Foreign Government*

     —           30,681,457        —           30,681,457   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     168,709,056         —          —           168,709,056   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           76,552,371        —           76,552,371   

Total Short-Term Investments

     168,709,056         76,552,371        —           245,261,427   

Total Investments

   $ 168,709,056       $ 3,237,755,484      $ 3,575,599       $ 3,410,040,139   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (168,709,056   $ —         $ (168,709,056

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

  Balance as of
December 31,
2013
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
    Net
Purchases
    Net
Sales
    Transfers
in to
Level 3
    Balance
as of
December 31,
2014
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
from Investments
Still Held at
December 31,
2014
 
Asset-Backed Securities              

Asset-Backed - Other

  $      $ (488,584   $      $ (444,218 )(a)    $ 1,504,417      $ 571,615      $ (488,584
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies              

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed

                  3,003,984                      3,003,984          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $      $ (488,584   $ 3,003,984      $ (444,218   $ 1,504,417      $ 3,575,599      $ (488,584
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Asset-backed securities in the amount of $1,504,417 were transferred into Level 3 due to the lack of a vendor or broker providing quotations based on market activity which resulted in the lack of observable inputs.

 

(a) Sales include principal reductions

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 3,410,040,139   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     9,961,127   

Fund shares sold

     599,425   

Principal paydowns

     83,654   

Interest

     14,666,024   

Prepaid expenses

     8,080   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     3,435,358,449   

Liabilities

  

Due to custodian

     386,641   

Collateral for securities loaned

     168,709,056   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     4,909,858   

Fund shares redeemed

     337,400   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,161,532   

Distribution and service fees

     104,025   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     215,138   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     175,891,074   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,259,467,375   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 3,212,560,774   

Undistributed net investment income

     70,454,937   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (28,020,110

Unrealized appreciation on investments

     4,471,774   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,259,467,375   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 2,766,754,905   

Class B

     492,712,470   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     264,372,333   

Class B

     47,171,122   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 10.47   

Class B

     10.45   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $3,405,568,365.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $166,320,710.

 

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Interest

   $ 66,732,335   

Securities lending income

     27,164   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     66,759,499   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     16,211,907   

Administration fees

     68,190   

Custodian and accounting fees

     312,730   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,145,917   

Audit and tax services

     67,884   

Legal

     43,141   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     152,037   

Insurance

     17,448   

Miscellaneous

     14,071   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     18,077,085   

Less management fee waiver

     (3,831,905
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     14,245,180   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     52,514,319   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  

Net realized gain on investments

     161,158   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     95,676,838   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     95,837,996   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 148,352,315   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 52,514,319      $ 27,756,572   

Net realized gain

     161,158        17,340,160   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     95,676,838        (113,960,132
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     148,352,315        (68,863,400
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (34,600,639     (9,092,406

Class B

     (6,562,590     (1,276,261

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (11,149,095     (7,273,925

Class B

     (2,487,779     (2,005,553
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (54,800,103     (19,648,145
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     783,721,196        1,989,814,811   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     877,273,408        1,901,303,266   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     2,382,193,967        480,890,701   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 3,259,467,375      $ 2,382,193,967   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 70,454,937      $ 40,864,746   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A (a)

        

Sales

     77,503,411      $ 788,741,187        191,161,299      $ 2,013,338,110   

Reinvestments

     4,494,080        45,749,734        1,551,311        16,366,331   

Redemptions

     (8,713,611     (90,368,321     (1,624,157     (16,628,530
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     73,283,880      $ 744,122,600        191,088,453      $ 2,013,075,911   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B (b)

        

Sales

     8,635,708      $ 89,182,373        5,575,652      $ 57,544,307   

Shares converted from Class C

     0        0        45,595,758        479,416,762   

Reinvestments

     889,908        9,050,369        311,073        3,281,814   

Redemptions

     (5,683,580     (58,634,146     (8,153,397     (83,938,129
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     3,842,036      $ 39,598,596        43,329,086      $ 456,304,754   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class C (b)

        

Sales

     0      $ 0        44,995      $ 473,335   

Shares converted into Class B

     0        0        (45,595,758     (479,416,762

Redemptions

     0        0        (59,186     (622,427
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     0      $ 0        (45,609,949   $ (479,565,854
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 783,721,196        $ 1,989,814,811   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was February 28, 2013.
(b) On January 7, 2013, Class C shares were converted into Class B shares.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data  
     Class A  
     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014      2013(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.17       $ 10.56   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

     

Net investment income (b)

     0.19         0.12   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.35         (0.41
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.54         (0.29
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

     

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.18      (0.06

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.06      (0.04
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.24      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.47       $ 10.17   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     5.36         (2.70 )(d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

     

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.57         0.57  (e) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (f)

     0.44         0.44  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.82         1.62  (e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     10         68   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 2,766.8       $ 1,942.6   

 

     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013(g)      2012      2011     2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.15       $ 10.54       $ 10.36       $ 10.01      $ 9.62   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (b)

     0.16         0.12         0.22         0.29        0.33   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.35         (0.44      0.28         0.28        0.25   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.51         (0.32      0.50         0.57        0.58   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.15      (0.03      (0.27      (0.22     (0.19

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.06      (0.04      (0.05      (0.00 )(h)      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.21      (0.07      (0.32      (0.22     (0.19
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.45       $ 10.15       $ 10.54       $ 10.36      $ 10.01   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     5.09         (3.04      4.92         5.79        6.10   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.82         0.82         0.59         0.59        0.65   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (f)

     0.69         0.69         0.59         0.59        0.65   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.58         1.21         2.09         2.81        3.34   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     10         68         11         8        2   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 492.7       $ 439.6       $ 480.9       $ 472.1      $ 373.7   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was February 28, 2013.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(g) On January 7, 2013, Class C shares were converted into Class B shares. The financial information of Class B includes the financial information of Class C prior to the conversion.
(h) Distributions from net realized capital gains were less than $0.01.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to paydown transactions, distribution re-designations and premium amortization adjustments.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $76,552,371, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls - The Portfolio may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Portfolio sells to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon, and maturity) securities on a specified future date. For the duration of the transaction, or roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal (including prepayments of principal) and interest paid on the securities sold. Dollar rolls are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions; gain or loss is recognized at the commencement of the term of the dollar roll and each time the mortgage-backed security is rolled.

Treasury and mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Portfolio is required to repurchase or reacquire may be less than the agreed-upon repurchase price of those securities and that the investment performance of securities purchased with proceeds from these transactions does not exceed the income, capital appreciation, and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities transferred or sold, as applicable, as part of the treasury or mortgage dollar roll.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

TBA Purchase & Forward Sale Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into TBA commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA commitments are considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases prior to settlement date, which is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the Portfolio’s other assets. TBA forward sale commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities, according to the procedures described under “Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements”.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

Stripped Securities - The Portfolio may invest in “stripped securities,” a term used collectively for certain structured fixed income securities. Stripped securities can be principal only securities (“POs”), which are debt obligations that have been stripped of unmatured interest coupons or interest only securities (“IOs”), which are unmatured interest coupons that have been stripped from debt obligations. Stripped securities do not make periodic payments of interest prior to maturity. As is the case with all securities, the market value of stripped securities will fluctuate in response to changes in economic conditions, interest rates and the market’s perception of the securities. However, fluctuations in response to interest rates may be greater in stripped securities than for debt obligations of comparable maturities that currently pay interest. The amount of fluctuation increases with a longer period of maturity.

The yield to maturity on IOs is sensitive to the rate of principal repayments (including prepayments) on the related underlying debt obligation and principal payments may have a material effect on yield to maturity. If the underlying debt obligation experiences greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Portfolio may not fully recoup the initial investment in IOs.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

(income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements (“Master Forward Agreements”) govern the considerations and factors surrounding the settlement of certain forward settling transactions, such as To-Be-Announced securities and delayed-delivery or secured borrowings transactions by and between the Portfolio and select counterparties. The Master Forward Agreements maintain provisions for, among other things, initiation and confirmation, payment and transfer, events of default, termination, and maintenance of collateral.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$563,987,896    $ 551,799,485       $ 76,655,256       $ 212,974,985   

 

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$16,211,907      0.550   ALL

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.130%    ALL

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 to April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$41,432,122    $ 10,368,667       $ 13,367,981       $ 9,279,478       $ 54,800,103       $ 19,648,145   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Other
Accumulated
Capital Losses
    Total  
$70,522,362    $       $ (16,603,257   $ (6,945,080   $ 46,974,025   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards and the post-enactment accumulated short-term capital losses were $1,929,391 and the post-enactment accumulated long-term capital losses were $5,015,689.

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (“JPMorgan”) regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other information relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board noted that, prior to January 7, 2013, the Portfolio operated as a feeder fund, that JPMorgan assumed portfolio management responsibilities for the Portfolio on that date, and that performance prior to that date represents that of a different investment adviser (i.e., the investment adviser of the master fund in which the Portfolio invested). The Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance, investment strategy and prevailing market conditions, and the Board noted a recent trend toward improved performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio returned 6.98%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

2014 proved to be a good year for U.S. stocks (+13.7% S&P 500 Index), a reasonable year for investment grade credit (+7.5% Barclays Corporate Aggregate Bond Index), and—defying all expectations—a fantastic year for longer maturity Treasuries, for instance U.S. 30-year Index returned 25.9%. By contrast, commodities (-17.0% Bloomberg Commodity Index) and emerging market equities (-2.1% MSCI Emerging Market Index) ended the year with negative returns. The pattern of returns across asset classes over the year illustrates the impact that divergent global growth and central bank-led monetary policy has had on asset markets.

Despite volatility in the fourth quarter, U.S. equity markets fared well, underpinned by the continuing economic expansion. Economic data releases, such as gross domestic product (GDP) figures, employment, and vehicle sales exceeded expectations, confirming the strength of the U.S. economy. In Europe, mixed economic data and increasing deflationary fears worried investors and contributed to less favorable returns for developed international markets. Rising political tensions surrounding Greek elections and a possible exit from the Eurozone further fueled concerns. However, stronger rhetoric from the European Central Bank indicating a high probability of outright quantitative easing helped to calm investor’s concerns during the later part of the year. Japan set out a new round of economic reforms, which has consisted of a combination of monetary policy and economic stimulus. The Bank of Japan continued its efforts to stimulate the Japanese economy with October’s monetary easing announcement, while Prime Minister Abe decided to postpone the second consumption tax increase and endorsed the government’s strong commitment to reflationary policies.

Crude oil prices plummeted during the year due to excess supply and weaker global demand. Neither the U.S. nor the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) stated any explicit supply cuts that would impact this supply/demand dynamic. Other commodities, such as copper, experienced similar price pressures. Negative price pressures on commodities had negative implications for emerging market equity and debt returns.

Finally, the extreme increase in bond prices was only partly due to investors reallocating to fixed income after starting the year underweight the asset class. The continued demand for U.S. Treasuries also impacted prices positively. There are multiple reasons why the demand for fixed income remains strong: i) subdued inflation due to weakness in commodity markets and low wage pressure, ii) increase in demand for riskless assets due to regulation, iii) attractiveness of U.S. Treasury yields versus other developed markets such as German Bunds. Though the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) ended its quantitative easing program during the year, negative nominal yields in euro area bond markets are driving significant flows into U.S. fixed income, making up for any decreased demand due to the end of quantitative easing.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The foundation of the JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio is a diversified, growth-oriented asset allocation that reduces exposure to extreme market events, specifically those associated with significant sustained drawdowns. The Portfolio’s long-term Strategic Asset Allocation has exposure of 50% to global equities, 25% to investment grade fixed income, 20% to convertible debt securities, and 5% to commodities. The strategy seeks to generate consistent capital appreciation over time with better protection against volatility through asset allocation, both strategic and tactical, as well as through employing a de-risking framework, Systematic Exposure Management (“SEM”). SEM is a proprietary quantitative de-risking framework that aims to reduce the Portfolio’s exposure to asset classes exhibiting negative returns or elevated volatility. By systematically reducing exposure to assets that are likely to experience subpar returns, J.P. Morgan aims to deliver higher risk-adjusted returns and lower volatility relative to both the Dow Jones Global Moderate Index and a traditional portfolio invested 60% in equity and 40% in fixed income markets.

Portfolio allocations are not only adjusted based on SEM but also based on our tactical asset allocation views. These views are informed by quantitative and qualitative inputs and seek to improve upon the Strategic Asset Allocation. These tactical asset allocation views aim to enhance Portfolio returns. As a final element to the Portfolio’s construction, an extended duration exposure is achieved through a 10-year interest rate swap. This extended duration profile provides further balancing of Portfolio risk and additional diversification benefits.

The Portfolio began the year with SEM, the primary risk management model, suggesting de-risking in commodities as well as fixed income. In addition to this, the portfolio managers were expressing various tactical overweights and underweights. Allocations to cash, and U.S. and developed international equity were above their respective Strategic Asset Allocation. The overweight equity positions were driven by numerous positive economic data points towards the end of 2013, particularly coming out of the U.S. The Portfolio also held a tactical underweight to commodities in addition to the SEM de-risking of the asset class.

In the first quarter, momentum in commodities strengthened, and SEM fully re-risked the asset class as it experienced very strong absolute performance. The fixed income signal also strengthened as 10-year U.S. Treasury rates decreased, though it still ended the first quarter in slight de-risking mode. The emerging market equity signal was volatile over the quarter; SEM de-risked early in the quarter but

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

re-risked after momentum improved later in the quarter. Overall, SEM slightly detracted from performance, mostly due to the underweight to fixed income in January when U.S. Treasury rates decreased significantly. In addition to the SEM activity, the portfolio managers maintained tactical overweights to U.S. and developed international equities (“EAFE equities’) as well as an underweight to commodities.

Over the course of the second quarter, SEM fully re-risked fixed income, which was the only asset class in de-risking mode. Momentum in the asset class improved on the back of a decrease in the 10-year Treasury rate. Again, SEM slightly detracted from overall performance due to the underweight to fixed income for a portion of the quarter. Tactically, the Portfolio remained underweight commodities as well as overweight EAFE equities.

In the third quarter, SEM again de-risked the allocation to commodities. This was beneficial to performance as commodities performed negatively during the period. Tactically, the Portfolio remained overweight U.S. equities but moved more neutral on EAFE equities. The tactical underweight to commodities was also closed, but the allocation remained below its strategic weight due to the impacts of SEM.

Commodities remained de-risked throughout the fourth quarter. Additionally, EAFE equities and emerging market equities de-risked during the last week of the year. SEM was additive to performance due to the de-risking position in commodities as the asset class performed very negatively over the period. In addition to the impact of SEM, the Portfolio maintained its tactical overweight to U.S. equities.

The tactical overweight to U.S. equities throughout 2014 aided performance during the year. Additionally, the tactical underweight to commodities throughout the first half of the year also contributed to performance. On the other hand, the slight underweight to fixed income throughout the first half of the year detracted from performance. In addition, security selection decisions contributed to performance for the year.

Derivatives may be used in the Portfolio as a way to implement tactical decisions. Derivative usage is also permissible for purposes such as hedging, cash management, as a substitute for purchasing or selling securities, and to manage Portfolio characteristics. During 2014, the Portfolio utilized Equity Futures, Treasury Futures, and Commodity Futures for both hedging and investment purposes. The Portfolio also utilized Interest Rate Swaps and Currency Forwards solely for hedging purposes. All derivatives acted as the portfolio managers expected over the time period.

At the end of December, the Portfolio remained pro-risk with a tilt to domestic equities. The Portfolio also maintained an underweight to commodities, EAFE equities, and emerging market equities as these asset classes exhibited negative momentum. Other allocations were generally in line with the Portfolio’s Strategic Asset Allocation. The current allocation mirrors our pro-risk view of the global economy; but, at the same time, we are not bearish on bonds. We maintain the strategic weight to fixed income as a hedge to our risk asset exposure. This view is also supported by global disinflationary pressures and bond buying from Europe and Japan.

Michael Feser

Anne Lester

Jeffrey Geller

Nicole Goldberger

Grace Koo

Jonathan Cummings

Portfolio Managers

J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

 


A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio            

Class B

       6.98           8.92   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           9.30   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 4/23/2012. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Equity Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      8.7   
Consumer Discretionary      4.7   
Health Care      3.8   
Information Technology      3.6   
Consumer Staples      3.0   

Top Fixed Income Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes      24.1   
Cash & Cash Equivalents      21.9   
Convertible Bonds      17.5   
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      2.8   
Municipals      0.1   

Top Equity Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Wells Fargo & Co., Series L      0.7   
Novartis AG      0.6   
Roche Holding AG      0.6   
Royal Dutch Shell plc      0.5   
NextEra Energy, Inc.      0.5   

Top Fixed Income Issuers

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
U.S. Treasury Notes      2.7   
Anthem, Inc.      1.0   
Mylan, Inc.      0.9   
Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV      0.8   
Gilead Sciences, Inc.      0.8   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      1.00    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,002.50         $ 5.05   
   Hypothetical*      1.00    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.16         $ 5.09   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—30.9% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—0.7%

   

Airbus Group NV

    63,663      $ 3,161,964   

Honeywell International, Inc.

    19,055        1,903,976   

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

    4,481        565,547   

Precision Castparts Corp.

    1,039        250,274   

Thales S.A.

    40,561        2,188,510   

United Technologies Corp.

    22,548        2,593,020   
   

 

 

 
      10,663,291   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—0.2%

   

Deutsche Post AG

    24,318        795,652   

Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. (a)

    90,300        1,778,044   
   

 

 

 
      2,573,696   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.2%

   

Copa Holdings S.A. - Class A (a)

    3,990        413,524   

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (a)

    12,512        615,465   

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

    53,200        1,554,003   

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (b)

    9,828        657,395   
   

 

 

 
      3,240,387   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.7%

   

Bridgestone Corp.

    132,600        4,607,967   

Continental AG

    6,205        1,317,647   

GKN plc

    130,893        694,279   

Johnson Controls, Inc.

    2,907        140,524   

NOK Corp.

    42,300        1,074,312   

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

    131,700        1,643,199   

Valeo S.A.

    14,329        1,784,781   
   

 

 

 
      11,262,709   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—1.0%

   

Astra International Tbk PT

    1,880,200        1,116,023   

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG

    10,756        1,168,143   

Daimler AG

    25,342        2,114,299   

Geely Automobile Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    720,000        227,213   

General Motors Co.

    28,412        991,863   

Hyundai Motor Co.

    12,930        1,963,011   

Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd. (GDR)

    97,070        1,907,425   

Mazda Motor Corp.

    92,100        2,210,780   

Renault S.A.

    12,584        919,583   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    65,700        4,097,089   
   

 

 

 
      16,715,429   
   

 

 

 

Banks—3.9%

   

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.

    87,921        2,287,070   

Banco Santander Chile (ADR)

    29,910        589,825   

Bank Central Asia Tbk PT

    609,200        640,992   

Bank of America Corp.

    154,993        2,772,825   

Bank Rakyat Indonesia Persero Tbk PT

    1,145,200        1,066,366   

BB&T Corp.

    14,684        571,061   

BNP Paribas S.A.

    61,021        3,585,856   

Capitec Bank Holdings, Ltd.

    19,690        577,644   

Citigroup, Inc.

    39,924        2,160,288   

Credicorp, Ltd.

    7,580        1,214,164   

Danske Bank A/S

    80,197        2,158,471   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Grupo Financiero Banorte S.A.B. de C.V. - Class O

    109,430      604,642   

HDFC Bank, Ltd. (ADR) (a)

    117,150        5,945,362   

HSBC Holdings plc

    614,773        5,809,901   

ING Groep NV (b)

    301,338        3,901,607   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.

    238,750        690,666   

Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. (ADR)

    101,904        1,325,771   

Lloyds Banking Group plc (b)

    363,108        428,782   

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    1,222,400        6,700,149   

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

    1,842,500        3,095,950   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    3,537        322,681   

Public Bank Bhd

    99,800        521,978   

Regions Financial Corp.

    16,050        169,488   

Sberbank of Russia (ADR) (a)

    145,520        563,599   

Siam Commercial Bank PCL (The)

    257,100        1,422,255   

Societe Generale S.A.

    9,460        397,522   

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

    151,500        5,474,074   

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.

    1,060,000        4,045,367   

SVB Financial Group (b)

    1,398        162,266   

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S

    201,905        809,022   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    70,499        3,864,755   
   

 

 

 
      63,880,399   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.7%

   

Ambev S.A. (ADR) (a)

    235,690        1,465,992   

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

    44,859        1,893,947   

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.

    5,000        221,100   

Constellation Brands, Inc. - Class A (b)

    9,544        936,935   

Diageo plc

    38,557        1,105,859   

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

    4,933        353,597   

Molson Coors Brewing Co. - Class B

    6,272        467,389   

PepsiCo, Inc.

    2,132        201,602   

SABMiller plc

    74,843        3,873,297   

Suntory Beverage & Food, Ltd. (a)

    11,500        397,070   

Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd. - Class H (a)

    154,000        1,043,607   
   

 

 

 
      11,960,395   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.3%

   

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b)

    2,548        471,456   

Amgen, Inc.

    563        89,680   

Biogen Idec, Inc. (b)

    4,889        1,659,571   

Celgene Corp. (a) (b)

    16,271        1,820,074   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a) (b)

    8,850        834,201   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b)

    4,132        490,882   
   

 

 

 
      5,365,864   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—0.2%

   

Cie de St-Gobain

    20,357        857,015   

Daikin Industries, Ltd. (a)

    27,600        1,780,126   

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc.

    1,984        89,816   

Masco Corp.

    14,136        356,227   
   

 

 

 
      3,083,184   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.5%

   

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

    37,523        1,132,820   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Capital Markets—(Continued)

  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    3,310      $ 641,577   

Invesco, Ltd.

    26,039        1,029,061   

Jupiter Fund Management plc

    168,126        943,893   

Morgan Stanley (a)

    41,983        1,628,941   

State Street Corp.

    9,918        778,563   

UBS Group AG (b)

    123,001        2,114,350   
   

 

 

 
      8,269,205   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.3%

  

Air Liquide S.A.

    17,327        2,137,954   

Axiall Corp. (a)

    5,074        215,493   

Dow Chemical Co. (The)

    6,659        303,717   

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (a)

    7,863        581,390   

Mexichem S.A.B. de C.V. (a) (b)

    106,530        321,747   

Monsanto Co. (a)

    3,057        365,220   

Mosaic Co. (The)

    17,860        815,309   

Solvay S.A.

    6,421        867,423   
   

 

 

 
      5,608,253   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—0.1%

  

Rentokil Initial plc

    870,365        1,640,013   

Tyco International plc

    3,420        150,001   
   

 

 

 
      1,790,014   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—0.2%

  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    68,322        1,900,376   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    21,278        1,581,594   
   

 

 

 
      3,481,970   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—0.1%

  

Fluor Corp. (a)

    19,201        1,164,157   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.1%

  

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (a)

    2,273        250,757   

Siam Cement PCL (The) (NVDR)

    57,200        778,019   
   

 

 

 
      1,028,776   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.0%

  

Capital One Financial Corp.

    6,410        529,146   

Navient Corp.

    2,235        48,298   
   

 

 

 
      577,444   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.0%

  

Crown Holdings, Inc. (a) (b)

    9,167        466,600   

Sealed Air Corp.

    1,700        72,131   
   

 

 

 
      538,731   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.0%

  

Imperial Holdings, Ltd.

    18,920        299,947   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.5%

  

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B (b)

    12,254        1,839,938   

FirstRand, Ltd.

    374,610        1,622,928   

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (a)

    2,887        633,090   

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

ORIX Corp.

    174,100      2,176,405   

Remgro, Ltd.

    62,810        1,372,228   
   

 

 

 
      7,644,589   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—1.0%

  

AT&T, Inc. (a)

    795        26,704   

BT Group plc

    482,787        2,996,931   

Koninklijke KPN NV

    450,450        1,420,170   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    98,500        5,068,615   

Orange S.A.

    182,222        3,098,917   

Telenor ASA

    51,095        1,030,247   

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    48,918        2,288,384   
   

 

 

 
      15,929,968   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.2%

  

Edison International

    18,581        1,216,684   

Entergy Corp. (a)

    2,067        180,821   

Exelon Corp. (a)

    17,584        652,015   

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    11,257        1,196,507   

Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (a)

    1,232        84,158   

PPL Corp.

    9,171        333,182   

Xcel Energy, Inc.

    5,544        199,140   
   

 

 

 
      3,862,507   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.4%

  

Eaton Corp. plc

    17,333        1,177,951   

Emerson Electric Co. (a)

    21,009        1,296,886   

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

    179,000        2,131,180   

Schneider Electric SE

    16,311        1,185,187   
   

 

 

 
      5,791,204   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.3%

  

Corning, Inc.

    11,181        256,380   

Delta Electronics, Inc.

    211,000        1,253,745   

Hitachi, Ltd.

    274,000        2,004,929   

Keyence Corp.

    3,800        1,683,164   

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

    4,534        286,776   
   

 

 

 
      5,484,994   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.2%

  

Baker Hughes, Inc.

    8,605        482,482   

Ensco plc - Class A (a)

    3,716        111,294   

Halliburton Co.

    18,157        714,115   

Schlumberger, Ltd. (a)

    15,753        1,345,464   
   

 

 

 
      2,653,355   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—0.7%

  

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    7,119        1,009,118   

CVS Health Corp.

    14,517        1,398,132   

Delhaize Group S.A.

    23,051        1,674,468   

Kroger Co. (The)

    4,329        277,965   

Magnit PJSC (GDR)

    25,040        1,136,816   

President Chain Store Corp.

    144,000        1,110,426   

Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.

    38,700        1,395,937   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Food & Staples Retailing—(Continued)

  

Shoprite Holdings, Ltd.

    93,410      $ 1,352,114   

Sun Art Retail Group, Ltd. (a)

    753,000        744,774   

Wal-Mart de Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. - Series V (a)

    271,500        583,899   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

    3,951        339,312   
   

 

 

 
      11,022,961   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—0.9%

  

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. (a)

    15,130        786,760   

General Mills, Inc.

    2,216        118,179   

Grieg Seafood ASA (b)

    114,388        431,893   

Kellogg Co. (a)

    2,907        190,234   

Marine Harvest ASA (a)

    270,768        3,710,338   

Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A

    47,196        1,714,395   

Nestle S.A.

    55,323        4,055,261   

NH Foods, Ltd. (a)

    26,000        568,702   

Nutreco NV

    18,996        1,022,579   

Salmar ASA

    44,790        763,938   

Tiger Brands, Ltd.

    18,980        601,135   

Tingyi Cayman Islands Holding Corp.

    306,000        697,757   
   

 

 

 
      14,661,171   
   

 

 

 

Gas Utilities—0.0%

  

AGL Resources, Inc.

    4,438        241,915   

Questar Corp.

    6,299        159,239   
   

 

 

 
      401,154   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.4%

  

Abbott Laboratories

    37,642        1,694,643   

Becton Dickinson & Co.

    475        66,101   

Boston Scientific Corp. (b)

    81,605        1,081,266   

CareFusion Corp. (b)

    8,300        492,522   

Covidien plc

    1,945        198,935   

Smith & Nephew plc

    114,379        2,099,930   

Stryker Corp. (a)

    8,384        790,863   
   

 

 

 
      6,424,260   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—0.3%

  

Aetna, Inc.

    8,064        716,325   

Cigna Corp.

    100        10,291   

Humana, Inc. (a)

    8,047        1,155,791   

McKesson Corp.

    5,402        1,121,347   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    9,997        1,010,597   
   

 

 

 
      4,014,351   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—0.4%

  

InterContinental Hotels Group plc

    42,118        1,687,758   

McDonald’s Corp.

    424        39,729   

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

    8,501        700,737   

Sands China, Ltd.

    448,400        2,183,787   

Starbucks Corp. (a)

    9,295        762,655   

William Hill plc

    107,576        604,962   

Wynn Macau, Ltd. (a)

    306,000        855,040   

Yum! Brands, Inc.

    2,315        168,648   
   

 

 

 
      7,003,316   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.6%

  

Barratt Developments plc

    49,002      356,833   

Berkeley Group Holdings plc

    128,723        4,932,566   

Electrolux AB - Series B

    62,592        1,836,529   

Harman International Industries, Inc.

    6,300        672,273   

NVR, Inc. (a) (b)

    88        112,229   

Persimmon plc (b)

    50,694        1,240,073   

PulteGroup, Inc.

    19,623        421,110   

Sekisui House, Ltd. (a)

    78,500        1,028,177   
   

 

 

 
      10,599,790   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.2%

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    8,320        961,293   

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

    29,365        2,674,858   

Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT

    142,000        370,504   
   

 

 

 
      4,006,655   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—0.3%

  

Bidvest Group, Ltd. (The)

    57,619        1,506,854   

General Electric Co.

    45,690        1,154,586   

Jardine Matheson Holdings, Ltd.

    26,400        1,606,472   

KOC Holding AS

    243,680        1,287,116   
   

 

 

 
      5,555,028   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—2.1%

  

ACE, Ltd.

    15,084        1,732,850   

AIA Group, Ltd.

    486,600        2,670,130   

Allianz SE

    17,241        2,864,656   

American International Group, Inc.

    7,755        434,358   

Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.

    47,801        976,835   

AXA S.A.

    188,378        4,350,879   

Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.

    4,844        247,480   

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) (a)

    15,187        633,146   

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc. (a)

    8,274        473,604   

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG

    14,651        2,935,207   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    12,968        1,173,085   

Prudential plc

    205,708        4,733,785   

Swiss Re AG (b)

    67,731        5,667,277   

Willis Group Holdings plc (a)

    1,900        85,139   

Zurich Insurance Group AG (b)

    15,289        4,787,640   
   

 

 

 
      33,766,071   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—0.1%

  

Amazon.com, Inc. (b)

    1,750        543,112   

Expedia, Inc. (a)

    1,786        152,453   

Priceline Group, Inc. (The) (b)

    790        900,766   
   

 

 

 
      1,596,331   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.5%

  

Baidu, Inc. (ADR) (b)

    7,900        1,800,963   

eBay, Inc. (b)

    1,578        88,558   

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (b)

    23,608        1,841,896   

Google, Inc. - Class A (b)

    3,453        1,832,369   

Google, Inc. - Class C (b)

    3,177        1,672,373   

Tencent Holdings, Ltd.

    94,800        1,360,222   
   

 

 

 
      8,596,381   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

IT Services—0.7%

  

Accenture plc - Class A (a)

    13,787      $ 1,231,317   

Alliance Data Systems Corp. (b)

    947        270,889   

Cap Gemini S.A.

    38,151        2,717,419   

Cielo S.A.

    71,400        1,118,885   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (b)

    15,569        819,864   

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

    6,500        404,300   

Infosys, Ltd. (ADR) (a)

    81,840        2,574,686   

International Business Machines Corp. (a)

    3,158        506,670   

Visa, Inc. - Class A (a)

    7,691        2,016,580   

Xerox Corp.

    5,258        72,876   
   

 

 

 
      11,733,486   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.2%

  

Deere & Co. (a)

    472        41,758   

DMG Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.

    92,300        1,146,883   

PACCAR, Inc. (a)

    22,849        1,553,960   

Pall Corp. (a)

    200        20,242   

Snap-on, Inc.

    500        68,370   

SPX Corp. (a)

    3,107        266,953   

WEG S.A.

    62,361        713,838   
   

 

 

 
      3,812,004   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.8%

  

CBS Corp. - Class B

    4,337        240,010   

Charter Communications, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    2,031        338,405   

Comcast Corp. - Class A

    38,677        2,243,653   

Dentsu, Inc. (a)

    50,900        2,142,049   

DIRECTV (b)

    1,651        143,142   

DISH Network Corp. - Class A (a) (b)

    6,164        449,294   

Naspers, Ltd. - N Shares

    1,688        217,327   

Publicis Groupe S.A.

    20,986        1,503,084   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.

    2,460        374,068   

Time Warner, Inc.

    25,827        2,206,142   

Time, Inc. (a)

    3,428        84,363   

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. - Class A (a)

    30,005        1,152,342   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

    4,131        389,099   

Wolters Kluwer NV

    45,356        1,384,975   

WPP plc

    44,036        913,579   
   

 

 

 
      13,781,532   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.4%

  

Alcoa, Inc. (a)

    53,723        848,286   

Anglo American plc

    30,240        559,499   

First Quantum Minerals, Ltd.

    56,895        808,518   

Norsk Hydro ASA

    208,641        1,173,480   

Rio Tinto plc

    48,198        2,220,605   

United States Steel Corp. (a)

    14,473        387,008   

Vale S.A. (ADR) (a)

    89,940        652,965   
   

 

 

 
      6,650,361   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.5%

  

CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (a)

    15,279        357,987   

CMS Energy Corp. (a)

    14,891        517,462   

Dominion Resources, Inc. (a)

    5,224        401,726   

Multi-Utilities—(Continued)

  

E.ON SE

    53,357      916,245   

GDF Suez

    193,925        4,529,177   

NiSource, Inc. (a)

    14,721        624,465   

PG&E Corp. (a)

    1,519        80,871   

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

    4,153        171,976   

Sempra Energy

    728        81,070   

Suez Environnement Co.

    55,270        958,120   
   

 

 

 
      8,639,099   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—0.2%

  

Dollar General Corp. (b)

    4,754        336,108   

Dollar Tree, Inc. (b)

    1,707        120,139   

Lojas Renner S.A.

    23,540        671,425   

Next plc

    25,543        2,694,170   
   

 

 

 
      3,821,842   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—1.7%

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    2,389        197,092   

BG Group plc

    141,015        1,877,013   

BP plc

    184,233        1,169,832   

California Resources Corp. (b)

    6,651        36,647   

Cheniere Energy, Inc. (b)

    3,324        234,010   

Chevron Corp.

    23,452        2,630,845   

CNOOC, Ltd.

    871,000        1,178,232   

ENI S.p.A.

    60,917        1,063,928   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    7,928        729,931   

EQT Corp.

    4,841        366,464   

Exxon Mobil Corp. (a)

    30,793        2,846,813   

Hess Corp. (a)

    114        8,415   

Lukoil OAO (ADR) (a)

    28,090        1,077,251   

Marathon Oil Corp.

    28,241        798,938   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    16,629        1,340,464   

Oil Search, Ltd.

    191,190        1,235,246   

Phillips 66

    10,756        771,205   

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (a)

    22        3,275   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - A Shares

    61,174        2,027,704   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - A Shares

    120,337        4,024,943   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - B Shares

    46,938        1,612,505   

Statoil ASA

    46,283        811,083   

Total S.A.

    27,447        1,415,146   

Ultrapar Participacoes S.A.

    51,730        986,284   
   

 

 

 
      28,443,266   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—0.1%

  

Stora Enso Oyj - R Shares

    99,480        885,482   

UPM-Kymmene Oyj

    30,929        507,875   
   

 

 

 
      1,393,357   
   

 

 

 

Personal Products—0.0%

  

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) - Class A

    5,174        394,259   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—2.9%

  

Actavis plc (a) (b)

    1,645        423,439   

Allergan, Inc.

    2,651        563,576   

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings, Ltd. (b)

    1,444        50,246   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Pharmaceuticals—(Continued)

  

AstraZeneca plc

    42,536      $ 2,992,223   

Bayer AG

    41,279        5,643,228   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    31,668        1,869,362   

GlaxoSmithKline plc

    133,796        2,862,572   

Johnson & Johnson

    39,436        4,123,823   

Merck & Co., Inc.

    29,088        1,651,908   

Novartis AG

    113,261        10,416,329   

Novo Nordisk A/S - Class B

    48,341        2,045,385   

Perrigo Co. plc (a)

    2,251        376,277   

Pfizer, Inc.

    23,612        735,514   

Roche Holding AG

    34,606        9,379,626   

Sanofi

    32,653        2,975,861   

Shire plc

    17,068        1,207,617   
   

 

 

 
      47,316,986   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.6%

  

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (a)

    3,869        632,156   

Boston Properties, Inc. (a)

    2,267        291,740   

Brixmor Property Group, Inc.

    9,700        240,948   

DiamondRock Hospitality Co. (a)

    18,000        267,660   

Essex Property Trust, Inc. (a)

    416        85,946   

Extra Space Storage, Inc. (a)

    1,400        82,096   

Fibra Uno Administracion S.A. de C.V.

    250,900        739,754   

First Real Estate Investment Trust

    890,000        841,595   

Goodman Group (a)

    270,445        1,246,743   

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (a)

    4,764        210,950   

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

    9,568        227,431   

Liberty Property Trust

    8,200        308,566   

Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (a)

    2,503,000        642,215   

Mapletree Logistics Trust

    1,045,000        934,224   

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (a)

    2,200        164,296   

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.

    2,100        82,047   

Prologis, Inc.

    10,791        464,337   

Public Storage

    545        100,743   

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    4,263        776,335   

Westfield Corp. (b)

    164,299        1,201,226   
   

 

 

 
      9,541,008   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development—0.5%

  

Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (a)

    94,000        1,779,958   

Deutsche Annington Immobilien SE

    41,170        1,400,416   

Deutsche Wohnen AG

    129,013        3,065,379   

Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.

    65,000        1,748,209   

TAG Immobilien AG (a)

    56,258        654,856   
   

 

 

 
      8,648,818   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.2%

  

Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd. (a)

    2,219        427,579   

CSX Corp.

    29,291        1,061,213   

Union Pacific Corp.

    20,777        2,475,164   
   

 

 

 
      3,963,956   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—0.7%

  

ARM Holdings plc

    69,042        1,063,127   

ASML Holding NV

    18,030        1,931,674   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—(Continued)

  

Avago Technologies, Ltd.

    11,517      1,158,495   

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

    22,380        969,725   

Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd. (a) (b)

    10,589        267,161   

KLA-Tencor Corp. (a)

    7,843        551,520   

Lam Research Corp. (a)

    16,431        1,303,636   

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ADR) (a)

    151,460        3,389,675   
   

 

 

 
      10,635,013   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.6%

  

Adobe Systems, Inc. (b)

    16,451        1,195,988   

Citrix Systems, Inc. (b)

    7,781        496,428   

Microsoft Corp.

    83,454        3,876,438   

Oracle Corp.

    22,930        1,031,162   

SAP SE

    31,316        2,214,213   

VMware, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    2,149        177,336   
   

 

 

 
      8,991,565   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—0.5%

  

AutoZone, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,513        936,714   

Gap, Inc. (The) (a)

    1,176        49,521   

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    21,932        2,302,202   

Kingfisher plc

    248,641        1,310,241   

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    25,876        1,780,269   

Mr. Price Group, Ltd.

    24,700        498,976   

Tiffany & Co. (a)

    1,007        107,608   

TJX Cos., Inc. (The)

    15,761        1,080,889   
   

 

 

 
      8,066,420   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—0.6%

  

Apple, Inc.

    55,197        6,092,645   

EMC Corp. (a)

    2,203        65,517   

Hewlett-Packard Co. (a)

    20,602        826,758   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (GDR) (b)

    4,300        2,601,500   
   

 

 

 
      9,586,420   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.2%

  

Cie Financiere Richemont S.A.

    23,707        2,099,903   

lululemon athletica, Inc. (b)

    3,705        206,702   

Ralph Lauren Corp. (a)

    3,262        603,992   

VF Corp. (a)

    14,468        1,083,653   
   

 

 

 
      3,994,250   
   

 

 

 

Tobacco—0.3%

  

British American Tobacco plc

    55,121        2,994,937   

Japan Tobacco, Inc.

    27,100        744,114   

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    21,353        1,739,202   
   

 

 

 
      5,478,253   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.3%

  

Wolseley plc

    72,640        4,135,278   

WW Grainger, Inc. (a)

    1,616        411,902   
   

 

 

 
      4,547,180   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares/

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Transportation Infrastructure—0.1%

  

CCR S.A.

    130,660      $ 750,250   
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services—0.5%

  

Advanced Info Service PCL

    161,300        1,230,586   

KDDI Corp. (a)

    38,600        2,415,211   

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (b)

    42,700        119,314   

Mobile Telesystems OJSC (ADR) (a)

    29,850        214,323   

MTN Group, Ltd.

    97,660        1,853,273   

Vodafone Group plc

    883,616        3,027,676   
   

 

 

 
      8,860,383   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $490,898,720)

      509,567,645   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—24.1%   

Advertising—0.0%

  

Omnicom Group, Inc.

   

3.625%, 05/01/22

    185,000        189,920   

3.650%, 11/01/24

    115,000        115,053   

WPP Finance 2010

   

3.750%, 09/19/24

    150,000        150,554   
   

 

 

 
      455,527   
   

 

 

 

Aerospace/Defense—0.3%

  

Airbus Group Financial B.V.

   

2.700%, 04/17/23 (144A)

    279,000        275,287   

BAE Systems Finance, Inc.

   

7.500%, 07/01/27 (144A)

    300,000        402,624   

BAE Systems Holdings, Inc.

   

3.800%, 10/07/24 (144A)

    159,000        162,988   

BAE Systems plc

   

4.750%, 10/11/21 (144A)

    225,000        245,531   

Boeing Capital Corp.

   

4.700%, 10/27/19

    255,000        283,854   

Boeing Co. (The)

   

7.250%, 06/15/25

    11,000        14,623   

8.625%, 11/15/31

    200,000        314,424   

General Dynamics Corp.

   

1.000%, 11/15/17

    117,000        115,820   

2.250%, 11/15/22

    250,000        240,978   

Lockheed Martin Corp.

   

4.070%, 12/15/42

    312,000        314,831   

Northrop Grumman Corp.

   

3.250%, 08/01/23

    400,000        403,012   

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.

   

7.750%, 02/15/31

    200,000        280,294   

Raytheon Co.

   

3.150%, 12/15/24

    91,000        91,273   

United Technologies Corp.

   

5.375%, 12/15/17

    173,000        192,320   

5.400%, 05/01/35

    525,000        635,145   

6.050%, 06/01/36

    100,000        131,952   

6.700%, 08/01/28

    233,000        313,776   

Aerospace/Defense—(Continued)

  

United Technologies Corp.

   

7.500%, 09/15/29

    255,000      364,267   

8.875%, 11/15/19

    41,000        53,053   
   

 

 

 
      4,836,052   
   

 

 

 

Agriculture—0.2%

  

Altria Group, Inc.

   

2.625%, 01/14/20

    580,000        581,684   

2.850%, 08/09/22

    260,000        252,641   

4.250%, 08/09/42

    230,000        220,411   

4.500%, 05/02/43

    215,000        216,517   

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

   

4.016%, 04/16/43

    150,000        150,510   

5.375%, 09/15/35

    100,000        121,119   

6.625%, 05/01/29

    100,000        127,485   

BAT International Finance plc

   

3.250%, 06/07/22 (144A)

    104,000        104,581   

Bunge N.A. Finance L.P.

   

5.900%, 04/01/17

    90,000        97,855   

Bunge, Ltd. Finance Corp.

   

3.200%, 06/15/17

    131,000        134,700   

8.500%, 06/15/19

    250,000        306,385   

Cargill, Inc.

   

6.125%, 04/19/34 (144A)

    325,000        411,832   

7.350%, 03/06/19 (144A)

    260,000        312,140   

Monsanto Finance Canada Co.

   

5.500%, 07/30/35

    125,000        149,630   

Philip Morris International, Inc.

   

3.250%, 11/10/24

    105,000        105,051   

4.125%, 03/04/43

    560,000        548,944   

4.875%, 11/15/43

    20,000        22,297   
   

 

 

 
      3,863,782   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.1%

  

Air Canada Pass-Through Trust

   

4.125%, 05/15/25 (144A)

    167,606        169,282   

American Airlines Pass-Through Trust

   

4.950%, 01/15/23

    541,838        580,444   

Continental Airlines Pass-Through Trust

   

4.000%, 10/29/24 (a)

    39,763        40,360   

Delta Air Lines Pass-Through Trust

   

4.750%, 05/07/20

    61,403        65,394   

6.821%, 08/10/22 (a)

    207,584        240,797   

U.S. Airways Pass-Through Trust

   

3.950%, 11/15/25

    242,720        247,574   
   

 

 

 
      1,343,851   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.4%

  

American Honda Finance Corp.

   

1.500%, 09/11/17 (144A)

    425,000        425,377   

2.250%, 08/15/19

    510,000        511,641   

Daimler Finance North America LLC

   

1.450%, 08/01/16 (144A)

    175,000        175,750   

1.875%, 01/11/18 (144A)

    205,000        205,712   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Auto Manufacturers—(Continued)

  

Daimler Finance North America LLC

   

2.250%, 09/03/19 (144A)

    160,000      $ 159,461   

2.375%, 08/01/18 (144A)

    665,000        674,330   

8.500%, 01/18/31

    330,000        504,733   

Ford Motor Co.

   

4.750%, 01/15/43

    220,000        232,126   

6.375%, 02/01/29

    500,000        603,700   

6.625%, 02/15/28

    250,000        291,496   

9.980%, 02/15/47

    400,000        646,065   

General Motors Co.

   

5.200%, 04/01/45

    100,000        105,500   

Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp.

   

0.785%, 03/03/17 (144A) (c)

    176,000        176,560   

1.800%, 03/15/18 (144A)

    146,000        145,142   

1.950%, 09/12/17 (144A)

    200,000        201,300   

PACCAR Financial Corp.

   

0.800%, 02/08/16

    217,000        217,321   

1.050%, 06/05/15

    80,000        80,205   

1.600%, 03/15/17

    150,000        151,258   

Toyota Motor Credit Corp.

   

1.250%, 10/05/17

    200,000        199,403   

2.000%, 10/24/18

    350,000        353,379   

2.050%, 01/12/17

    300,000        305,603   

2.625%, 01/10/23

    400,000        397,171   

4.250%, 01/11/21

    150,000        164,550   

Volkswagen Group of America Finance LLC

   

2.450%, 11/20/19 (144A)

    245,000        246,596   
   

 

 

 
      7,174,379   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.0%

  

Johnson Controls, Inc.

   

2.600%, 12/01/16

    75,000        76,866   

3.625%, 07/02/24

    98,000        98,856   

4.950%, 07/02/64

    50,000        51,548   

5.500%, 01/15/16 (a)

    135,000        141,375   
   

 

 

 
      368,645   
   

 

 

 

Banks—5.0%

  

Abbey National Treasury Services plc

   

2.350%, 09/10/19

    380,000        378,721   

ABN AMRO Bank NV

   

2.500%, 10/30/18 (144A)

    210,000        212,103   

American Express Bank FSB

   

0.461%, 06/12/17 (c)

    500,000        497,467   

American Express Centurion Bank

   

6.000%, 09/13/17

    250,000        278,621   

Bank of America Corp.

   

1.700%, 08/25/17

    175,000        175,040   

2.000%, 01/11/18

    1,100,000        1,099,164   

2.650%, 04/01/19

    610,000        614,474   

3.300%, 01/11/23

    205,000        205,016   

3.875%, 03/22/17

    485,000        507,454   

4.000%, 04/01/24

    646,000        672,631   

4.100%, 07/24/23

    326,000        343,327   

4.125%, 01/22/24

    500,000        525,077   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Bank of America Corp.

   

4.250%, 10/22/26

    527,000      525,817   

5.000%, 01/21/44

    550,000        615,904   

5.625%, 10/14/16

    800,000        856,708   

5.625%, 07/01/20

    2,000,000        2,277,180   

6.400%, 08/28/17

    100,000        111,417   

7.625%, 06/01/19

    250,000        302,153   

Bank of America N.A.

   

0.521%, 06/15/16 (c)

    250,000        248,311   

5.300%, 03/15/17

    1,400,000        1,503,831   

Bank of Montreal

   

1.400%, 09/11/17 (a)

    194,000        193,791   

1.450%, 04/09/18 (a)

    408,000        402,968   

2.375%, 01/25/19

    110,000        111,057   

2.550%, 11/06/22

    213,000        208,922   

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)

   

1.969%, 06/20/17

    500,000        507,438   

3.550%, 09/23/21

    352,000        368,003   

3.650%, 02/04/24 (a)

    167,000        174,646   

4.500%, 06/20/23 (c)

    199,000        183,453   

4.600%, 01/15/20

    200,000        220,660   

Bank of Nova Scotia (The)

   

1.250%, 04/11/17

    650,000        647,891   

1.375%, 07/15/16

    465,000        468,110   

1.375%, 12/18/17

    1,000,000        993,617   

2.800%, 07/21/21

    220,000        220,092   

Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel S.A.

   

1.700%, 01/20/17 (144A)

    234,000        234,510   

2.750%, 01/22/19 (144A) (a)

    365,000        370,767   

Barclays Bank plc

   

3.750%, 05/15/24

    211,000        217,488   

6.050%, 12/04/17 (144A)

    460,000        505,960   

BB&T Corp.

   

2.050%, 06/19/18

    139,000        139,916   

2.150%, 03/22/17

    350,000        355,051   

3.950%, 03/22/22

    175,000        184,171   

BNP Paribas S.A.

   

2.700%, 08/20/18

    262,000        267,768   

BPCE S.A.

   

0.862%, 06/23/17 (c)

    375,000        374,980   

4.000%, 04/15/24

    500,000        522,583   

5.700%, 10/22/23 (144A)

    200,000        214,753   

Branch Banking & Trust Co.

   

0.561%, 09/13/16 (c)

    250,000        249,146   

2.850%, 04/01/21 (a)

    610,000        613,549   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

   

1.550%, 01/23/18

    1,000,000        995,080   

Capital One Financial Corp.

   

1.000%, 11/06/15

    91,000        90,913   

5.500%, 06/01/15

    208,000        211,775   

Capital One N.A.

   

1.500%, 03/22/18

    500,000        492,310   

Citigroup, Inc.

   

1.700%, 07/25/16

    355,000        357,431   

1.850%, 11/24/17

    270,000        269,690   

2.500%, 09/26/18 (a)

    825,000        834,639   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—(Continued)

  

Citigroup, Inc.

   

2.500%, 07/29/19 (a)

    215,000      $ 215,173   

3.375%, 03/01/23

    192,000        193,717   

4.300%, 11/20/26

    535,000        533,802   

4.950%, 11/07/43

    285,000        317,682   

5.500%, 09/13/25

    101,000        111,757   

6.125%, 05/15/18

    1,200,000        1,358,009   

6.625%, 01/15/28

    2,400,000        3,028,030   

8.500%, 05/22/19

    473,000        589,390   

Comerica Bank

   

5.200%, 08/22/17

    250,000        271,725   

5.750%, 11/21/16

    376,000        407,164   

Comerica, Inc.

   

3.800%, 07/22/26

    172,000        173,218   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA

   

2.125%, 10/13/15

    620,000        627,442   

3.875%, 02/08/22

    350,000        372,322   

3.950%, 11/09/22

    500,000        509,314   

Credit Agricole S.A.

   

3.875%, 04/15/24 (144A)

    280,000        289,300   

8.125%, 09/19/33 (144A) (c)

    200,000        223,135   

Credit Suisse

   

3.000%, 10/29/21

    815,000        811,196   

3.625%, 09/09/24

    530,000        539,137   

Deutsche Bank AG

   

3.700%, 05/30/24

    133,000        134,964   

Discover Bank

   

2.000%, 02/21/18

    700,000        698,176   

3.200%, 08/09/21

    295,000        296,269   

Fifth Third Bancorp

   

3.625%, 01/25/16

    155,000        158,822   

8.250%, 03/01/38

    50,000        75,109   

Fifth Third Bank

   

0.900%, 02/26/16

    750,000        750,047   

1.350%, 06/01/17

    540,000        539,415   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

   

2.375%, 01/22/18

    1,680,000        1,696,966   

2.550%, 10/23/19

    1,066,000        1,062,107   

2.625%, 01/31/19

    95,000        95,580   

2.900%, 07/19/18

    509,000        522,173   

3.625%, 01/22/23

    630,000        637,952   

3.850%, 07/08/24

    362,000        371,266   

4.000%, 03/03/24

    530,000        550,219   

4.800%, 07/08/44

    190,000        203,505   

5.250%, 07/27/21

    800,000        902,930   

5.950%, 01/18/18

    490,000        544,374   

6.125%, 02/15/33

    1,000,000        1,225,709   

6.150%, 04/01/18

    510,000        572,434   

7.500%, 02/15/19

    1,500,000        1,784,191   

HSBC Bank plc

   

1.500%, 05/15/18 (144A)

    564,000        557,850   

4.125%, 08/12/20 (144A)

    160,000        173,196   

HSBC Bank USA N.A.

   

4.875%, 08/24/20

    500,000        551,894   

5.875%, 11/01/34

    1,500,000        1,873,891   

Banks—(Continued)

  

HSBC Holdings plc

   

5.625%, 01/17/20 (c)

    255,000      255,893   

6.375%, 09/17/24 (a) (c)

    430,000        434,300   

HSBC USA, Inc.

   

1.625%, 01/16/18

    300,000        298,845   

2.375%, 11/13/19

    1,805,000        1,804,473   

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd.

   

2.351%, 11/13/17

    250,000        249,335   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.

   

5.250%, 01/12/24

    655,000        709,559   

KeyBank N.A.

   

1.650%, 02/01/18

    500,000        498,119   

4.950%, 09/15/15

    167,000        171,756   

KeyCorp

   

2.300%, 12/13/18

    200,000        200,690   

Macquarie Bank, Ltd.

   

2.000%, 08/15/16 (144A)

    622,000        629,575   

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

   

1.300%, 04/16/17 (144A)

    200,000        198,161   

2.450%, 04/16/19 (144A)

    200,000        198,699   

Morgan Stanley

   

2.125%, 04/25/18

    515,000        515,298   

2.500%, 01/24/19

    975,000        975,884   

3.700%, 10/23/24

    315,000        319,290   

3.750%, 02/25/23

    367,000        376,476   

5.450%, 01/09/17

    1,750,000        1,878,999   

5.500%, 01/26/20

    100,000        112,513   

5.550%, 04/27/17

    650,000        705,532   

5.625%, 09/23/19

    1,100,000        1,241,673   

6.250%, 08/09/26

    875,000        1,054,903   

6.375%, 07/24/42

    260,000        345,289   

National City Bank

   

5.800%, 06/07/17

    500,000        548,997   

National City Bank of Indiana

   

4.250%, 07/01/18

    250,000        267,330   

Northern Trust Corp.

   

3.375%, 08/23/21

    500,000        525,234   

PNC Bank N.A.

   

2.700%, 11/01/22

    560,000        536,290   

4.200%, 11/01/25

    250,000        264,422   

6.875%, 04/01/18

    350,000        403,166   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

   

4.850%, 06/01/23 (c)

    320,000        302,027   

Royal Bank of Canada

   

0.850%, 03/08/16

    270,000        270,102   

1.450%, 09/09/16

    335,000        337,373   

1.500%, 01/16/18

    460,000        457,483   

2.200%, 07/27/18

    750,000        758,325   

2.875%, 04/19/16

    500,000        513,388   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (The)

   

6.125%, 01/11/21

    35,000        41,243   

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB

   

1.750%, 03/19/18 (144A)

    445,000        442,735   

2.375%, 11/20/18 (144A)

    400,000        404,554   

Standard Chartered plc

   

5.200%, 01/26/24 (144A) (a)

    350,000        363,672   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—(Continued)

  

State Street Bank and Trust Co.

   

5.250%, 10/15/18

    215,000      $ 239,912   

State Street Corp.

   

3.100%, 05/15/23

    90,000        88,732   

3.300%, 12/16/24

    431,000        437,441   

3.700%, 11/20/23

    369,000        387,692   

SunTrust Banks, Inc.

   

0.555%, 04/01/15 (c)

    377,000        376,721   

2.350%, 11/01/18

    113,000        113,694   

2.750%, 05/01/23

    300,000        292,693   

6.000%, 09/11/17

    150,000        166,281   

Svenska Handelsbanken AB

   

1.625%, 03/21/18

    250,000        249,613   

Swedbank AB

   

1.750%, 03/12/18 (144A)

    875,000        873,054   

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)

   

1.400%, 04/30/18 (a)

    463,000        460,099   

U.S. Bancorp

   

2.200%, 11/15/16

    175,000        178,580   

U.S. Bank N.A.

   

4.800%, 04/15/15

    200,000        202,593   

UBS AG

   

2.375%, 08/14/19

    645,000        644,962   

4.875%, 08/04/20

    250,000        278,042   

Union Bank N.A.

   

2.625%, 09/26/18 (a)

    400,000        405,898   

Wachovia Corp.

   

6.605%, 10/01/25

    222,000        273,756   

Wells Fargo & Co.

   

3.676%, 06/15/16

    500,000        518,649   

4.100%, 06/03/26

    161,000        164,551   

4.125%, 08/15/23

    195,000        204,668   

4.480%, 01/16/24

    55,000        58,641   

4.650%, 11/04/44

    550,000        567,524   

5.375%, 11/02/43

    350,000        398,200   

5.625%, 12/11/17

    700,000        778,617   

7.980%, 03/15/18 (c)

    405,000        447,019   

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

   

4.750%, 02/09/15

    1,000,000        1,003,985   

6.000%, 11/15/17

    1,229,000        1,377,602   

Westpac Banking Corp.

   

1.015%, 09/25/15 (c)

    200,000        201,050   

1.200%, 05/19/17

    505,000        502,759   

4.875%, 11/19/19

    400,000        446,306   
   

 

 

 
      82,655,033   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.5%

  

Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC

   

5.750%, 04/01/36

    60,000        73,618   

5.950%, 01/15/33

    100,000        125,681   

Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC

   

6.750%, 12/15/27

    65,000        82,511   

6.800%, 08/20/32

    420,000        576,572   

Anheuser-Busch InBev Finance, Inc.

   

2.625%, 01/17/23

    1,365,000        1,325,007   

Beverages—(Continued)

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc.

   

2.500%, 07/15/22

    437,000      424,712   

5.375%, 01/15/20

    830,000        940,089   

6.375%, 01/15/40

    300,000        390,130   

8.000%, 11/15/39

    50,000        76,470   

Brown-Forman Corp.

   

1.000%, 01/15/18

    122,000        119,699   

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

   

7.375%, 07/29/93

    100,000        153,154   

Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc.

   

7.000%, 05/15/98

    100,000        140,791   

8.000%, 09/15/22

    324,000        431,296   

Diageo Capital plc

   

2.625%, 04/29/23

    105,000        102,089   

4.828%, 07/15/20

    250,000        278,558   

4.850%, 05/15/18

    46,000        50,136   

Diageo Investment Corp.

   

2.875%, 05/11/22

    200,000        199,879   

7.450%, 04/15/35

    70,000        101,630   

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

   

2.000%, 01/15/20

    92,000        89,878   

Heineken NV

   

4.000%, 10/01/42 (144A)

    575,000        560,325   

Molson Coors Brewing Co.

   

2.000%, 05/01/17

    200,000        201,682   

PepsiCo, Inc.

   

0.444%, 02/26/16 (c)

    341,000        341,391   

4.500%, 01/15/20

    276,000        304,036   

5.000%, 06/01/18

    250,000        276,428   

5.500%, 01/15/40

    150,000        180,662   

SABMiller Holdings, Inc.

   

2.200%, 08/01/18 (144A)

    500,000        501,346   

SABMiller plc

   

6.500%, 07/15/18 (144A)

    250,000        285,416   

6.625%, 08/15/33 (144A)

    150,000        198,411   
   

 

 

 
      8,531,597   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.3%

  

Amgen, Inc.

   

3.625%, 05/22/24

    500,000        508,221   

3.875%, 11/15/21

    575,000        607,496   

5.150%, 11/15/41

    75,000        84,536   

5.375%, 05/15/43

    158,000        183,555   

5.650%, 06/15/42

    210,000        249,858   

6.375%, 06/01/37

    500,000        629,327   

6.400%, 02/01/39

    100,000        126,964   

6.900%, 06/01/38

    100,000        132,476   

Celgene Corp.

   

2.300%, 08/15/18

    315,000        317,602   

3.250%, 08/15/22

    174,000        175,120   

4.000%, 08/15/23

    800,000        842,023   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

   

3.500%, 02/01/25

    230,000        236,072   

3.700%, 04/01/24

    835,000        875,774   

4.400%, 12/01/21

    125,000        137,831   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Biotechnology—(Continued)

  

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

   

4.500%, 04/01/21

    100,000      $ 111,089   

4.500%, 02/01/45

    145,000        154,976   

4.800%, 04/01/44

    60,000        66,555   
   

 

 

 
      5,439,475   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.0%

  

CRH America, Inc.

   

6.000%, 09/30/16

    150,000        161,447   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.4%

  

CF Industries, Inc.

   

4.950%, 06/01/43 (a)

    65,000        64,795   

5.375%, 03/15/44

    100,000        107,889   

Dow Chemical Co. (The)

   

2.500%, 02/15/16

    370,000        376,380   

3.000%, 11/15/22

    54,000        52,761   

4.125%, 11/15/21

    55,000        58,113   

4.625%, 10/01/44

    190,000        192,412   

5.250%, 11/15/41

    300,000        323,555   

8.550%, 05/15/19

    45,000        55,946   

Ecolab, Inc.

   

1.450%, 12/08/17

    70,000        69,373   

4.350%, 12/08/21

    290,000        315,981   

4.875%, 02/15/15

    150,000        150,710   

EI du Pont de Nemours & Co.

   

2.800%, 02/15/23

    365,000        359,028   

6.500%, 01/15/28

    100,000        129,530   

LYB International Finance B.V.

   

4.875%, 03/15/44

    220,000        226,328   

LyondellBasell Industries NV

   

5.000%, 04/15/19

    500,000        545,382   

Monsanto Co.

   

1.150%, 06/30/17

    325,000        322,505   

3.375%, 07/15/24

    100,000        101,607   

Mosaic Co. (The)

   

4.250%, 11/15/23

    177,000        186,770   

4.875%, 11/15/41

    100,000        102,717   

Mosaic Global Holdings, Inc.

   

7.300%, 01/15/28

    23,000        27,519   

7.375%, 08/01/18

    800,000        917,374   

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc.

   

5.875%, 12/01/36

    400,000        493,639   

PPG Industries, Inc.

   

3.600%, 11/15/20

    155,000        161,294   

Praxair, Inc.

   

3.000%, 09/01/21

    30,000        30,694   

4.050%, 03/15/21

    300,000        325,804   

Union Carbide Corp.

   

7.500%, 06/01/25

    701,000        907,344   

7.750%, 10/01/96

    100,000        132,161   

7.875%, 04/01/23

    30,000        37,816   
   

 

 

 
      6,775,427   
   

 

 

 
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Services—0.1%

  

ADT Corp. (The)

   

3.500%, 07/15/22 (a)

    423,000      $ 360,608   

4.125%, 06/15/23 (a)

    27,000        24,435   

4.875%, 07/15/42

    200,000        148,000   

California Institute of Technology

   

4.700%, 11/01/2111

    165,000        177,438   

ERAC USA Finance LLC

   

1.400%, 04/15/16 (144A)

    11,000        11,026   

3.300%, 10/15/22 (144A)

    100,000        99,157   

6.700%, 06/01/34 (144A)

    500,000        643,197   

University of Pennsylvania

   

4.674%, 09/01/2112

    254,000        269,846   
   

 

 

 
      1,733,707   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.4%

  

Apple, Inc.

   

0.482%, 05/03/18 (c)

    305,000        305,205   

2.850%, 05/06/21

    1,112,000        1,137,531   

3.850%, 05/04/43

    618,000        618,447   

EMC Corp.

   

2.650%, 06/01/20

    295,000        293,581   

3.375%, 06/01/23

    325,000        326,180   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

   

3.750%, 12/01/20

    150,000        155,169   

4.300%, 06/01/21

    118,000        124,243   

HP Enterprise Services LLC

   

7.450%, 10/15/29

    138,000        174,361   

International Business Machines Corp.

   

1.625%, 05/15/20

    105,000        101,205   

1.875%, 08/01/22

    105,000        97,876   

3.375%, 08/01/23

    185,000        189,026   

3.625%, 02/12/24 (a)

    855,000        890,760   

5.700%, 09/14/17

    300,000        334,331   

6.220%, 08/01/27

    1,000,000        1,267,773   
   

 

 

 
      6,015,688   
   

 

 

 

Cosmetics/Personal Care—0.1%

  

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

   

1.900%, 11/01/19

    288,000        288,577   

5.500%, 02/01/34 (a)

    117,000        150,776   

5.800%, 08/15/34

    300,000        398,792   

8.000%, 10/26/29 (a)

    160,000        236,188   
   

 

 

 
      1,074,333   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—1.2%

  

AIG Global Funding

   

1.650%, 12/15/17 (144A)

    310,000        309,947   

Air Lease Corp.

   

3.375%, 01/15/19 (a)

    410,000        415,125   

American Express Co.

   

1.550%, 05/22/18

    158,000        156,498   

3.625%, 12/05/24

    250,000        252,084   

7.000%, 03/19/18

    250,000        289,238   

American Express Credit Corp.

   

1.300%, 07/29/16

    811,000        814,533   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

American Express Credit Corp.

   

1.750%, 06/12/15

    200,000      $ 201,100   

2.750%, 09/15/15 (a)

    150,000        152,314   

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

   

4.000%, 10/15/23

    600,000        635,559   

5.650%, 11/15/15

    144,000        149,809   

BlackRock, Inc.

   

3.375%, 06/01/22

    55,000        56,714   

3.500%, 03/18/24 (a)

    45,000        46,343   

6.250%, 09/15/17

    250,000        280,071   

Blackstone Holdings Finance Co. LLC

   

5.875%, 03/15/21 (144A)

    250,000        289,197   

Capital One Bank USA N.A.

   

2.250%, 02/13/19

    435,000        431,850   

3.375%, 02/15/23

    660,000        656,331   

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

   

4.450%, 07/22/20

    400,000        439,361   

CME Group, Inc.

   

3.000%, 09/15/22

    300,000        304,871   

Credit Suisse USA, Inc.

   

5.125%, 08/15/15

    500,000        513,254   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC

   

1.684%, 09/08/17

    217,000        215,273   

1.700%, 05/09/16

    333,000        334,179   

3.664%, 09/08/24 (a)

    315,000        315,629   

4.250%, 02/03/17

    240,000        252,016   

4.250%, 09/20/22

    415,000        440,342   

4.375%, 08/06/23 (a)

    635,000        678,844   

5.750%, 02/01/21

    300,000        343,780   

General Electric Capital Corp.

   

1.500%, 07/12/16

    1,000,000        1,010,339   

1.600%, 11/20/17

    350,000        352,150   

1.625%, 07/02/15 (a)

    536,000        539,368   

1.625%, 04/02/18

    245,000        245,375   

2.100%, 12/11/19

    35,000        34,941   

4.375%, 09/16/20

    520,000        569,523   

5.500%, 01/08/20

    1,500,000        1,716,864   

5.625%, 09/15/17

    500,000        555,027   

6.000%, 08/07/19

    1,000,000        1,163,173   

6.250%, 12/15/22 (c)

    500,000        544,375   

6.750%, 03/15/32

    1,000,000        1,365,882   

General Motors Financial Co., Inc.

   

4.250%, 05/15/23

    320,000        326,365   

HSBC Finance Corp.

   

0.664%, 06/01/16 (c)

    100,000        99,782   

IntercontinentalExchange Group, Inc.

   

4.000%, 10/15/23

    118,000        124,209   

Invesco Finance plc

   

5.375%, 11/30/43

    75,000        90,187   

Jefferies Group LLC

   

5.125%, 04/13/18

    75,000        79,096   

6.875%, 04/15/21

    140,000        159,146   

8.500%, 07/15/19

    235,000        281,600   

MassMutual Global Funding II

   

2.000%, 04/05/17 (144A)

    250,000        253,522   

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.

   

8.000%, 03/01/32

    400,000      587,893   

10.375%, 11/01/18

    40,000        52,109   

Synchrony Financial

   

3.750%, 08/15/21

    430,000        439,240   

4.250%, 08/15/24

    155,000        159,050   
   

 

 

 
      19,723,478   
   

 

 

 

Electric—2.1%

  

Alabama Power Co.

   

4.150%, 08/15/44

    35,000        36,746   

5.500%, 10/15/17

    147,000        162,577   

5.700%, 02/15/33

    150,000        186,935   

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

   

1.650%, 12/15/17

    119,000        119,031   

Appalachian Power Co.

   

3.400%, 05/24/15

    75,000        75,742   

5.800%, 10/01/35 (a)

    150,000        184,287   

Arizona Public Service Co.

   

8.750%, 03/01/19

    165,000        207,539   

Atlantic City Electric Co.

   

7.750%, 11/15/18

    135,000        162,701   

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.

   

2.800%, 08/15/22

    143,000        142,523   

3.350%, 07/01/23

    460,000        471,501   

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co.

   

3.500%, 02/01/25 (144A) (a)

    270,000        271,717   

4.500%, 02/01/45 (144A)

    245,000        256,355   

5.150%, 11/15/43

    140,000        158,414   

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC

   

5.600%, 07/01/23

    381,000        441,965   

6.950%, 03/15/33

    100,000        139,598   

Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. (The)

   

5.500%, 08/15/24

    187,000        221,413   

7.880%, 11/01/17

    315,000        366,075   

CMS Energy Corp.

   

3.875%, 03/01/24 (a)

    138,000        143,292   

Commonwealth Edison Co.

   

4.600%, 08/15/43

    250,000        280,282   

5.875%, 02/01/33

    150,000        188,257   

6.450%, 01/15/38

    175,000        236,045   

Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc.

   

3.300%, 12/01/24

    280,000        285,123   

3.950%, 03/01/43

    300,000        299,201   

4.625%, 12/01/54

    205,000        224,514   

5.700%, 12/01/36

    300,000        369,152   

5.850%, 04/01/18

    180,000        203,705   

Consumers Energy Co.

   

3.125%, 08/31/24 (a)

    300,000        301,015   

3.950%, 05/15/43 (a)

    200,000        206,388   

5.650%, 04/15/20

    350,000        402,853   

Detroit Edison Co.

   

5.450%, 02/15/35

    30,000        36,738   

Dominion Gas Holdings LLC

   

2.500%, 12/15/19

    160,000        160,397   

3.600%, 12/15/24

    225,000        228,881   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—(Continued)

  

Dominion Resources, Inc.

   

4.450%, 03/15/21 (a)

    411,000      $ 445,305   

4.700%, 12/01/44

    265,000        282,009   

5.250%, 08/01/33

    400,000        469,379   

5.750%, 10/01/54 (c)

    315,000        328,676   

DTE Electric Co.

   

3.375%, 03/01/25

    250,000        256,517   

5.700%, 10/01/37

    250,000        327,064   

DTE Energy Co.

   

3.850%, 12/01/23

    137,000        143,915   

Duke Energy Carolinas LLC

   

4.300%, 06/15/20

    538,000        584,825   

6.000%, 12/01/28

    200,000        251,036   

6.000%, 01/15/38

    60,000        78,970   

Duke Energy Corp.

   

0.636%, 04/03/17 (c)

    108,000        108,144   

1.625%, 08/15/17

    680,000        680,454   

3.050%, 08/15/22 (a)

    415,000        416,989   

3.750%, 04/15/24

    430,000        447,297   

6.250%, 06/15/18

    375,000        428,377   

Duke Energy Progress, Inc.

   

4.150%, 12/01/44

    305,000        324,215   

6.125%, 09/15/33

    500,000        631,600   

EDP Finance B.V.

   

4.125%, 01/15/20 (144A) (a)

    335,000        336,876   

Electricite de France S.A.

   

2.150%, 01/22/19 (144A) (a)

    240,000        240,591   

4.875%, 01/22/44 (144A)

    165,000        183,124   

5.250%, 01/29/23 (144A) (c)

    230,000        235,750   

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

   

3.050%, 06/01/23

    51,000        51,003   

FirstEnergy Solutions Corp.

   

6.800%, 08/15/39

    180,000        193,157   

Florida Power & Light Co.

   

4.050%, 10/01/44

    190,000        199,257   

4.950%, 06/01/35

    300,000        346,078   

5.625%, 04/01/34

    110,000        136,430   

Hydro-Quebec

   

8.400%, 01/15/22

    165,000        221,998   

Indiana Michigan Power Co.

   

3.200%, 03/15/23

    250,000        251,359   

ITC Holdings Corp.

   

3.650%, 06/15/24

    285,000        289,007   

Jersey Central Power & Light Co.

   

6.150%, 06/01/37

    100,000        119,086   

Kansas City Power & Light Co.

   

3.150%, 03/15/23

    100,000        100,329   

6.375%, 03/01/18

    150,000        169,125   

7.150%, 04/01/19

    250,000        299,518   

Kansas Gas & Electric Co.

   

4.300%, 07/15/44 (144A) (a)

    190,000        207,286   

LG&E and KU Energy LLC

   

2.125%, 11/15/15

    235,000        237,064   

Louisville Gas & Electric Co.

   

5.125%, 11/15/40

    125,000        153,159   

Electric—(Continued)

  

Metropolitan Edison Co.

   

3.500%, 03/15/23 (144A)

    220,000      218,847   

4.000%, 04/15/25 (144A)

    230,000        234,578   

MidAmerican Energy Co.

   

3.700%, 09/15/23 (a)

    300,000        321,118   

Mississippi Power Co.

   

4.250%, 03/15/42

    145,000        146,974   

Nevada Power Co.

   

5.875%, 01/15/15

    700,000        700,938   

6.500%, 08/01/18

    425,000        492,425   

6.650%, 04/01/36

    150,000        207,424   

NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc.

   

1.200%, 06/01/15

    49,000        49,092   

1.339%, 09/01/15

    95,000        95,286   

2.400%, 09/15/19

    159,000        158,849   

7.875%, 12/15/15 (a)

    100,000        106,390   

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

   

3.508%, 10/01/24 (144A)

    270,000        278,067   

4.278%, 10/01/34 (144A)

    264,000        279,298   

Nisource Finance Corp.

   

4.800%, 02/15/44

    280,000        298,325   

5.450%, 09/15/20

    1,075,000        1,209,710   

6.250%, 12/15/40 (a)

    75,000        96,685   

6.800%, 01/15/19

    227,000        266,498   

Northern States Power Co.

   

2.150%, 08/15/22

    500,000        480,230   

NorthWestern Corp.

   

4.176%, 11/15/44

    200,000        212,035   

Oglethorpe Power Corp.

   

4.550%, 06/01/44

    60,000        63,258   

5.375%, 11/01/40

    115,000        135,346   

Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.

   

4.550%, 03/15/44

    170,000        189,993   

Oncor Electric Delivery Co. LLC

   

2.150%, 06/01/19

    240,000        238,936   

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

   

2.450%, 08/15/22

    91,000        87,563   

3.250%, 06/15/23

    300,000        300,572   

3.400%, 08/15/24

    415,000        419,961   

4.300%, 03/15/45

    60,000        61,587   

4.750%, 02/15/44

    140,000        153,972   

5.800%, 03/01/37

    255,000        312,371   

6.050%, 03/01/34

    250,000        318,276   

PacifiCorp

   

2.950%, 02/01/22

    570,000        577,498   

5.500%, 01/15/19

    65,000        73,443   

5.900%, 08/15/34

    15,000        19,298   

6.100%, 08/01/36

    116,000        153,484   

6.250%, 10/15/37

    260,000        351,857   

7.700%, 11/15/31

    40,000        59,314   

Peco Energy Co.

   

2.375%, 09/15/22

    250,000        243,047   

5.350%, 03/01/18

    530,000        590,152   

PPL Capital Funding, Inc.

   

3.500%, 12/01/22

    570,000        577,311   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—(Continued)

  

PPL Electric Utilities Corp.

   

2.500%, 09/01/22

    86,000      $ 84,978   

4.750%, 07/15/43

    42,000        48,385   

Progress Energy, Inc.

   

7.000%, 10/30/31

    325,000        446,639   

PSEG Power LLC

   

4.150%, 09/15/21

    110,000        115,881   

4.300%, 11/15/23 (a)

    74,000        77,588   

5.320%, 09/15/16

    45,000        48,077   

5.500%, 12/01/15

    428,000        445,693   

Public Service Co. of Colorado

   

2.250%, 09/15/22

    47,000        45,083   

3.950%, 03/15/43 (a)

    200,000        211,099   

5.125%, 06/01/19

    150,000        169,463   

5.800%, 08/01/18

    130,000        147,736   

Public Service Co. of New Hampshire

   

3.500%, 11/01/23

    55,000        56,797   

6.000%, 05/01/18

    410,000        461,236   

Public Service Co. of Oklahoma

   

5.150%, 12/01/19

    50,000        55,889   

6.625%, 11/15/37

    100,000        134,765   

Public Service Electric & Gas Co.

   

3.650%, 09/01/42

    56,000        54,798   

Puget Sound Energy, Inc.

   

6.974%, 06/01/67 (c)

    450,000        462,083   

San Diego Gas & Electric Co.

   

5.350%, 05/15/35

    100,000        122,303   

6.000%, 06/01/26

    100,000        125,115   

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.

   

4.500%, 06/01/64 (a)

    69,000        74,582   

Southern California Edison Co.

   

3.500%, 10/01/23 (a)

    239,000        251,237   

4.650%, 04/01/15

    150,000        151,486   

4.650%, 10/01/43

    200,000        226,504   

Southern Power Co.

   

4.875%, 07/15/15

    319,000        325,915   

5.150%, 09/15/41

    235,000        272,880   

5.250%, 07/15/43

    140,000        161,344   

TECO Finance, Inc.

   

6.572%, 11/01/17 (a)

    150,000        166,398   

Toledo Edison Co. (The)

   

6.150%, 05/15/37

    250,000        309,971   

7.250%, 05/01/20

    15,000        17,856   

Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co.

   

3.850%, 06/01/25 (144A)

    300,000        305,051   

Virginia Electric & Power Co.

   

1.200%, 01/15/18

    33,000        32,588   

3.450%, 02/15/24

    122,000        125,619   

Xcel Energy, Inc.

   

0.750%, 05/09/16

    95,000        94,830   

4.700%, 05/15/20

    245,000        271,861   
   

 

 

 
      34,227,669   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.0%

  

Emerson Electric Co.

   

5.250%, 10/15/18

    375,000      421,594   

6.000%, 08/15/32

    70,000        92,270   
   

 

 

 
      513,864   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.1%

  

Arrow Electronics, Inc.

   

3.000%, 03/01/18

    26,000        26,661   

6.000%, 04/01/20

    250,000        280,731   

7.500%, 01/15/27

    361,000        442,416   

Honeywell International, Inc.

   

5.300%, 03/15/17

    105,000        114,334   

Koninklijke Philips NV

   

3.750%, 03/15/22

    100,000        104,133   

6.875%, 03/11/38

    100,000        135,811   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

   

1.300%, 02/01/17

    176,000        175,015   

4.150%, 02/01/24

    103,000        108,623   
   

 

 

 
      1,387,724   
   

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction—0.0%

  

ABB Finance USA, Inc.

   

1.625%, 05/08/17

    165,000        165,544   

2.875%, 05/08/22

    100,000        100,500   
   

 

 

 
      266,044   
   

 

 

 

Environmental Control—0.1%

  

Republic Services, Inc.

   

5.500%, 09/15/19

    600,000        675,947   

6.086%, 03/15/35

    230,000        284,851   

Waste Management, Inc.

   

2.900%, 09/15/22

    354,000        350,283   

7.125%, 12/15/17

    179,000        209,104   

7.375%, 03/11/19

    100,000        120,854   

7.375%, 05/15/29

    450,000        610,340   
   

 

 

 
      2,251,379   
   

 

 

 

Food—0.5%

  

ConAgra Foods, Inc.

   

2.100%, 03/15/18

    21,000        20,932   

3.250%, 09/15/22

    200,000        196,994   

6.625%, 08/15/39

    125,000        159,964   

7.125%, 10/01/26

    40,000        51,077   

General Mills, Inc.

   

3.150%, 12/15/21

    244,000        252,092   

5.700%, 02/15/17

    500,000        546,248   

Kellogg Co.

   

4.000%, 12/15/20

    64,000        68,500   

7.450%, 04/01/31

    500,000        673,774   

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

   

5.000%, 06/04/42

    160,000        176,128   

6.125%, 08/23/18

    590,000        674,615   

6.875%, 01/26/39

    300,000        396,527   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Food—(Continued)

  

Kroger Co. (The)

   

0.758%, 10/17/16 (c)

    700,000      $ 698,864   

2.300%, 01/15/19

    70,000        69,983   

3.850%, 08/01/23

    235,000        243,666   

6.400%, 08/15/17

    100,000        111,774   

7.700%, 06/01/29

    110,000        147,957   

8.000%, 09/15/29

    400,000        551,176   

Mondelez International, Inc.

   

4.000%, 02/01/24

    220,000        230,179   

6.500%, 11/01/31 (a)

    900,000        1,168,868   

Sysco Corp.

   

2.350%, 10/02/19

    200,000        201,089   

4.350%, 10/02/34

    200,000        215,317   

Tyson Foods, Inc.

   

2.650%, 08/15/19

    96,000        96,874   

4.875%, 08/15/34

    250,000        274,243   
   

 

 

 
      7,226,841   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.2%

  

AGL Capital Corp.

   

5.875%, 03/15/41 (a)

    147,000        184,363   

6.000%, 10/01/34

    250,000        323,674   

6.375%, 07/15/16

    450,000        484,094   

Atmos Energy Corp.

   

6.350%, 06/15/17

    355,000        396,479   

8.500%, 03/15/19

    350,000        435,019   

Sempra Energy

   

2.875%, 10/01/22

    640,000        629,112   

3.550%, 06/15/24

    170,000        171,578   

6.500%, 06/01/16

    350,000        375,855   

9.800%, 02/15/19

    200,000        256,820   
   

 

 

 
      3,256,994   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.3%

  

Baxter International, Inc.

   

1.850%, 06/15/18

    57,000        56,715   

2.400%, 08/15/22

    112,000        106,766   

4.500%, 08/15/19

    125,000        136,986   

5.900%, 09/01/16

    300,000        322,938   

6.250%, 12/01/37

    115,000        151,073   

Becton Dickinson and Co.

   

2.675%, 12/15/19

    81,000        82,065   

3.734%, 12/15/24

    230,000        236,802   

4.685%, 12/15/44

    80,000        86,157   

Covidien International Finance S.A.

   

6.000%, 10/15/17

    200,000        223,818   

CR Bard, Inc.

   

1.375%, 01/15/18

    250,000        247,056   

Hospira, Inc.

   

6.050%, 03/30/17

    150,000        161,725   

Life Technologies Corp.

   

3.500%, 01/15/16

    300,000        303,631   

Medtronic, Inc.

   

3.150%, 03/15/22 (144A)

    1,215,000        1,230,401   

3.625%, 03/15/24

    332,000        344,628   

Healthcare-Products—(Continued)

  

Medtronic, Inc.

   

4.375%, 03/15/35 (144A)

    375,000      397,821   

4.625%, 03/15/45 (144A)

    515,000        558,255   
   

 

 

 
      4,646,837   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.5%

  

Aetna, Inc.

   

3.500%, 11/15/24

    250,000        254,110   

3.950%, 09/01/20

    416,000        439,263   

4.125%, 06/01/21

    500,000        537,093   

4.500%, 05/15/42

    150,000        158,809   

4.750%, 03/15/44

    45,000        49,618   

Anthem, Inc.

   

2.300%, 07/15/18

    510,000        512,823   

3.125%, 05/15/22

    100,000        99,940   

3.300%, 01/15/23

    35,000        34,966   

5.100%, 01/15/44

    360,000        404,550   

5.950%, 12/15/34

    700,000        864,802   

Cigna Corp.

   

4.000%, 02/15/22

    240,000        252,893   

5.125%, 06/15/20

    330,000        367,759   

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

   

3.500%, 09/01/23

    800,000        836,550   

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals

   

3.500%, 04/01/22

    765,000        788,993   

Quest Diagnostics, Inc.

   

6.400%, 07/01/17

    150,000        166,970   

6.950%, 07/01/37

    25,000        32,004   

Roche Holdings, Inc.

   

2.250%, 09/30/19 (144A)

    300,000        301,901   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   

2.750%, 02/15/23

    46,000        45,132   

2.875%, 12/15/21

    400,000        404,551   

2.875%, 03/15/23 (a)

    300,000        298,066   

3.950%, 10/15/42

    250,000        248,503   

4.700%, 02/15/21

    64,000        72,030   

5.375%, 03/15/16

    77,000        81,279   

5.800%, 03/15/36

    225,000        278,599   

6.625%, 11/15/37

    175,000        239,003   
   

 

 

 
      7,770,207   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.0%

  

Hutchison Whampoa International, Ltd.

   

2.000%, 11/08/17 (144A)

    200,000        200,402   
   

 

 

 

Household Products/Wares—0.0%

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

   

6.125%, 08/01/17

    98,000        109,643   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—1.0%

  

ACE INA Holdings, Inc.

   

2.700%, 03/13/23

    200,000        194,196   

5.800%, 03/15/18

    401,000        450,350   

AIG SunAmerica Global Financing X

   

6.900%, 03/15/32 (144A)

    1,335,000        1,838,198   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Allstate Corp. (The)

   

3.150%, 06/15/23

    173,000      $ 173,843   

5.750%, 08/15/53 (c)

    320,000        337,200   

American International Group, Inc.

   

4.500%, 07/16/44

    330,000        348,649   

6.400%, 12/15/20

    670,000        798,955   

Aon Corp.

   

3.125%, 05/27/16

    100,000        102,613   

3.500%, 09/30/15

    155,000        158,070   

5.000%, 09/30/20

    200,000        223,324   

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp.

   

1.300%, 05/15/18 (a)

    129,000        128,016   

3.000%, 05/15/22

    400,000        406,242   

4.300%, 05/15/43 (a)

    125,000        132,516   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

   

1.900%, 01/31/17

    200,000        202,886   

4.500%, 02/11/43 (a)

    210,000        229,658   

CNA Financial Corp.

   

7.250%, 11/15/23

    153,000        190,778   

7.350%, 11/15/19

    245,000        292,419   

Five Corners Funding Trust

   

4.419%, 11/15/23 (144A)

    120,000        126,890   

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.
5.000%, 06/01/21 (144A) (a)

    220,000        239,646   

6.500%, 03/15/35 (144A)

    300,000        366,530   

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.

   

8.500%, 05/15/25 (144A)

    500,000        635,320   

Lincoln National Corp.

   

6.250%, 02/15/20

    375,000        435,112   

Markel Corp.

   

3.625%, 03/30/23

    275,000        276,571   

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.

   

8.875%, 06/01/39 (144A)

    401,000        647,012   

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

   

7.875%, 04/01/33 (144A)

    200,000        277,310   

8.250%, 12/01/31 (144A)

    135,000        191,779   

9.375%, 08/15/39 (144A)

    138,000        218,655   

New York Life Global Funding

   

2.150%, 06/18/19 (144A)

    365,000        364,287   

2.450%, 07/14/16 (144A)

    150,000        153,550   

New York Life Insurance Co.

   

5.875%, 05/15/33 (144A)

    400,000        495,930   

Pacific Life Insurance Co.

   

9.250%, 06/15/39 (144A)

    200,000        314,601   

Pricoa Global Funding I

   

1.600%, 05/29/18 (144A)

    617,000        608,530   

2.200%, 05/16/19 (144A)

    280,000        278,654   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

   

6.050%, 10/15/36

    100,000        124,647   

Principal Life Global Funding II

   

0.606%, 05/27/16 (144A) (a) (c)

    500,000        501,332   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

   

3.500%, 05/15/24

    320,000        325,267   

5.200%, 03/15/44 (a) (c)

    445,000        440,550   

Prudential Insurance Co. of America (The)

   

8.300%, 07/01/25 (144A)

    800,000        1,080,460   

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Swiss Re Capital I L.P.

   

6.854%, 05/25/16 (144A) (c)

    100,000      104,750   

Swiss Re Treasury U.S. Corp.

   

4.250%, 12/06/42 (144A)

    120,000        124,343   

Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America

   

4.900%, 09/15/44 (144A)

    136,000        151,551   

Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)

   

3.900%, 11/01/20

    25,000        26,855   

6.750%, 06/20/36

    175,000        245,592   

Travelers Property Casualty Corp.

   

6.375%, 03/15/33

    100,000        133,661   

Voya Financial, Inc.

   

2.900%, 02/15/18

    565,000        578,420   
   

 

 

 
      15,675,718   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.1%

  

Amazon.com, Inc.

   

2.500%, 11/29/22

    300,000        283,955   

2.600%, 12/05/19

    267,000        269,713   

4.800%, 12/05/34

    189,000        198,401   

4.950%, 12/05/44

    90,000        92,970   

eBay, Inc.

   

2.600%, 07/15/22

    137,000        130,005   

2.875%, 08/01/21

    100,000        98,987   

3.250%, 10/15/20

    408,000        415,011   
   

 

 

 
      1,489,042   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.1%

  

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

   

6.125%, 08/15/23

    243,000        248,594   

Glencore Funding LLC

   

3.125%, 04/29/19 (144A)

    320,000        320,768   

4.625%, 04/29/24 (144A)

    255,000        256,224   

Nucor Corp.

   

4.000%, 08/01/23

    90,000        94,259   

5.200%, 08/01/43

    198,000        218,260   

5.850%, 06/01/18

    550,000        614,718   

Vale Overseas, Ltd.

   

4.375%, 01/11/22 (a)

    505,000        484,047   
   

 

 

 
      2,236,870   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.1%

  

Caterpillar Financial Services Corp.

   

2.450%, 09/06/18

    160,000        163,754   

3.250%, 12/01/24

    435,000        440,748   

7.050%, 10/01/18

    155,000        182,855   

Caterpillar, Inc.

   

5.300%, 09/15/35

    400,000        488,954   

7.300%, 05/01/31

    584,000        826,806   
   

 

 

 
      2,103,117   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Machinery-Diversified—0.1%

  

Deere & Co.

   

5.375%, 10/16/29

    1,175,000      $ 1,423,823   

8.100%, 05/15/30

    61,000        92,943   

John Deere Capital Corp.

   

1.200%, 10/10/17

    59,000        58,664   

1.700%, 01/15/20

    43,000        41,909   

2.250%, 04/17/19

    75,000        75,669   

2.800%, 03/04/21

    210,000        212,506   

2.800%, 01/27/23 (a)

    122,000        121,442   
   

 

 

 
      2,026,956   
   

 

 

 

Media—1.2%

  

21st Century Fox America, Inc.

   

5.400%, 10/01/43 (a)

    150,000        178,581   

6.650%, 11/15/37

    110,000        146,879   

7.125%, 04/08/28

    220,000        277,574   

7.250%, 05/18/18

    265,000        310,237   

7.280%, 06/30/28

    400,000        511,781   

7.300%, 04/30/28

    218,000        280,058   

7.625%, 11/30/28

    100,000        132,596   

CBS Corp.

   

2.300%, 08/15/19

    500,000        494,027   

3.700%, 08/15/24

    265,000        264,274   

Comcast Corp.

   

4.250%, 01/15/33

    303,000        320,855   

4.500%, 01/15/43 (a)

    135,000        143,816   

4.750%, 03/01/44 (a)

    450,000        501,476   

5.875%, 02/15/18

    100,000        112,512   

6.500%, 11/15/35

    185,000        246,974   

7.050%, 03/15/33

    187,000        260,185   

COX Communications, Inc.

   

6.450%, 12/01/36 (144A)

    500,000        596,143   

DIRECTV Holdings LLC / DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc.

   

2.400%, 03/15/17

    120,000        122,264   

3.500%, 03/01/16

    80,000        82,087   

3.800%, 03/15/22

    141,000        143,449   

3.950%, 01/15/25

    51,000        51,401   

4.450%, 04/01/24

    325,000        340,049   

4.600%, 02/15/21

    100,000        107,114   

5.000%, 03/01/21

    1,025,000        1,117,761   

5.150%, 03/15/42

    155,000        160,171   

Discovery Communications LLC

   

4.375%, 06/15/21

    150,000        158,671   

4.875%, 04/01/43 (a)

    60,000        61,861   

5.050%, 06/01/20

    375,000        411,985   

Grupo Televisa S.A.B.

   

8.500%, 03/11/32 (a)

    100,000        138,293   

Historic TW, Inc.

   

6.875%, 06/15/18

    100,000        115,618   

NBCUniversal Enterprise, Inc.

   

1.662%, 04/15/18 (144A)

    160,000        158,856   

NBCUniversal Media LLC

   

2.875%, 01/15/23

    450,000        449,554   

4.450%, 01/15/43

    400,000        423,845   

5.950%, 04/01/41

    300,000        385,774   

Media—(Continued)

  

Sky plc

   

3.750%, 09/16/24 (144A)

    510,000      513,123   

TCI Communications, Inc.

   

7.875%, 02/15/26

    996,000        1,389,229   

Thomson Reuters Corp.

   

1.300%, 02/23/17

    162,000        161,151   

3.950%, 09/30/21

    500,000        526,910   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.

   

4.125%, 02/15/21

    180,000        192,634   

5.000%, 02/01/20

    660,000        727,310   

5.500%, 09/01/41

    110,000        127,812   

Time Warner Entertainment Co. L.P.

   

8.375%, 03/15/23

    265,000        356,660   

8.375%, 07/15/33

    450,000        675,331   

Time Warner, Inc.

   

4.050%, 12/15/23

    286,000        300,026   

4.650%, 06/01/44 (a)

    275,000        286,708   

4.750%, 03/29/21

    500,000        545,688   

5.350%, 12/15/43

    90,000        102,220   

6.200%, 03/15/40

    205,000        249,570   

6.500%, 11/15/36

    385,000        489,787   

7.625%, 04/15/31

    350,000        487,947   

Viacom, Inc.

   

3.250%, 03/15/23

    44,000        42,493   

4.250%, 09/01/23

    900,000        927,990   

4.375%, 03/15/43

    280,000        257,825   

6.125%, 10/05/17

    400,000        445,176   

6.875%, 04/30/36

    375,000        476,008   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

   

3.750%, 06/01/21

    673,000        727,078   
   

 

 

 
      19,215,397   
   

 

 

 

Metal Fabricate/Hardware—0.0%

  

Precision Castparts Corp.

   

2.500%, 01/15/23

    300,000        288,875   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.4%

  

Barrick Gold Corp.

   

3.850%, 04/01/22 (a)

    100,000        96,234   

5.250%, 04/01/42

    140,000        129,409   

BHP Billiton Finance USA, Ltd.

   

2.050%, 09/30/18 (a)

    137,000        137,509   

2.875%, 02/24/22

    400,000        399,509   

3.250%, 11/21/21

    500,000        516,382   

5.000%, 09/30/43

    255,000        289,048   

5.400%, 03/29/17

    450,000        489,998   

Freeport-McMoRan Corp.

   

9.500%, 06/01/31

    500,000        644,173   

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.

   

3.875%, 03/15/23

    1,132,000        1,067,290   

4.550%, 11/14/24 (a)

    670,000        650,589   

5.450%, 03/15/43

    24,000        22,694   

Rio Tinto Finance USA plc

   

1.375%, 06/17/16

    250,000        251,102   

2.000%, 03/22/17 (a)

    500,000        506,004   

2.875%, 08/21/22

    585,000        562,456   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Mining—(Continued)

  

Rio Tinto Finance USA, Ltd.

   

7.125%, 07/15/28

    280,000      $ 364,739   

Teck Resources, Ltd.

   

3.750%, 02/01/23 (a)

    303,000        271,576   

6.250%, 07/15/41

    590,000        543,897   

Xstrata Finance Canada, Ltd.

   

4.250%, 10/25/22 (144A)

    14,000        13,931   

5.550%, 10/25/42 (144A)

    135,000        136,222   
   

 

 

 
      7,092,762   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.3%

  

Cooper U.S., Inc.

   

5.450%, 04/01/15

    250,000        253,029   

Eaton Corp.

   

7.650%, 11/15/29

    100,000        141,225   

General Electric Co.

   

2.700%, 10/09/22

    148,000        148,060   

3.375%, 03/11/24

    218,000        225,205   

4.125%, 10/09/42

    205,000        212,218   

4.500%, 03/11/44

    505,000        555,107   

Honeywell, Inc.

   

6.625%, 06/15/28

    250,000        329,272   

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

   

3.900%, 09/01/42

    200,000        201,481   

6.250%, 04/01/19

    172,000        200,523   

Ingersoll-Rand Co.

   

6.443%, 11/15/27

    300,000        361,195   

Ingersoll-Rand Global Holding Co., Ltd.

   

4.250%, 06/15/23

    135,000        142,304   

6.875%, 08/15/18

    272,000        315,756   

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

   

3.300%, 11/21/24

    114,000        116,342   

6.550%, 07/15/18

    500,000        577,723   

Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV

   

5.750%, 10/17/16 (144A)

    230,000        248,672   

Textron, Inc.

   

3.875%, 03/01/25

    170,000        170,299   

Tyco International Finance S.A.

   

8.500%, 01/15/19

    142,000        173,012   
   

 

 

 
      4,371,423   
   

 

 

 

Office/Business Equipment—0.0%

  

Xerox Corp.

   

6.750%, 02/01/17

    100,000        110,223   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—1.8%

  

Alberta Energy Co., Ltd.

   

7.375%, 11/01/31

    500,000        590,046   

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

   

3.450%, 07/15/24 (a)

    325,000        317,278   

4.500%, 07/15/44 (a)

    209,000        202,829   

5.950%, 09/15/16

    280,000        299,426   

6.375%, 09/15/17

    240,000        266,833   

Apache Corp.

   

3.625%, 02/01/21

    750,000        758,192   

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Apache Corp.

   

4.750%, 04/15/43

    100,000      93,780   

5.100%, 09/01/40

    300,000        293,860   

6.000%, 01/15/37 (a)

    150,000        163,229   

BP Capital Markets plc

   

1.375%, 11/06/17

    40,000        39,564   

2.237%, 05/10/19

    333,000        332,596   

2.241%, 09/26/18

    650,000        651,838   

2.750%, 05/10/23

    335,000        313,267   

3.245%, 05/06/22

    340,000        334,233   

4.500%, 10/01/20

    600,000        649,181   

4.742%, 03/11/21

    500,000        544,255   

Burlington Resources Finance Co.

   

7.400%, 12/01/31

    300,000        422,883   

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.

   

1.750%, 01/15/18

    188,000        186,894   

3.800%, 04/15/24

    111,000        109,087   

5.850%, 02/01/35

    405,000        443,103   

7.200%, 01/15/32

    200,000        242,380   

Canadian Oil Sands, Ltd.

   

6.000%, 04/01/42 (144A) (a)

    64,000        57,786   

Cenovus Energy, Inc.

   

3.000%, 08/15/22

    50,000        46,797   

3.800%, 09/15/23

    500,000        488,250   

5.200%, 09/15/43 (a)

    220,000        211,876   

5.700%, 10/15/19

    325,000        358,032   

Chevron Corp.

   

1.718%, 06/24/18

    110,000        110,556   

2.355%, 12/05/22

    330,000        320,006   

3.191%, 06/24/23

    900,000        916,804   

CNOOC Nexen Finance 2014 ULC

   

4.250%, 04/30/24

    208,000        215,213   

ConocoPhillips

   

6.000%, 01/15/20

    325,000        377,631   

ConocoPhillips Holding Co.

   

6.950%, 04/15/29

    225,000        299,741   

Devon Energy Corp.

   

4.750%, 05/15/42 (a)

    243,000        244,624   

7.950%, 04/15/32

    235,000        323,936   

Devon Financing Corp. LLC

   

7.875%, 09/30/31

    250,000        341,037   

Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.

   

3.450%, 11/01/23 (a)

    228,000        211,605   

Ecopetrol S.A.

   

5.875%, 05/28/45

    300,000        277,500   

Ensco plc

   

4.700%, 03/15/21

    165,000        165,748   

EOG Resources, Inc.

   

2.625%, 03/15/23 (a)

    73,000        70,000   

5.875%, 09/15/17

    50,000        55,327   

6.875%, 10/01/18

    120,000        140,231   

Hess Corp.

   

7.875%, 10/01/29

    175,000        223,935   

Kerr-McGee Corp.

   

7.875%, 09/15/31

    1,000,000        1,367,097   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Marathon Oil Corp.

   

6.000%, 10/01/17

    400,000      $ 440,907   

6.800%, 03/15/32

    727,000        879,934   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

   

3.625%, 09/15/24

    241,000        236,181   

Nabors Industries, Inc.

   

2.350%, 09/15/16

    200,000        197,828   

5.000%, 09/15/20

    225,000        220,988   

Nexen Energy ULC

   

5.875%, 03/10/35

    270,000        317,063   

Noble Energy, Inc.

   

3.900%, 11/15/24

    122,000        120,578   

5.050%, 11/15/44

    107,000        105,762   

5.250%, 11/15/43

    390,000        396,063   

Noble Holding International, Ltd.

   

5.250%, 03/15/42 (a)

    250,000        197,210   

6.050%, 03/01/41 (a)

    300,000        257,954   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

   

1.750%, 02/15/17

    500,000        502,884   

8.450%, 02/15/29

    135,000        191,519   

Petro-Canada

   

5.350%, 07/15/33

    165,000        183,701   

Petrobras Global Finance B.V.

   

2.603%, 03/17/17 (c)

    525,000        484,628   

4.375%, 05/20/23 (a)

    84,000        72,247   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A.

   

6.750%, 01/27/41

    330,000        300,158   

Petroleos Mexicanos

   

4.875%, 01/18/24

    250,000        259,750   

5.500%, 06/27/44 (144A) (a)

    66,000        67,320   

Phillips 66

   

4.875%, 11/15/44

    405,000        414,536   

Pride International, Inc.

   

6.875%, 08/15/20

    525,000        589,035   

Shell International Finance B.V.

   

2.375%, 08/21/22

    440,000        428,007   

3.400%, 08/12/23 (a)

    350,000        361,238   

3.625%, 08/21/42 (a)

    25,000        23,780   

4.550%, 08/12/43

    350,000        382,890   

5.200%, 03/22/17

    500,000        542,805   

5.500%, 03/25/40

    86,000        104,723   

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2013, Ltd.

   

4.375%, 10/17/23 (144A)

    582,000        609,245   

Statoil ASA

   

1.200%, 01/17/18

    25,000        24,705   

5.100%, 08/17/40 (a)

    100,000        115,664   

7.250%, 09/23/27

    205,000        280,179   

Suncor Energy, Inc.

   

5.950%, 12/01/34

    100,000        116,817   

6.100%, 06/01/18

    805,000        902,976   

7.150%, 02/01/32

    100,000        131,113   

Talisman Energy, Inc.

   

5.850%, 02/01/37

    100,000        97,037   

7.750%, 06/01/19

    350,000        403,154   

Tosco Corp.

   

8.125%, 02/15/30

    526,000        765,252   

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Total Capital Canada, Ltd.

   

2.750%, 07/15/23 (a)

    1,229,000      1,192,146   

Total Capital International S.A.

   

2.700%, 01/25/23

    555,000        537,397   

2.875%, 02/17/22

    70,000        69,292   

Total Capital S.A.

   

4.450%, 06/24/20 (a)

    190,000        208,449   

Transocean, Inc.

   

3.800%, 10/15/22 (a)

    78,000        63,205   

6.375%, 12/15/21 (a)

    85,000        78,408   

6.500%, 11/15/20 (a)

    645,000        608,214   

7.375%, 04/15/18

    75,000        73,951   

7.500%, 04/15/31 (a)

    55,000        50,753   
   

 

 

 
      28,686,132   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Services—0.2%

  

Baker Hughes, Inc.

   

6.875%, 01/15/29

    153,000        198,061   

Cameron International Corp.

   

6.375%, 07/15/18

    80,000        89,754   

Halliburton Co.

   

3.500%, 08/01/23

    714,000        720,494   

6.700%, 09/15/38

    350,000        453,810   

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

   

1.350%, 12/01/17

    29,000        28,628   

2.600%, 12/01/22

    200,000        188,009   

Schlumberger Investment S.A.

   

1.250%, 08/01/17 (144A)

    643,000        640,558   

3.650%, 12/01/23

    358,000        374,235   

Weatherford International LLC

   

6.800%, 06/15/37

    100,000        94,562   

Weatherford International, Ltd.

   

5.125%, 09/15/20

    100,000        98,246   

5.950%, 04/15/42

    55,000        46,570   

6.000%, 03/15/18

    200,000        213,502   

6.500%, 08/01/36 (a)

    560,000        513,046   

6.750%, 09/15/40

    100,000        93,148   
   

 

 

 
      3,752,623   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—1.0%

  

Abbott Laboratories

   

5.125%, 04/01/19

    158,000        177,104   

AbbVie, Inc.

   

1.200%, 11/06/15

    180,000        180,529   

1.750%, 11/06/17

    874,000        875,899   

2.900%, 11/06/22

    725,000        713,782   

Actavis Funding SCS

   

4.850%, 06/15/44

    250,000        253,684   

Actavis, Inc.

   

1.875%, 10/01/17

    300,000        298,837   

Allergan, Inc.

   

5.750%, 04/01/16

    80,000        84,638   

AstraZeneca plc

   

5.900%, 09/15/17

    200,000        224,248   

6.450%, 09/15/37

    360,000        485,100   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Pharmaceuticals—(Continued)

  

Bayer U.S. Finance LLC

   

1.500%, 10/06/17 (144A)

    285,000      $ 285,183   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

   

6.800%, 11/15/26

    100,000        134,008   

6.875%, 08/01/97

    100,000        148,124   

Cardinal Health, Inc.

   

2.400%, 11/15/19

    128,000        127,584   

3.200%, 06/15/22

    155,000        155,112   

Express Scripts Holding Co.

   

2.250%, 06/15/19

    295,000        291,841   

2.650%, 02/15/17

    229,000        234,151   

3.125%, 05/15/16

    95,000        97,655   

3.500%, 06/15/24

    249,000        248,127   

3.900%, 02/15/22

    145,000        150,993   

6.125%, 11/15/41

    350,000        440,964   

7.250%, 06/15/19

    135,000        162,089   

Forest Laboratories, Inc.

   

5.000%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    225,000        243,636   

GlaxoSmithKline Capital plc

   

2.850%, 05/08/22

    870,000        870,047   

GlaxoSmithKline Capital, Inc.

   

2.800%, 03/18/23

    143,000        141,199   

4.200%, 03/18/43

    100,000        102,749   

5.375%, 04/15/34

    300,000        365,269   

Johnson & Johnson

   

6.950%, 09/01/29

    700,000        1,004,191   

McKesson Corp.

   

2.700%, 12/15/22

    359,000        343,476   

2.850%, 03/15/23

    220,000        210,130   

3.796%, 03/15/24

    600,000        616,370   

4.883%, 03/15/44

    10,000        11,016   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

   

4.900%, 11/01/19

    135,000        148,364   

5.900%, 11/01/39

    300,000        369,323   

Medco Health Solutions, Inc.

   

4.125%, 09/15/20

    450,000        477,839   

Merck & Co., Inc.

   

2.400%, 09/15/22

    62,000        60,508   

Mylan, Inc.

   

1.800%, 06/24/16

    230,000        231,387   

2.600%, 06/24/18

    50,000        50,653   

Novartis Capital Corp.

   

2.400%, 09/21/22

    300,000        295,318   

3.400%, 05/06/24

    527,000        548,229   

Novartis Securities Investment, Ltd.

   

5.125%, 02/10/19

    200,000        224,566   

Perrigo Co. plc

   

1.300%, 11/08/16

    305,000        303,664   

Perrigo Finance plc

   

3.500%, 12/15/21

    200,000        202,333   

3.900%, 12/15/24

    200,000        203,658   

Pfizer, Inc.

   

0.541%, 06/15/18 (c)

    300,000        300,217   

4.300%, 06/15/43

    140,000        149,932   

Sanofi

   

1.250%, 04/10/18

    419,000        415,001   

Pharmaceuticals—(Continued)

  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Co. B.V.

   

2.950%, 12/18/22

    195,000      189,942   

3.650%, 11/10/21

    563,000        576,917   

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance IV LLC

   

2.250%, 03/18/20

    240,000        235,747   

Wyeth LLC

   

5.500%, 02/15/16

    100,000        105,281   

6.500%, 02/01/34

    806,000        1,086,633   

Zoetis, Inc.

   

1.875%, 02/01/18

    52,000        51,532   

3.250%, 02/01/23

    460,000        453,757   

4.700%, 02/01/43

    43,000        43,764   
   

 

 

 
      16,402,300   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—0.9%

  

Boardwalk Pipelines L.P.

   

5.750%, 09/15/19

    290,000        313,809   

DCP Midstream Operating L.P.

   

3.875%, 03/15/23

    293,000        280,382   

Enbridge, Inc.

   

4.000%, 10/01/23

    265,000        258,797   

Energy Transfer Partners L.P.

   

3.600%, 02/01/23

    450,000        435,451   

5.150%, 02/01/43

    120,000        118,755   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC

   

3.750%, 02/15/25

    567,000        569,159   

3.900%, 02/15/24

    82,000        83,516   

4.050%, 02/15/22

    75,000        77,819   

4.850%, 03/15/44

    230,000        239,825   

4.950%, 10/15/54

    33,000        33,777   

5.200%, 09/01/20

    510,000        562,471   

5.250%, 01/31/20

    500,000        552,652   

6.125%, 10/15/39

    400,000        483,174   

6.875%, 03/01/33

    162,000        207,822   

8.375%, 08/01/66 (c)

    165,000        177,169   

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P.

   

3.500%, 03/01/21

    125,000        122,979   

3.500%, 09/01/23

    270,000        256,323   

3.950%, 09/01/22

    340,000        337,131   

5.000%, 08/15/42

    240,000        228,088   

5.400%, 09/01/44

    165,000        165,338   

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

   

3.050%, 12/01/19

    135,000        133,927   

4.300%, 06/01/25

    265,000        265,123   

Magellan Midstream Partners L.P.

   

6.550%, 07/15/19

    695,000        812,111   

ONEOK Partners L.P.

   

3.250%, 02/01/16

    115,000        117,303   

6.125%, 02/01/41

    475,000        510,967   

6.650%, 10/01/36

    275,000        316,490   

Plains All American Pipeline L.P. / PAA Finance Corp.

   

3.650%, 06/01/22

    350,000        351,891   

4.700%, 06/15/44

    250,000        248,197   

5.750%, 01/15/20

    610,000        689,075   

6.650%, 01/15/37

    425,000        528,125   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Pipelines—(Continued)

  

Spectra Energy Capital LLC

   

3.300%, 03/15/23

    237,000      $ 225,120   

6.750%, 07/15/18

    185,000        209,031   

6.750%, 02/15/32

    705,000        864,221   

7.500%, 09/15/38

    85,000        102,592   

Spectra Energy Partners L.P.

   

2.950%, 09/25/18

    140,000        143,275   

Sunoco Logistics Partners Operations L.P.

   

4.250%, 04/01/24

    154,000        155,733   

4.950%, 01/15/43

    295,000        282,686   

5.300%, 04/01/44

    170,000        171,352   

5.350%, 05/15/45

    260,000        262,877   

Texas Eastern Transmission L.P.

   

2.800%, 10/15/22 (144A)

    46,000        43,601   

6.000%, 09/15/17 (144A)

    150,000        165,243   

Texas Gas Transmission LLC

   

4.500%, 02/01/21 (144A)

    210,000        213,633   

TransCanada PipeLines, Ltd.

   

3.750%, 10/16/23

    345,000        345,399   

5.850%, 03/15/36

    176,000        201,018   

7.125%, 01/15/19

    142,000        165,025   

7.250%, 08/15/38

    300,000        401,287   

Western Gas Partners L.P.

   

4.000%, 07/01/22

    155,000        157,108   

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)

   

3.700%, 01/15/23

    145,000        130,222   

5.750%, 06/24/44 (a)

    40,000        34,794   

Williams Partners L.P.

   

3.900%, 01/15/25

    290,000        278,712   

4.900%, 01/15/45

    270,000        252,873   
   

 

 

 
      14,283,448   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.5%

  

American Tower Corp.

   

3.450%, 09/15/21

    330,000        324,436   

4.500%, 01/15/18

    220,000        233,637   

5.000%, 02/15/24

    474,000        502,661   

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

   

3.625%, 10/01/20 (a)

    135,000        140,412   

Boston Properties L.P.

   

3.800%, 02/01/24

    227,000        233,281   

3.850%, 02/01/23

    210,000        217,996   

5.625%, 11/15/20

    300,000        342,285   

5.875%, 10/15/19

    100,000        114,543   

DDR Corp.

   

3.500%, 01/15/21

    320,000        323,538   

Duke Realty L.P.

   

3.875%, 02/15/21

    265,000        275,237   

6.750%, 03/15/20

    185,000        217,777   

7.375%, 02/15/15

    175,000        176,268   

8.250%, 08/15/19

    145,000        178,887   

ERP Operating L.P.

   

4.625%, 12/15/21

    100,000        109,401   

4.750%, 07/15/20

    190,000        208,739   

5.750%, 06/15/17

    600,000        660,484   
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

HCP, Inc.

   

2.625%, 02/01/20

    100,000      $ 98,961   

3.150%, 08/01/22

    120,000        118,059   

3.875%, 08/15/24

    157,000        159,483   

4.200%, 03/01/24

    125,000        130,148   

5.375%, 02/01/21

    100,000        111,671   

5.625%, 05/01/17

    345,000        375,425   

Kimco Realty Corp.

   

3.125%, 06/01/23

    175,000        171,456   

3.200%, 05/01/21

    310,000        314,211   

Liberty Property L.P.

   

3.375%, 06/15/23

    75,000        73,118   

4.400%, 02/15/24

    155,000        162,618   

ProLogis L.P.

   

4.250%, 08/15/23

    333,000        351,859   

Realty Income Corp.

   

4.125%, 10/15/26

    250,000        254,848   

Simon Property Group L.P.

   

5.650%, 02/01/20

    420,000        482,101   

10.350%, 04/01/19

    340,000        444,716   

UDR, Inc.

   

3.700%, 10/01/20

    140,000        145,132   

Ventas Realty L.P. / Ventas Capital Corp.

   

4.250%, 03/01/22

    405,000        425,542   

4.750%, 06/01/21

    300,000        326,069   

Weingarten Realty Investors

   

4.450%, 01/15/24

    75,000        79,517   
   

 

 

 
      8,484,516   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.8%

  

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.

   

4.915%, 08/01/34

    138,000        142,399   

CVS Health Corp.

   

2.250%, 12/05/18

    500,000        504,476   

2.750%, 12/01/22

    380,000        370,113   

5.750%, 06/01/17

    80,000        88,292   

CVS Pass-Through Trust

   

4.704%, 01/10/36 (144A)

    92,691        98,739   

5.880%, 01/10/28

    521,524        593,721   

Gap, Inc. (The)

   

5.950%, 04/12/21

    212,000        241,257   

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

   

2.250%, 09/10/18

    496,000        505,458   

3.750%, 02/15/24

    320,000        341,791   

5.400%, 09/15/40

    200,000        245,768   

5.875%, 12/16/36

    100,000        130,600   

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

   

3.800%, 11/15/21

    500,000        535,582   

5.500%, 10/15/35

    275,000        336,096   

5.800%, 10/15/36

    150,000        188,652   

6.500%, 03/15/29

    125,000        158,365   

Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc.

   

2.875%, 02/15/23

    225,000        218,494   

4.300%, 02/15/43

    170,000        164,718   

6.700%, 09/15/28

    435,000        532,806   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Retail—(Continued)

  

Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc.

   

6.900%, 04/01/29

    113,000      $ 143,836   

6.900%, 01/15/32

    180,000        234,197   

7.000%, 02/15/28

    150,000        186,925   

McDonald’s Corp.

   

4.875%, 07/15/40

    340,000        378,258   

6.300%, 10/15/37

    325,000        424,671   

Nordstrom, Inc.

   

6.950%, 03/15/28

    170,000        224,019   

Target Corp.

   

3.500%, 07/01/24

    843,000        875,180   

6.350%, 11/01/32

    250,000        327,799   

6.650%, 08/01/28 (a)

    182,000        228,973   

6.750%, 01/01/28

    66,000        83,076   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

   

1.125%, 04/11/18

    135,000        133,452   

3.300%, 04/22/24

    150,000        154,877   

4.000%, 04/11/43

    475,000        492,803   

4.125%, 02/01/19

    250,000        272,300   

4.250%, 04/15/21

    800,000        883,317   

4.300%, 04/22/44

    385,000        420,245   

5.250%, 09/01/35

    775,000        932,216   

5.875%, 04/05/27

    90,000        113,981   

6.750%, 10/15/23

    111,000        143,855   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

   

2.700%, 11/18/19

    50,000        50,254   

3.100%, 09/15/22

    94,000        92,862   

3.300%, 11/18/21

    75,000        75,522   

3.800%, 11/18/24

    708,000        722,089   

4.500%, 11/18/34

    92,000        95,809   

4.800%, 11/18/44

    155,000        163,428   
   

 

 

 
      13,251,271   
   

 

 

 

Savings & Loans—0.0%

  

Nationwide Building Society

   

4.650%, 02/25/15 (144A)

    200,000        201,102   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.1%

  

Intel Corp.

   

3.300%, 10/01/21 (a)

    475,000        498,098   

National Semiconductor Corp.

   

6.600%, 06/15/17

    170,000        191,283   

Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

   

1.750%, 04/10/17 (144A)

    245,000        245,743   

Texas Instruments, Inc.

   

1.650%, 08/03/19

    110,000        107,396   
   

 

 

 
      1,042,520   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.3%

  

Intuit, Inc.

   

5.750%, 03/15/17

    431,000        473,672   

Microsoft Corp.

   

0.875%, 11/15/17

    65,000        64,352   

3.500%, 11/15/42

    190,000        180,076   

4.500%, 10/01/40

    275,000        304,706   

5.200%, 06/01/39

    500,000        595,050   

Software—(Continued)

  

Oracle Corp.

   

2.375%, 01/15/19

    165,000      167,855   

2.500%, 10/15/22

    2,014,000        1,961,829   

2.800%, 07/08/21

    225,000        227,798   

3.400%, 07/08/24

    315,000        321,953   

3.625%, 07/15/23 (a)

    161,000        168,842   

4.500%, 07/08/44 (a)

    230,000        249,820   

5.000%, 07/08/19

    200,000        224,251   

6.125%, 07/08/39

    70,000        90,874   
   

 

 

 
      5,031,078   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—1.8%

  

Alltel Corp.

   

6.800%, 05/01/29

    280,000        350,045   

America Movil S.A.B. de C.V.

   

1.241%, 09/12/16 (c)

    500,000        503,576   

3.125%, 07/16/22

    420,000        414,389   

4.375%, 07/16/42

    200,000        191,600   

5.000%, 03/30/20

    100,000        110,274   

5.625%, 11/15/17

    125,000        137,239   

6.375%, 03/01/35

    600,000        737,822   

AT&T, Inc.

   

0.618%, 02/12/16 (c)

    750,000        749,989   

1.700%, 06/01/17

    915,000        918,633   

2.375%, 11/27/18

    740,000        745,732   

3.900%, 03/11/24 (a)

    1,330,000        1,366,793   

4.300%, 12/15/42

    898,000        853,739   

4.800%, 06/15/44

    270,000        275,118   

5.500%, 02/01/18

    300,000        331,168   

BellSouth Capital Funding Corp.

   

7.875%, 02/15/30

    550,000        737,663   

BellSouth Telecommunications LLC

   

6.375%, 06/01/28

    350,000        419,326   

British Telecommunications plc

   

2.000%, 06/22/15

    500,000        503,028   

2.350%, 02/14/19

    285,000        284,591   

5.950%, 01/15/18

    100,000        111,519   

9.625%, 12/15/30

    75,000        117,754   

Cisco Systems, Inc.

   

1.100%, 03/03/17

    500,000        500,212   

2.125%, 03/01/19 (a)

    310,000        311,459   

2.900%, 03/04/21

    47,000        47,860   

3.625%, 03/04/24 (a)

    470,000        489,768   

4.450%, 01/15/20

    15,000        16,514   

5.500%, 01/15/40

    345,000        420,409   

5.900%, 02/15/39

    750,000        944,002   

Crown Castle Towers LLC

   

4.883%, 08/15/20 (144A)

    500,000        549,613   

Deutsche Telekom International Finance B.V.

   

2.250%, 03/06/17 (144A)

    650,000        660,267   

5.750%, 03/23/16

    100,000        105,600   

8.750%, 06/15/30

    100,000        147,716   

Koninklijke KPN NV

   

8.375%, 10/01/30

    250,000        351,498   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

   

1.400%, 07/18/17

    500,000        498,532   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Telecommunications—(Continued)

  

Orange S.A.

   

2.750%, 09/14/16

    500,000      $ 510,953   

5.500%, 02/06/44 (a)

    225,000        263,912   

9.000%, 03/01/31

    165,000        251,688   

Qwest Corp.

   

6.750%, 12/01/21

    350,000        404,708   

6.875%, 09/15/33

    100,000        100,307   

7.250%, 09/15/25

    133,000        158,400   

Rogers Communications, Inc.

   

4.100%, 10/01/23

    213,000        223,786   

6.800%, 08/15/18

    100,000        115,414   

7.500%, 08/15/38

    100,000        139,752   

8.750%, 05/01/32

    400,000        578,609   

SES Global Americas Holdings GP

   

2.500%, 03/25/19 (144A)

    70,000        69,648   

Telefonica Emisiones S.A.U.

   

3.192%, 04/27/18

    150,000        154,251   

4.570%, 04/27/23

    310,000        331,900   

6.421%, 06/20/16

    450,000        481,388   

Verizon Communications, Inc.

   

2.450%, 11/01/22

    235,000        220,491   

2.500%, 09/15/16

    194,000        198,302   

2.625%, 02/21/20 (144A)

    214,000        211,553   

3.450%, 03/15/21

    477,000        487,514   

3.500%, 11/01/24

    850,000        835,124   

3.850%, 11/01/42

    350,000        312,018   

4.400%, 11/01/34

    169,000        167,983   

4.500%, 09/15/20

    656,000        712,257   

4.862%, 08/21/46 (144A)

    1,494,000        1,534,677   

5.150%, 09/15/23

    1,600,000        1,766,773   

5.850%, 09/15/35

    650,000        763,853   

6.000%, 04/01/41

    290,000        341,803   

6.400%, 09/15/33

    477,000        587,560   

6.550%, 09/15/43

    575,000        736,661   

6.900%, 04/15/38

    350,000        458,495   

Verizon Pennsylvania LLC

   

6.000%, 12/01/28

    125,000        139,782   

8.750%, 08/15/31

    200,000        291,069   

Vodafone Group plc

   

1.500%, 02/19/18

    30,000        29,462   

2.500%, 09/26/22

    225,000        209,828   

2.950%, 02/19/23 (a)

    550,000        530,133   

4.375%, 02/19/43

    260,000        253,393   

6.150%, 02/27/37

    350,000        422,320   

6.250%, 11/30/32

    200,000        244,217   
   

 

 

 
      30,143,432   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.5%

  

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC

   

3.050%, 09/01/22

    620,000        623,938   

3.450%, 09/15/21

    510,000        532,183   

3.850%, 09/01/23

    500,000        527,407   

4.450%, 03/15/43

    310,000        323,871   

4.550%, 09/01/44

    200,000        214,663   

4.900%, 04/01/44

    150,000        168,651   

Transportation—(Continued)

  

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC

   

5.750%, 03/15/18

    100,000      112,086   

7.950%, 08/15/30

    100,000        143,976   

Canadian National Railway Co.

   

5.850%, 11/15/17

    190,000        212,634   

6.250%, 08/01/34

    100,000        132,851   

6.800%, 07/15/18

    120,000        139,275   

Canadian Pacific Railway Co.

   

5.750%, 03/15/33

    120,000        145,977   

7.250%, 05/15/19

    290,000        346,718   

CSX Corp.

   

3.400%, 08/01/24

    300,000        303,865   

4.100%, 03/15/44

    41,000        40,615   

5.600%, 05/01/17

    635,000        694,865   

7.900%, 05/01/17

    62,000        70,776   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

   

3.850%, 01/15/24

    250,000        262,864   

4.800%, 08/15/43

    80,000        89,068   

5.590%, 05/17/25

    100,000        118,870   

5.750%, 04/01/18

    500,000        561,112   

Ryder System, Inc.

   

2.500%, 03/01/17

    125,000        126,767   

3.600%, 03/01/16

    100,000        102,927   

7.200%, 09/01/15

    100,000        104,210   

Union Pacific Corp.

   

3.646%, 02/15/24

    138,000        146,060   

4.821%, 02/01/44

    257,000        293,418   

6.250%, 05/01/34

    378,000        504,318   

United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

   

8.375%, 04/01/20

    75,000        96,736   

8.375%, 04/01/30 (d)

    377,000        563,955   

United Parcel Service, Inc.

   

1.125%, 10/01/17

    32,000        31,842   

2.450%, 10/01/22

    14,000        13,724   
   

 

 

 
      7,750,222   
   

 

 

 

Trucking & Leasing—0.0%

  

Penske Truck Leasing Co. L.P. / PTL Finance Corp.

   

2.500%, 03/15/16 (144A)

    380,000        385,230   

2.875%, 07/17/18 (144A)

    93,000        94,563   

3.125%, 05/11/15 (144A)

    55,000        55,445   
   

 

 

 
      535,238   
   

 

 

 

Water—0.1%

  

American Water Capital Corp.

   

3.850%, 03/01/24 (a)

    450,000        473,793   

6.593%, 10/15/37

    100,000        138,410   
   

 

 

 
      612,203   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $394,951,093)

      396,796,493   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Convertible Bonds—17.5%

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Auto Manufacturers—0.4%

  

Volkswagen International Finance NV

   

5.500%, 11/09/15 (144A) (EUR)

    5,000,000      $ 6,691,578   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.1%

  

Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin

   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/17 (EUR)

    819,900        1,359,205   
   

 

 

 

Banks—0.8%

  

BNP Paribas S.A.

   

0.250%, 09/21/15 (EUR)

    1,600,000        2,070,638   

0.250%, 09/27/16 (EUR)

    3,600,000        4,786,135   

Credit Agricole S.A.

   

Zero Coupon, 12/06/16 (EUR)

    3,006,300        2,716,326   

Shizuoka Bank, Ltd. (The)

   

Zero Coupon, 04/25/18

    2,800,000        2,684,500   
   

 

 

 
      12,257,599   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—1.4%

  

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

   

1.625%, 05/01/16

    2,780,000        11,505,725   

Illumina, Inc.

   

Zero Coupon, 06/15/19 (144A) (a)

    10,649,000        11,713,900   
   

 

 

 
      23,219,625   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.1%

  

Macquarie Infrastructure Co. LLC

   

2.875%, 07/15/19 (a)

    1,914,000        2,174,783   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.3%

  

Cap Gemini S.A.

   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/19 (EUR)

    4,208,200        4,146,931   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.1%

  

HKEx International, Ltd.

   

0.500%, 10/23/17

    1,200,000        1,422,000   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.0%

  

Nidec Corp.

   

Zero Coupon, 09/18/15 (JPY)

    45,000,000        555,159   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.8%

  

Anthem, Inc.

   

2.750%, 10/15/42 (a)

    8,004,000        13,776,885   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—1.0%

  

GBL Verwaltung S.A.

   

1.250%, 02/07/17 (EUR)

    3,200,000        4,483,962   

Industrivarden AB

   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/19 (SEK)

    26,000,000        3,654,418   

1.875%, 02/27/17 (EUR)

    3,300,000        4,192,824   

Schematrentaquattro S.p.A.

   

0.250%, 11/29/16 (EUR)

    2,100,000        2,584,304   

Sofina S.A.

   

1.000%, 09/19/16

    1,000,000        1,010,040   
   

 

 

 
      15,925,548   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.2%

  

Swiss Life Holding AG

   

Zero Coupon, 12/02/20 (CHF)

    3,100,000      3,656,266   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.8%

  

Priceline Group, Inc. (The)

   

0.350%, 06/15/20 (a)

    9,197,000        10,254,655   

1.000%, 03/15/18 (a)

    2,052,000        2,726,595   
   

 

 

 
      12,981,250   
   

 

 

 

Investment Company Security—0.9%

  

Ares Capital Corp.

   

4.375%, 01/15/19

    1,851,000        1,855,627   

4.750%, 01/15/18 (a)

    2,972,000        3,046,300   

Billion Express Investments, Ltd.

   

0.750%, 10/18/15

    6,000,000        5,992,500   

Prospect Capital Corp.

   

5.375%, 10/15/17 (a)

    2,735,000        2,721,325   

5.750%, 03/15/18

    377,000        371,816   

5.875%, 01/15/19

    854,000        844,393   
   

 

 

 
      14,831,961   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.1%

  

Salzgitter Finance B.V.

   

2.000%, 11/08/17 (EUR)

    1,100,000        1,518,069   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—0.0%

  

Resorttrust, Inc.

   

Zero Coupon, 07/27/18 (JPY)

    35,000,000        378,402   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Diversified—0.0%

  

Daifuku Co., Ltd.

   

Zero Coupon, 10/02/17 (JPY)

    40,000,000        379,028   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.1%

  

Royal Gold, Inc.

   

2.875%, 06/15/19

    866,000        894,686   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.8%

  

Siemens Financieringsmaatschappij NV

   

1.050%, 08/16/17

    12,250,000        13,364,750   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.8%

  

Eni S.p.A.

   

0.250%, 11/30/15 (EUR)

    4,800,000        5,786,750   

0.625%, 01/18/16 (EUR)

    5,200,000        6,649,662   
   

 

 

 
      12,436,412   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Services—0.5%

  

Subsea 7 S.A.

   

1.000%, 10/05/17

    5,800,000        5,275,100   

Technip S.A.

   

0.250%, 01/01/17 (EUR)

    3,033,000        3,478,877   
   

 

 

 
      8,753,977   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Convertible Bonds—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Pharmaceuticals—1.1%

  

Mylan, Inc.

   

3.750%, 09/15/15 (a)

    3,371,000      $ 14,246,689   

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Co. LLC

   

0.250%, 02/01/26 (a)

    3,187,000        4,354,239   
   

 

 

 
      18,600,928   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.7%

  

British Land Co. Jersey, Ltd. (The)

   

1.500%, 09/10/17 (GBP)

    1,500,000        2,743,060   

CapitaLand, Ltd.

   

1.850%, 06/19/20 (SGD)

    4,500,000        3,216,227   

Deutsche Wohnen AG

   

0.500%, 11/22/20 (EUR)

    3,600,000        5,181,154   
   

 

 

 
      11,140,441   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—2.2%

  

Derwent London Capital No.2 Jersey, Ltd.

   

1.125%, 07/24/19 (GBP)

    1,100,000        1,887,793   

Fonciere Des Regions

   

0.875%, 04/01/19 (EUR)

    4,464,200        4,907,911   

Gecina S.A.

   

2.125%, 01/01/16 (EUR)

    1,128,100        1,867,535   

Great Portland Estates Capital Jersey, Ltd.

   

1.000%, 09/10/18 (GBP)

    2,000,000        3,455,419   

Host Hotels & Resorts L.P.

   

2.500%, 10/15/29 (144A)

    2,374,000        4,384,481   

Novion Property Group

   

5.750%, 07/04/16 (AUD)

    1,800,000        1,529,579   

ProLogis L.P.

   

3.250%, 03/15/15 (a)

    4,223,000        4,692,809   

Ruby Assets Pte, Ltd.

   

1.600%, 02/01/17 (SGD)

    2,500,000        2,167,308   

Unibail-Rodamco SE

   

Zero Coupon, 07/01/21 (EUR)

    1,221,200        4,275,025   

0.750%, 01/01/18 (EUR)

    2,147,000        6,769,677   
   

 

 

 
      35,937,537   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.1%

  

Lotte Shopping Co., Ltd.

   

Zero Coupon, 01/24/18 (KRW)

    1,800,000,000        1,619,206   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—2.3%

  

Intel Corp.

   

2.950%, 12/15/35 (a)

    6,002,000        7,885,128   

3.250%, 08/01/39 (a)

    2,399,000        4,171,261   

Lam Research Corp.

   

0.500%, 05/15/16 (a)

    6,096,000        8,001,000   

Novellus Systems, Inc.

   

2.625%, 05/15/41

    2,596,000        5,951,330   

STMicroelectronics NV

   

Zero Coupon, 07/03/19

    4,800,000        4,598,400   

1.000%, 07/03/21

    1,600,000        1,569,600   

Semiconductors—(Continued)

  

Xilinx, Inc.

   

2.625%, 06/15/17

    4,008,000      $ 6,032,040   
   

 

 

 
      38,208,759   
   

 

 

 

Software—1.1%

  

Akamai Technologies, Inc.

   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/19 (144A) (a)

    1,419,000        1,476,647   

Citrix Systems, Inc.

   

0.500%, 04/15/19 (144A) (a)

    10,211,000        10,753,459   

Red Hat, Inc.

   

0.250%, 10/01/19 (144A) (a)

    5,411,000        6,384,980   
   

 

 

 
      18,615,086   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.6%

  

Deutsche Post AG

   

0.600%, 12/06/19 (EUR)

    6,200,000        10,384,699   
   

 

 

 

Water—0.2%

  

Suez Environnement Co.

   

Zero Coupon, 02/27/20 (EUR)

    11,397,200        2,707,209   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Bonds
(Cost $284,230,345)

      287,937,979   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—2.8%   

Federal Agencies—0.1%

  

Federal Farm Credit Bank

   

3.040%, 03/06/28

    250,000        241,011   

5.250%, 12/28/27

    585,000        724,125   

Tennessee Valley Authority

   

5.375%, 04/01/56

    350,000        460,240   
   

 

 

 
      1,425,376   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—2.7%

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds

   

3.125%, 08/15/44 (a)

    475,000        511,367   

3.375%, 05/15/44

    225,000        253,301   

U.S. Treasury Notes

   

0.250%, 01/31/15 (a) (e) (f)

    41,425,000        41,429,847   

0.875%, 11/15/17 (a)

    2,575,000        2,562,727   
   

 

 

 
      44,757,242   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $39,585,443)

      46,182,618   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stocks—1.3%   

Aerospace & Defense—0.0%

  

United Technologies Corp.

   

7.500%, 08/01/15 (a)

    8,900        545,837   
   

 

 

 

Banks—0.7%

  

Wells Fargo & Co., Series L

   

7.500%, 12/31/49

    9,518        11,478,708   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Convertible Preferred Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric Utilities—0.4%

  

NextEra Energy, Inc.

   

5.799%, 09/01/16 (a)

    59,649      $ 3,441,151   

5.889%, 09/01/15

    42,460        2,842,272   
   

 

 

 
      6,283,423   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.2%

  

Dominion Resources, Inc.

   

6.000%, 07/01/16

    14,400        865,728   

6.125%, 04/01/16

    34,993        2,099,930   
   

 

 

 
      2,965,658   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
(Cost $20,081,835)

      21,273,626   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks—0.1%   

Automobiles—0.0%

  

Volkswagen AG

    1,789        399,612   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.1%

  

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

    18,012        1,948,440   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.0%

  

Marcopolo S.A.

    143,590        179,033   
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $2,562,285)

      2,527,085   
   

 

 

 
Municipals—0.1%   

American Municipal Power, Inc.

   

5.939%, 02/15/47

    75,000        94,300   

7.499%, 02/15/50

    350,000        520,096   

Los Angeles, Department of Airports, Build America Bonds

   

6.582%, 05/15/39

    65,000        85,378   

Los Angeles, Unified School District, Build America Bonds

   

5.750%, 07/01/34

    100,000        126,190   

6.758%, 07/01/34

    75,000        104,502   

Ohio University

   

5.590%, 12/01/2114

    300,000        323,586   

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

   

4.458%, 10/01/62

    160,000        169,829   

State of California

   

0.655%, 07/01/41 (c)

    130,000        130,222   

5.770%, 05/15/43

    140,000        179,946   

State of California, Build America Bonds

   

7.300%, 10/01/39

    260,000        382,977   

State of Massachusetts

   

5.456%, 12/01/39

    150,000        188,798   
   

 

 

 

Total Municipals
(Cost $2,115,759)

      2,305,824   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—0.1%   
Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Provincial—0.1%

  

Province of Quebec Canada

   

6.350%, 01/30/26

    600,000      $ 770,897   
   

 

 

 

Sovereign—0.0%

  

Brazilian Government International Bond

   

4.250%, 01/07/25

    200,000        200,000   

Mexico Government International Bonds

   

3.625%, 03/15/22

    250,000        255,375   

4.000%, 10/02/23

    288,000        298,800   
   

 

 

 
      754,175   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $1,545,532)

      1,525,072   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—30.0%   

Mutual Fund—8.1%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (g)

    134,185,705        134,185,705   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—0.2%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills

   

0.161%, 03/12/15 (f) (h)

    290,000        289,986   

0.168%, 01/08/15 (f) (h)

    2,425,000        2,424,995   
   

 

 

 
      2,714,981   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—21.7%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $356,993,154 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $369,295,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $364,138,165.

    356,993,154        356,993,154   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $493,893,829)

      493,893,840   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—106.9%
(Cost $1,729,864,841) (i)

      1,762,010,182   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(6.9)%

      (113,360,809
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,648,649,373   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $138,724,569 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $134,185,705 and non-cash collateral with a value of $9,196,082. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(d) Security is a “step-down” bond where the coupon decreases or steps down at a predetermined date. Rate shown is current coupon rate.
(e) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open centrally cleared swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $19,402,270.
(f) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $20,517,258.
(g) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(h) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(i) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,737,516,581. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $73,944,060 and $(49,450,459), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $24,493,601 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $78,075,478, which is 4.7% of net assets.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(GDR)— A Global Depositary Receipt is a negotiable certificate issued by one country’s bank against a certain number of shares of a company’s stock held in its custody but traded on the stock exchange of another country.
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(KRW)— South Korea Won
(NVDR)— Non-Voting Depository Receipts
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     13,157,951      

UBS AG

       01/30/15           USD        10,696,098         $ 26,518   
AUD     5,824,270      

Barclays Bank plc

       03/31/15           USD        4,712,347           13,399   
DKK     4,217,700      

UBS AG

       03/31/15           USD        696,938           (11,097
EUR     907,755      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/30/15           USD        1,122,789           (24,068
EUR     2,850,514      

Morgan Stanley & Co International PLC

       01/30/15           USD        3,619,292           (169,108
EUR     1,344,901      

Westpac Banking Corp.

       01/30/15           USD        1,652,613           (24,781
EUR     1,167,409      

Barclays Bank plc

       03/31/15           USD        1,428,820           (15,111
GBP     1,324,557      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        2,058,978           5,071   
GBP     756,595      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/30/15           USD        1,183,610           (4,613
GBP     551,841      

Morgan Stanley & Co International PLC

       01/30/15           USD        888,293           (28,361
HKD     33,631,742      

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.

       01/30/15           USD        4,335,820           1,045   
HKD     22,928,442      

UBS AG

       03/31/15           USD        2,956,327           313   
JPY     59,405,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/30/15           USD        499,899           (3,848
JPY     177,153,500      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/30/15           USD        1,499,080           (19,790
JPY     288,894,081      

Citibank N.A.

       01/30/15           USD        2,431,435           (19,074
JPY     15,648,700      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        130,359           313   
JPY     236,942,842      

UBS AG

       03/31/15           USD        1,986,266           (6,555
SEK     32,380,713      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        4,245,035           (90,943
SEK     16,226,830      

Westpac Banking Corp.

       03/31/15           USD        2,104,592           (22,386
SGD     2,585,352      

Barclays Bank plc

       03/31/15           USD        1,956,895           (7,856
ZAR     317,590      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/02/15           USD        27,331           123   

Contracts to Deliver

                                
AUD     1,500,000      

Citibank N.A.

       01/30/15           USD        1,307,077         $ 84,704   
AUD     425,212      

Royal Bank of Canada

       03/31/15           USD        345,459           447   
CAD     841,043      

Barclays Bank plc

       03/31/15           USD        724,382           1,885   
CHF     1,136,994      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        1,186,941           42,877   
CHF     1,706,611      

Standard Chartered Bank

       01/30/15           USD        1,790,986           73,764   
CHF     6,419,024      

Westpac Banking Corp.

       01/30/15           USD        6,549,423           90,487   
CHF     5,942,537      

UBS AG

       03/31/15           USD        6,063,950           77,068   
EUR     966,340      

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.

       01/30/15           USD        1,231,024           61,392   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR     1,256,556      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/30/15           USD        1,555,365         $ 34,464   
EUR     353,355      

Citibank N.A.

       01/30/15           USD        434,336           6,645   
EUR     7,708,661      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        9,664,148           333,795   
EUR     1,100,682      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        1,352,740           20,505   
EUR     702,478      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        898,359           48,099   
EUR     667,512      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        829,188           21,250   
EUR     492,505      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        602,297           6,182   
EUR     2,100,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/30/15           USD        2,657,644           115,862   
EUR     354,573      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/30/15           USD        443,892           14,727   
EUR     1,090,755      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

       01/30/15           USD        1,361,860           41,640   
EUR     864,683      

Morgan Stanley & Co International PLC

       01/30/15           USD        1,082,599           36,011   
EUR     59,374,670      

Standard Chartered Bank

       01/30/15           USD        75,141,852           3,276,368   
EUR     1,614,072      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/31/15           USD        1,980,987           26,378   
GBP     337,832      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/30/15           USD        527,898           1,456   
GBP     7,189,605      

Standard Chartered Bank

       01/30/15           USD        11,521,565           318,042   
GBP     760,021      

Westpac Banking Corp.

       01/30/15           USD        1,193,721           9,385   
GBP     1,675,762      

UBS AG

       03/31/15           USD        2,618,993           8,940   
JPY     1,017,428,156      

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.

       01/30/15           USD        8,584,262           88,402   
JPY     147,056,748      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/30/15           USD        1,226,791           (1,181
JPY     399,217,794      

Citibank N.A.

       01/30/15           USD        3,694,836           361,236   
JPY     75,994,639      

Toronto Dominion Bank

       03/31/15           USD        640,060           5,108   
NOK     33,112,925      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        4,484,759           45,103   
NOK     7,462,745      

Westpac Banking Corp.

       03/31/15           USD        1,011,294           12,412   
SEK     12,188,000      

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           USD        1,649,824           86,237   
SEK     12,000,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

       01/30/15           USD        1,655,704           116,235   
SGD     4,930,710      

Citibank N.A.

       01/30/15           USD        3,861,760           141,976   
SGD     1,438,583      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

       01/30/15           USD        1,108,709           23,425   
SGD     458,705      

UBS AG

       01/30/15           USD        347,991           1,938   

Cross Currency Contracts to Buy

                                
JPY     70,886,799      

UBS AG

       01/30/15           EUR        486,135           3,523   
                     

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 5,235,978   
                     

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Brent Crude Oil Futures

     02/12/15         4         USD        344,848       $ (112,008

Brent Crude Oil Futures

     08/14/15         5         USD        326,030         (8,430

Coffee Futures

     07/21/15         8         USD        591,023         (75,323

Copper Futures

     03/27/15         14         USD        1,058,574         (69,649

Corn Futures

     03/13/15         53         USD        1,025,523         26,527   

Cotton No. 2 Futures

     05/06/15         6         USD        188,627         (5,417

Euro Stoxx 50 Index Futures

     03/20/15         18         EUR        544,448         23,586   

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     03/20/15         6         GBP        371,571         30,828   

Gasoline RBOB Futures

     02/27/15         5         USD        430,513         (114,652

Gold 100 oz. Futures

     06/26/15         15         USD        1,849,539         (71,439

Lean Hogs Futures

     02/13/15         9         USD        314,037         (21,717

Live Cattle Futures

     02/27/15         9         USD        609,407         (20,627

NY Harbor ULSD Futures

     02/27/15         5         USD        426,540         (44,928

Natural Gas Futures

     02/25/15         34         USD        1,227,829         (243,189

Nickel Futures

     01/19/15         14         USD        1,448,701         (181,309

Nickel Futures

     03/16/15         11         USD        1,101,895         (102,721

Primary Aluminum Futures

     03/16/15         80         USD        4,182,210         (484,710

Red Wheat Futures

     05/14/15         6         USD        179,056         9,869   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Futures Contracts—(Continued)

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         2,838        USD         286,500,131      $ 4,735,429   

Silver Futures

     03/27/15         6        USD         515,986        (48,016

Soybean Futures

     03/13/15         14        USD         760,768        (44,318

Soybean Meal Futures

     03/13/15         10        USD         360,530        (12,929

Soybean Oil Futures

     03/13/15         20        USD         452,239        (66,559

Sugar No. 11 Futures

     02/27/15         34        USD         634,053        (81,131

TOPIX Index Futures

     03/12/15         208        JPY         2,897,569,000        250,718   

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         89        USD         12,612,800        253,263   

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         46        USD         5,863,647        (30,991

U.S. Treasury Note 2 Year Futures

     03/31/15         40        USD         8,757,064        (13,314

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         19        USD         2,255,762        3,902   

WTI Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures

     02/19/15         7        USD         531,768        (155,868

WTI Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures

     05/18/15         7        USD         559,458        (169,908

Wheat Futures

     05/14/15         17        USD         474,352        30,973   

Zinc Futures

     01/19/15         35        USD         1,864,379        32,621   

Zinc Futures

     05/18/15         19        USD         1,098,599        (61,436

Futures Contracts—Short

                                

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     03/20/15         (79     GBP         (5,097,795     (85,692

Hang Seng Index Futures

     01/29/15         (105     HKD         (125,421,340     163,011   

MSCI EAFE Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         (383     USD         (33,885,078     221,293   

MSCI Emerging Market Mini Futures

     03/20/15         (385     USD         (18,464,468     28,743   

Nickel Futures

     01/19/15         (14     USD         (1,397,171     129,779   

Nickel Futures

     03/16/15         (7     USD         (665,810     29,972   

Primary Aluminum Futures

     03/16/15         (63     USD         (3,119,557     207,776   

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         (70     USD         (8,101,310     (303,590

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         (125     USD         (15,784,644     (64,966

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         (22     USD         (3,521,410     (112,715

Zinc Futures

     01/19/15         (35     USD         (2,021,003     124,003   

Zinc Futures

     05/18/15         (12     USD         (656,473     1,423   
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 3,496,164   
            

 

 

 

Swap Agreements

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
   Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
   Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Pay

   3-Month USD-LIBOR      2.463   10/31/24      USD         202,100,000       $ 3,480,786   

Pay

   3-Month USD-LIBOR      2.445   11/26/24      USD         147,100,000         2,170,491   

Pay

   3-Month USD-LIBOR      2.420   12/09/24      USD         152,900,000         1,866,014   
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 7,517,291   
                

 

 

 

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(DKK)— Danish Krone
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(HKD)— Hong Kong Dollar
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate
(NOK)— Norwegian Krone
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar
(USD)— United States Dollar
(ZAR)— South African Rand

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks            

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 5,312,817       $ 5,350,474       $ —         $ 10,663,291   

Air Freight & Logistics

     —           2,573,696         —           2,573,696   

Airlines

     1,686,384         1,554,003         —           3,240,387   

Auto Components

     140,524         11,122,185         —           11,262,709   

Automobiles

     2,899,288         13,816,141         —           16,715,429   

Banks

     21,688,982         42,191,417         —           63,880,399   

Beverages

     5,540,562         6,419,833         —           11,960,395   

Biotechnology

     5,365,864         —           —           5,365,864   

Building Products

     446,043         2,637,141         —           3,083,184   

Capital Markets

     7,325,312         943,893         —           8,269,205   

Chemicals

     2,602,876         3,005,377         —           5,608,253   

Commercial Services & Supplies

     150,001         1,640,013         —           1,790,014   

Communications Equipment

     3,481,970         —           —           3,481,970   

Construction & Engineering

     1,164,157         —           —           1,164,157   

Construction Materials

     250,757         778,019         —           1,028,776   

Consumer Finance

     577,444         —           —           577,444   

Containers & Packaging

     538,731         —           —           538,731   

Distributors

     —           299,947         —           299,947   

Diversified Financial Services

     2,473,028         5,171,561         —           7,644,589   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     2,315,088         13,614,880         —           15,929,968   

Electric Utilities

     3,862,507         —           —           3,862,507   

Electrical Equipment

     2,474,837         3,316,367         —           5,791,204   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

     543,156         4,941,838         —           5,484,994   

Energy Equipment & Services

     2,653,355         —           —           2,653,355   

Food & Staples Retailing

     4,745,242         6,277,719         —           11,022,961   

Food Products

     2,809,568         11,851,603         —           14,661,171   

Gas Utilities

     401,154         —           —           401,154   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     4,324,330         2,099,930         —           6,424,260   

Health Care Providers & Services

     4,014,351         —           —           4,014,351   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     1,671,769         5,331,547         —           7,003,316   

Household Durables

     1,205,612         9,394,178         —           10,599,790   

Household Products

     3,636,151         370,504         —           4,006,655   

Industrial Conglomerates

     1,154,586         4,400,442         —           5,555,028   

Insurance

     4,779,662         28,986,409         —           33,766,071   

Internet & Catalog Retail

     1,596,331         —           —           1,596,331   

Internet Software & Services

     7,236,159         1,360,222         —           8,596,381   

IT Services

     7,897,182         3,836,304         —           11,733,486   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Machinery

   $ 1,951,283      $ 1,860,721      $ —         $ 3,812,004   

Media

     7,620,518        6,161,014        —           13,781,532   

Metals & Mining

     2,696,777        3,953,584        —           6,650,361   

Multi-Utilities

     2,235,557        6,403,542        —           8,639,099   

Multiline Retail

     456,247        3,365,595        —           3,821,842   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     11,041,350        17,401,916        —           28,443,266   

Paper & Forest Products

     —          1,393,357        —           1,393,357   

Personal Products

     394,259        —          —           394,259   

Pharmaceuticals

     9,743,899        37,573,087        —           47,316,986   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     4,675,005        4,866,003        —           9,541,008   

Real Estate Management & Development

     —          8,648,818        —           8,648,818   

Road & Rail

     3,963,956        —          —           3,963,956   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     7,640,212        2,994,801        —           10,635,013   

Software

     6,777,352        2,214,213        —           8,991,565   

Specialty Retail

     6,257,203        1,809,217        —           8,066,420   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     9,586,420        —          —           9,586,420   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     1,894,347        2,099,903        —           3,994,250   

Tobacco

     1,739,202        3,739,051        —           5,478,253   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     411,902        4,135,278        —           4,547,180   

Transportation Infrastructure

     —          750,250        —           750,250   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     1,444,909        7,415,474        —           8,860,383   

Total Common Stocks

     199,496,178        310,071,467        —           509,567,645   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

     —          396,796,493        —           396,796,493   

Total Convertible Bonds*

     —          287,937,979        —           287,937,979   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

     —          46,182,618        —           46,182,618   

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks*

     21,273,626        —          —           21,273,626   

Total Preferred Stocks*

     —          2,527,085        —           2,527,085   

Total Municipals

     —          2,305,824        —           2,305,824   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          1,525,072        —           1,525,072   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Fund

     134,185,705        —          —           134,185,705   

U.S. Treasury

     —          2,714,981        —           2,714,981   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          356,993,154        —           356,993,154   

Total Short-Term Investments

     134,185,705        359,708,135        —           493,893,840   

Total Investments

   $ 354,955,509      $ 1,407,054,673      $ —         $ 1,762,010,182   
                                   

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (134,185,705   $ —         $ (134,185,705
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 5,684,750      $ —         $ 5,684,750   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (448,772     —           (448,772

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 5,235,978      $ —         $ 5,235,978   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 6,303,716      $ —        $ —         $ 6,303,716   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (2,807,552     —          —           (2,807,552

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 3,496,164      $ —        $ —         $ 3,496,164   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 7,517,291      $ —         $ 7,517,291   

 

* See Consolidated Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

 

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,405,017,028   

Repurchase Agreement

     356,993,154   

Cash

     10,566,387   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     2,626,624   

Cash collateral for futures contracts

     121,000   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     5,684,750   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     708,678   

Fund shares sold

     194,483   

Dividends and interest

     6,754,077   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     2,671   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     545,608   

Prepaid expenses

     4,071   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,789,218,531   

Liabilities

  

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     448,772   

Collateral for securities loaned

     134,185,705   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     80,600   

Fund shares redeemed

     780,159   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     3,429,272   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     953,909   

Distribution and service fees

     350,555   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     42,155   

Other expenses

     298,031   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     140,569,158   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,648,649,373   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,491,372,347   

Undistributed net investment income

     39,819,241   

Accumulated net realized gain

     69,175,810   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     48,281,975   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,648,649,373   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 1,648,649,373   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     139,064,067   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 11.86   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement, was $1,372,871,687.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $138,724,569.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $2,643,893.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 16,438,398   

Interest (b)

     15,913,431   

Securities lending income

     102,980   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     32,454,809   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     11,305,194   

Administration fees

     84,525   

Custodian and accounting fees

     703,761   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     3,885,784   

Audit and tax services

     85,652   

Legal

     38,047   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     98,399   

Insurance

     8,044   

Miscellaneous

     17,200   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     16,270,367   

Less management fee waiver

     (702,157
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     15,568,210   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     16,886,599   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     29,902,701   

Futures contracts

     30,684,057   

Swap contracts

     34,421,930   

Foreign currency transactions

     8,005,268   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     103,013,956   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (25,262,575

Futures contracts

     (7,873,941

Swap contracts

     13,737,677   

Foreign currency transactions

     3,951,232   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (15,447,607
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     87,566,349   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 104,452,948   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,052,641.
(b) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $12,963.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 16,886,599      $ 6,717,278   

Net realized gain

     103,013,956        41,011,875   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (15,447,607     52,177,717   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     104,452,948        99,906,870   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (17,423,474     (704,191

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (47,564,812     (4,154,728
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (64,988,286     (4,858,919
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     248,941,459        779,035,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     288,406,121        874,083,348   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,360,243,252        486,159,904   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,648,649,373      $ 1,360,243,252   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 39,819,241      $ 14,933,732   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     20,729,270      $ 241,602,231        73,368,061      $ 803,297,942   

Reinvestments

     5,771,606        64,988,286        447,414        4,858,919   

Redemptions

     (4,930,110     (57,649,058     (2,638,853     (29,121,464
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     21,570,766      $ 248,941,459        71,176,622      $ 779,035,397   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 248,941,459        $ 779,035,397   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013     2012(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.58       $ 10.50      $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

       

Net investment income (b)

     0.13         0.08        0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.66         1.07  (c)      0.58   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.79         1.15        0.60   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

       

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.14      (0.01     (0.04

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.37      (0.06     (0.06
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.51      (0.07     (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.86       $ 11.58      $ 10.50   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (d)

     6.98         10.99        6.02  (e) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

       

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.05         1.08        1.32  (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (g)

     1.00         1.08        1.25  (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.09         0.71        0.24  (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     45         45        33  (e) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,648.6       $ 1,360.2      $ 486.2   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 23, 2012.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) The per share amount may differ with the change in aggregate gains (losses) as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Operations due to the timing of purchases and sales of Portfolio shares in relation to fluctuating market values during the period.
(d) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(e) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Includes the effects of management fee waivers and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary—JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio, Ltd., which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies. The Portfolio has obtained an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio should constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court could disagree with the legal opinion obtained by the Portfolio.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity derivatives, exchange-traded notes and total return swaps. Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. (the “Subadviser”), making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio include the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

      Inception Date
of Subsidiary
     Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio, Ltd.

     4/23/2012       $ 13,074,953         0.7

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, swap transactions, premium amortization adjustments, contingent payment debt instrument adjustments, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), return of capital adjustments, passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) and controlled foreign corporation reversal. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $356,993,154, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Commodity Futures Contracts and Swaps on Commodity Futures Contracts - The Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (a)    $ 7,517,291         
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      257,165       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)    $ 221,986   
Equity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      5,453,608       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)      389,282   
Commodity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (a)      592,943       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (a)      2,196,284   
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      5,684,750       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      448,772   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $
19,505,757
  
      $ 3,256,324   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 5), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
     Net Amount*  

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.

   $ 150,839       $      $       $ 150,839   

Barclays Bank plc

     49,871         (47,786             2,085   

Citibank N.A.

     594,561         (19,074             575,487   

Credit Suisse International

     609,432         (90,943             518,489   

Deutsche Bank AG

     158,423         (28,681             129,742   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     181,300                        181,300   

Morgan Stanley & Co International PLC

     36,011         (36,011               

Royal Bank of Canada

     447                        447   

Standard Chartered Bank

     3,668,174                        3,668,174   

Toronto Dominion Bank

     5,108                        5,108   

UBS AG

     118,300         (17,652             100,648   

Westpac Banking Corp.

     112,284         (47,167             65,117   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 5,684,750       $ (287,314   $       $ 5,397,436   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net Amount**  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 47,786       $ (47,786   $       $   

Citibank N.A.

     19,074         (19,074               

Credit Suisse International

     90,943         (90,943               

Deutsche Bank AG

     28,681         (28,681               

Morgan Stanley & Co International PLC

     197,469         (36,011             161,458   

UBS AG

     17,652         (17,652               

Westpac Banking Corp.

     47,167         (47,167               
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 448,772       $ (287,314   $       $ 161,458   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net
Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Equity      Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $       $      $ 8,391,203       $ 8,391,203   

Futures contracts

     (2,189,069     40,517,019         (7,643,893             30,684,057   

Swap contracts

     34,421,930                               34,421,930   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 32,232,861      $ 40,517,019       $ (7,643,893   $ 8,391,203       $ 73,497,190   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Equity     Commodity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $      $      $ 4,085,768       $ 4,085,768   

Futures contracts

     (1,756,289     (4,687,249     (1,430,403             (7,873,941

Swap contracts

     13,737,677                              13,737,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 11,981,388      $ (4,687,249   $ (1,430,403   $ 4,085,768       $ 9,949,504   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 229,525,911   

Futures contracts long

     50,093,301   

Futures contracts short

     (36,488,431

Swap contracts

     469,599,167   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

 

MIST-45


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$51,528,004    $ 700,482,098       $ 7,076,215       $ 529,181,681   

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$11,305,194      0.800   First $250 million
     0.750   $250 million to $500 million
     0.720   $500 million to $750 million
     0.700   Over $750 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.100%    First $250 million
0.050%    $250 million to $500 million
0.020%    $500 million to $750 million
0.050%    $1 billion to $3 billion
0.070%    $3 billion to $5 billion
0.080%    Over $5 billion

 

MIST-46


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

An identical agreement was in place for the period January 1, 2014 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Expense Limitation Agreement - The Adviser had entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) in the interest of limiting expenses of the Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Agreement was in effect with respect to the Portfolio until April 27, 2014. Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser had agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Portfolio other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized or expensed in accordance with GAAP, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Portfolio’s business and acquired fund fees and expenses but including amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, were limited to the following expense ratio as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

   

Maximum Expense Ratio under Current
Expense Limitation Agreement

   
   

Class B

   
  1.25%  

If, in any year in which the Management Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate operating expenses of the Portfolio for the fiscal year are less than the Maximum Expense Ratio for that year, subject to approval by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Portfolio to the extent that the charge does not cause the expenses in such subsequent year to exceed the Maximum Expense Ratio as stated above. The Portfolio is not obligated to repay any expense paid by the Adviser more than five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such expense was incurred.

Effective April 28, 2014, there was no longer an expense cap for the Portfolio. For the year ended December 31, 2014, there were no amounts waived or expenses repaid to the Adviser in accordance with the Expense Limitation Agreement.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-47


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$37,008,985    $ 3,028,022       $ 27,979,301       $ 1,830,897       $ 64,988,286       $ 4,858,919   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$92,833,683    $ 33,627,272       $ 30,858,226       $       $ 157,319,181   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-48


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of JP Morgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio and subsidiary, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from April 23, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from the brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from April 23, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-49


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-50


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-51


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-52


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-53


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

JPMorgan Global Active Allocation Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Blended Index for the one-year and since-inception (beginning April 23, 2012) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed this benchmark for the since-inception period ended October 31, 2014. In addition, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed its blended benchmark for the one-year and since-inception periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board further noted that the Portfolio commenced operations on April 23, 2012 and, thus, has limited performance history. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were above the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-54


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Managed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio returned 4.66% and 4.37%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 2000 Value Index1, returned 4.22%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

While many correctly anticipated a positive 2014 for the U.S. stock market, few could have predicted the way in which it was achieved. Large cap stocks outperformed small caps and defensive sectors outperformed cyclical ones. The market experienced three major pullbacks in 2014 though domestic equities rebounded strongly each time on the strength of economic and market fundamentals. In the end, the S&P 500 Index made 56 new highs in 2014 and finished close to its record high of 2,090.57 set on December 29th. Large cap stocks, as represented by the S&P 500 Index, returned 13.7% significantly outpacing small cap stocks, measured by the Russell 2000 Index, which gained 4.9%.

Equity markets got off to a rough start in January due to concerns with central banks’ ability to sustainably fight inflation and fund deteriorating current account deficits in select emerging markets. The Argentinean peso fell dramatically while in an emergency meeting, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey aggressively raised its overnight lending rate from 7.75% to 12.0% in efforts defend the lira. In late February, geopolitical concerns started to heat up as Russia sent troops into the Crimea region of Ukraine. Markets eventually settled down as Crimean citizens voted to join Russia without resistance.

Most of the actions coming from the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) were in line with expectations. One highlight was Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s remark during her March press conference. While perhaps inadvertent, she stated that rate hikes could commence six months after the end of asset purchases, which would imply sometime during the second quarter of 2015. Several investors believe these remarks may have sparked the vicious rotation out of equities with higher growth expectations and into stocks with more attractive valuations and higher dividend yields.

Investors were quite perplexed when after an April employment report that significantly exceeded expectations, bond yields continued to fall. Geopolitical tensions in the Ukraine, unrest in Iraq, and concerns over U.S. growth were cited, particularly after the poor showing of U.S. 1st quarter gross domestic product (“GDP”), which experienced a -2.9% contraction. When looking back, the low yield environment is not a reflection of poor growth prospects for the U.S., but a function of supply and demand. Given the low yields in developed countries such as Japan, Germany and France, yields in the U.S. look far more attractive. An improving U.S. fiscal deficit has led to lower levels of Treasury issuance, decreasing the supply.

The year’s deepest selloff began in mid-September as the possibility of another recession in Europe rose to the forefront as weakness began to spread to Germany. First, the September Markit German Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (“PMI”) flashed contraction at 49.9. Subsequent releases showed German industrial orders, industrial production and exports for August falling significantly from July levels. However, equities began to rebound as the October Markit Flash Manufacturing PMI for the Eurozone came in at 50.7, a two-month high. As expected in October, the Fed ended its quantitative easing, or asset purchase program.

The final bout with volatility came in early December amidst concerns over the fierce decline in crude oil prices, the collapse of Russian equity markets and its currency, and increasing political uncertainty in Greece. Markets rebounded on the strength of U.S. economic data as November vehicle sales ran at an annual pace of 17.1 million compared to 16.2 million a year ago. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 321,000 versus economists’ forecast of 230,000 new jobs, the strongest gain since January of 2012. The current strength of the U.S. economy was also confirmed as the final estimate of U.S. 3rd quarter GDP came in at an annualized rate of 5.0%, higher than the second estimate of 3.9%.

The top performing sector within the S&P 500 Index was the Utilities sector. Utilities returned 29.0% in 2014, helped by the fall in bond yields and investor’s thirst for income. The worst performing sector was the Energy sector which lost -7.8%. Energy stock sold off hard beginning in the late summer as crude oil prices began to fall. Crude oil futures reached a high of $107.26 per barrel on June 20th and remained in freefall for the rest of year finishing 2014 at the low of $53.27 per barrel, a -50.3% decline.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Stock selection in Health Care and Industrials aided the Portfolio’s relative returns. Spansion and Agios Pharmaceuticals were the top contributors. Within the Information Technology sector, our overweight position in Spansion contributed to performance. The stock price of the company rose after management announced a merger with Cypress Semi. Both stocks received analyst upgrades on anticipated tax savings, cost synergies, and product synergies. Our overweight position in Agios Pharmaceuticals also contributed to performance. The uptrend in the stock price of the company was supported by strong Phase 1 trial results for its AG-120 treatment.

Alternatively, stock selection in the Financials and Consumer Discretionary sectors hurt the Portfolio’s relative returns. Ocwen Financial and Barrett Business Services were the top detractors. Ocwen Financial shares declined after reporting 2014 first quarter EPS (Earnings Per Share) below market expectations. The company also faced a number of legal issues throughout the year, which hurt investor sentiment toward the company. The stock price of Barrett Business Services tumbled after the announcement of an $80 million charge to cover workers compensation liabilities. The stock fell approximately 58% on the news. There were also concerns that more charges could be coming.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Managed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

From our proprietary attribution framework, during the period, the Alpha Model made a positive contribution to performance, while Risk Factors, Sector Selection, and Stock Specific detracted. From a factor perspective, Valuation and Capital Deployment were additive to performance, while Earnings Quality detracted.

There have been no changes to the way the Portfolio has been managed. Further, we remain firmly committed to our disciplined and dispassionate investment process.

As of December 31, 2014 our largest relative sector overweights were in the Industrials and Consumer Staples sectors, and our largest relative underweights were in the Financials and Consumer Discretionary sectors.

Dennis Ruhl

Phil Hart

Portfolio Managers

J.P. Morgan Asset Management Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL 2000 VALUE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio                 

Class A

       4.66           11.62           9.18   

Class B

       4.37           11.33           7.85   
Russell 2000 Value Index        4.22           14.26           8.18   

1 The Russell 2000 Value Index is an unmanaged measure of performance of those Russell 2000 companies that have lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

2 Inception dates of the Class A and Class B shares are 5/2/2005 and 4/28/2008, respectively. Index since inception return is based on the Class A inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Portland General Electric Co.

     1.2   

CYS Investments, Inc.

     1.1   

Rite Aid Corp.

     1.1   

Spansion, Inc. - Class A

     1.0   

Dana Holding Corp.

     1.0   

DCT Industrial Trust, Inc.

     1.0   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

     0.9   

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc.

     0.9   

AAR Corp.

     0.9   

Dillard’s, Inc. - Class A

     0.9   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Financials

     37.7   

Industrials

     14.2   

Information Technology

     10.6   

Consumer Discretionary

     9.8   

Utilities

     6.3   

Health Care

     5.2   

Energy

     4.3   

Materials

     3.8   

Consumer Staples

     3.7   

Telecommunication Services

     0.6   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.74    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,008.90         $ 3.75   
   Hypothetical*      0.74    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.48         $ 3.77   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.99    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,007.30         $ 5.01   
   Hypothetical*      0.99    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.22         $ 5.04   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—96.2% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—1.4%

  

AAR Corp. (a)

    219,900      $ 6,108,822   

Engility Holdings, Inc. (b)

    83,600        3,578,080   
   

 

 

 
      9,686,902   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—1.0%

  

Alaska Air Group, Inc.

    66,400        3,968,064   

SkyWest, Inc.

    161,900        2,150,032   

Virgin America, Inc. (b)

    8,400        363,300   
   

 

 

 
      6,481,396   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—1.3%

  

Dana Holding Corp.

    309,100        6,719,834   

Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (a) (b)

    42,900        469,326   

Spartan Motors, Inc.

    25,500        134,130   

Stoneridge, Inc. (b)

    95,900        1,233,274   
   

 

 

 
      8,556,564   
   

 

 

 

Banks—14.6%

  

1st Source Corp.

    38,001        1,303,814   

American National Bankshares, Inc. (a)

    2,600        64,506   

Bancfirst Corp. (a)

    28,000        1,774,920   

BancorpSouth, Inc. (a)

    144,400        3,250,444   

Bank of Hawaii Corp. (a)

    63,300        3,754,323   

Banner Corp.

    23,900        1,028,178   

BBCN Bancorp, Inc.

    136,600        1,964,308   

Bridge Capital Holdings (b)

    7,500        167,850   

Capital Bank Financial Corp. - Class A (b)

    89,700        2,403,960   

Cascade Bancorp (b)

    32,871        170,600   

Cathay General Bancorp

    79,700        2,039,523   

Central Pacific Financial Corp.

    170,701        3,670,071   

Century Bancorp, Inc. - Class A (a)

    3,200        128,192   

Chemical Financial Corp.

    28,000        857,920   

Citizens & Northern Corp. (a)

    7,600        157,092   

City Holding Co. (a)

    55,909        2,601,446   

CoBiz Financial, Inc.

    37,940        498,152   

Columbia Banking System, Inc.

    21,200        585,332   

Community Bank System, Inc. (a)

    52,400        1,998,012   

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc.

    47,216        1,728,578   

ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc.

    8,206        155,914   

Customers Bancorp, Inc. (b)

    8,700        169,302   

East West Bancorp, Inc.

    6,428        248,828   

Financial Institutions, Inc.

    26,999        679,025   

First Bancorp (a)

    11,800        217,946   

First Bancorp/ Puerto Rico (b)

    494,200        2,900,954   

First Busey Corp.

    160,700        1,046,157   

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. - Class A

    3,200        808,928   

First Commonwealth Financial Corp.

    512,300        4,723,406   

First Community Bancshares, Inc.

    18,000        296,460   

First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (a)

    29,200        872,496   

First Interstate Bancsystem, Inc.

    44,900        1,249,118   

Flushing Financial Corp.

    74,200        1,504,034   

FNB Corp. (a)

    179,900        2,396,268   

Glacier Bancorp, Inc.

    82,100        2,279,917   

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.

    14,200        563,314   

Guaranty Bancorp

    10,300        148,732   

Hancock Holding Co.

    128,600        3,948,020   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Heartland Financial USA, Inc.

    21,083      $ 571,349   

Heritage Financial Corp.

    9,434        165,567   

Hudson Valley Holding Corp. (a)

    26,932        731,473   

Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.

    24,045        281,327   

Lakeland Financial Corp.

    10,900        473,823   

MainSource Financial Group, Inc.

    78,104        1,633,936   

MB Financial, Inc. (a)

    46,400        1,524,704   

Metro Bancorp, Inc. (b)

    22,900        593,568   

National Penn Bancshares, Inc. (a)

    18,300        192,608   

OFG Bancorp

    217,645        3,623,789   

Pacific Continental Corp.

    30,385        430,859   

PacWest Bancorp

    60,200        2,736,692   

Preferred Bank

    6,800        189,652   

Republic Bancorp, Inc. - Class A

    7,700        190,344   

S&T Bancorp, Inc. (a)

    8,500        253,385   

Sierra Bancorp (a)

    6,800        119,408   

Simmons First National Corp. - Class A

    29,200        1,186,980   

Southside Bancshares, Inc.

    6,529        188,753   

Southwest Bancorp, Inc.

    64,300        1,116,248   

State Bank Financial Corp.

    22,300        445,554   

Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.

    4,900        163,366   

Suffolk Bancorp

    6,800        154,428   

Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc.

    139,400        1,872,142   

TCF Financial Corp.

    170,400        2,707,656   

Tompkins Financial Corp. (a)

    15,359        849,353   

Trustmark Corp. (a)

    55,600        1,364,424   

UMB Financial Corp. (a)

    72,300        4,113,147   

Umpqua Holdings Corp.

    230,461        3,920,142   

Union Bankshares Corp.

    169,574        4,083,342   

Valley National Bancorp (a)

    29,874        290,077   

Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (a)

    14,700        590,646   

Webster Financial Corp.

    43,200        1,405,296   

West Bancorp, Inc. (a)

    16,220        276,064   

Westamerica Bancorp (a)

    72,500        3,553,950   

Wilshire Bancorp, Inc.

    267,800        2,712,814   
   

 

 

 
      99,062,906   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—1.9%

  

Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    21,300        2,386,452   

Applied Genetic Technologies Corp. (b)

    8,200        172,364   

Ardelyx, Inc. (b)

    27,000        510,030   

Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    37,400        1,962,752   

Avalanche Biotechnologies, Inc. (b)

    8,200        442,800   

Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    32,200        321,034   

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    18,800        309,636   

Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc. (b)

    31,400        373,032   

Epizyme, Inc. (a) (b)

    13,700        258,519   

Foundation Medicine, Inc. (a) (b)

    7,700        171,094   

Immune Design Corp. (a) (b)

    15,900        489,402   

Insmed, Inc. (b)

    48,200        745,654   

Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    6,400        239,552   

Kite Pharma, Inc. (a) (b)

    11,900        686,273   

MacroGenics, Inc. (b)

    15,800        554,106   

Radius Health, Inc. (b)

    43,600        1,696,476   

Sage Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    5,500        201,300   

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a) (b)

    12,900        566,052   

Verastem, Inc. (a) (b)

    38,900        355,546   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Biotechnology—(Continued)

  

Zafgen, Inc. (a) (b)

    11,200      $ 345,408   
   

 

 

 
      12,787,482   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—0.4%

  

Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (b)

    163,100        2,652,006   

Trex Co., Inc. (a) (b)

    7,800        332,124   
   

 

 

 
      2,984,130   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—1.4%

  

Arlington Asset Investment Corp. - Class A (a)

    39,900        1,061,739   

Cowen Group, Inc. - Class A (b)

    279,700        1,342,560   

GAMCO Investors, Inc. - Class A

    13,285        1,181,568   

Investment Technology Group, Inc. (b)

    177,900        3,703,878   

Janus Capital Group, Inc. (a)

    26,000        419,380   

Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc. - Class A

    21,709        504,734   

Piper Jaffray Cos. (b)

    18,400        1,068,856   
   

 

 

 
      9,282,715   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—1.3%

  

Minerals Technologies, Inc.

    76,900        5,340,705   

Olin Corp. (a)

    108,200        2,463,714   

Tredegar Corp.

    56,925        1,280,243   
   

 

 

 
      9,084,662   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—3.4%

  

ABM Industries, Inc.

    67,800        1,942,470   

ACCO Brands Corp. (b)

    445,700        4,015,757   

ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (b)

    283,401        2,896,358   

Cenveo, Inc. (a) (b)

    725,807        1,524,194   

Ennis, Inc.

    9,600        129,312   

G&K Services, Inc. - Class A

    15,700        1,112,345   

HNI Corp. (a)

    45,500        2,323,230   

Kimball International, Inc. - Class B

    28,400        259,008   

Performant Financial Corp. (b)

    33,800        224,770   

Quad/Graphics, Inc.

    111,707        2,564,793   

RR Donnelley & Sons Co. (a)

    64,360        1,081,570   

Steelcase, Inc. - Class A

    17,100        306,945   

United Stationers, Inc. (a)

    106,300        4,481,608   
   

 

 

 
      22,862,360   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—1.5%

  

Black Box Corp.

    80,492        1,923,759   

Calix, Inc. (b)

    32,400        324,648   

Comtech Telecommunications Corp.

    59,182        1,865,416   

Emulex Corp. (b)

    270,200        1,532,034   

Harmonic, Inc. (b)

    148,400        1,040,284   

Polycom, Inc. (b)

    264,300        3,568,050   
   

 

 

 
      10,254,191   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—1.4%

  

Argan, Inc.

    97,110        3,266,780   

Comfort Systems USA, Inc.

    54,300        929,616   

EMCOR Group, Inc. (a)

    118,000        5,249,820   
   

 

 

 
      9,446,216   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.9%

  

Nelnet, Inc. - Class A

    42,500      1,969,025   

World Acceptance Corp. (a) (b)

    56,700        4,504,815   
   

 

 

 
      6,473,840   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.6%

  

Graphic Packaging Holding Co. (b)

    243,500        3,316,470   

Myers Industries, Inc.

    57,300        1,008,480   
   

 

 

 
      4,324,950   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.0%

  

VOXX International Corp. (b)

    34,200        299,592   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services—0.9%

  

2U, Inc. (b)

    28,000        550,480   

Chegg, Inc. (a) (b)

    19,500        134,745   

K12, Inc. (b)

    156,500        1,857,655   

Regis Corp. (b)

    199,200        3,338,592   
   

 

 

 
      5,881,472   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.1%

  

Marlin Business Services Corp.

    36,974        759,076   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—0.6%

  

Fairpoint Communications, Inc. (b)

    44,700        635,187   

Inteliquent, Inc.

    105,400        2,069,002   

magicJack VocalTec, Ltd. (a) (b)

    17,849        144,934   

Vonage Holdings Corp. (b)

    400,000        1,524,000   
   

 

 

 
      4,373,123   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—2.2%

  

El Paso Electric Co.

    114,605        4,591,076   

PNM Resources, Inc. (a)

    54,900        1,626,687   

Portland General Electric Co. (a)

    220,400        8,337,732   

Unitil Corp.

    20,000        733,400   
   

 

 

 
      15,288,895   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.1%

  

GrafTech International, Ltd. (b)

    22,919        115,970   

LSI Industries, Inc.

    54,665        371,176   

Polypore International, Inc. (a) (b)

    6,900        324,645   
   

 

 

 
      811,791   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—1.5%

  

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (b)

    147,500        3,752,400   

Coherent, Inc. (b)

    26,400        1,603,008   

Insight Enterprises, Inc. (b)

    63,500        1,644,015   

Kimball Electronics, Inc. (b)

    21,300        256,026   

Newport Corp. (b)

    60,000        1,146,600   

Sanmina Corp. (b)

    34,800        818,844   

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (a)

    54,700        774,005   
   

 

 

 
      9,994,898   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—2.0%

  

Dawson Geophysical Co.

    12,962        158,525   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Energy Equipment & Services—(Continued)

  

Exterran Holdings, Inc.

    59,300      $ 1,931,994   

FMSA Holdings, Inc. (a) (b)

    29,400        203,448   

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (b)

    285,100        6,186,670   

Key Energy Services, Inc. (b)

    19,300        32,231   

Mitcham Industries, Inc. (b)

    18,000        106,740   

Parker Drilling Co. (b)

    119,700        367,479   

Pioneer Energy Services Corp. (b)

    258,700        1,433,198   

SEACOR Holdings, Inc. (a) (b)

    43,100        3,181,211   
   

 

 

 
      13,601,496   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—1.8%

  

Pantry, Inc. (The) (b)

    75,400        2,794,324   

Rite Aid Corp. (b)

    954,600        7,178,592   

Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (b)

    70,300        1,105,819   

SpartanNash Co.

    32,700        854,778   
   

 

 

 
      11,933,513   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—1.0%

  

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (b)

    168,700        2,439,402   

Farmer Bros Co. (a) (b)

    9,400        276,830   

Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc.

    40,000        1,342,000   

John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.

    3,000        136,500   

Pinnacle Foods, Inc.

    58,400        2,061,520   

Sanderson Farms, Inc. (a)

    2,100        176,453   

Seneca Foods Corp. - Class A (b)

    8,200        221,646   
   

 

 

 
      6,654,351   
   

 

 

 

Gas Utilities—1.9%

  

AGL Resources, Inc.

    32,800        1,787,928   

Chesapeake Utilities Corp.

    11,850        588,471   

Laclede Group, Inc. (The) (a)

    99,339        5,284,835   

Northwest Natural Gas Co. (a)

    23,600        1,177,640   

Piedmont Natural Gas Co., Inc.

    17,700        697,557   

Southwest Gas Corp.

    58,100        3,591,161   
   

 

 

 
      13,127,592   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—1.4%

  

Inogen, Inc. (b)

    15,700        492,509   

NuVasive, Inc. (b)

    34,600        1,631,736   

PhotoMedex, Inc. (a) (b)

    41,680        63,770   

Roka Bioscience, Inc. (a) (b)

    29,400        129,654   

SurModics, Inc. (a) (b)

    78,986        1,745,591   

Symmetry Surgical, Inc. (b)

    20,225        157,553   

Thoratec Corp. (a) (b)

    152,200        4,940,412   

TriVascular Technologies, Inc. (a) (b)

    14,600        183,522   
   

 

 

 
      9,344,747   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—1.3%

  

Centene Corp. (b)

    24,300        2,523,555   

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (b)

    256,500        3,201,120   

HealthEquity, Inc. (b)

    9,400        239,230   

LHC Group, Inc. (a) (b)

    37,300        1,163,014   

Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc. (a) (b)

    10,500        353,325   

Triple-S Management Corp. - Class B (b)

    43,400        1,037,694   

Health Care Providers & Services—(Continued)

  

Trupanion, Inc. (a) (b)

    31,800      220,374   
   

 

 

 
      8,738,312   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Technology—0.2%

  

MedAssets, Inc. (b)

    60,300        1,191,528   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—0.5%

  

Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (a) (b)

    22,700        619,710   

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. (b)

    83,741        700,912   

Jack in the Box, Inc.

    7,300        583,708   

Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc.

    105,400        1,581,000   

Scientific Games Corp. - Class A (b)

    12,700        161,671   
   

 

 

 
      3,647,001   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.5%

  

CSS Industries, Inc.

    43,451        1,200,986   

Leggett & Platt, Inc. (a)

    36,700        1,563,787   

Skullcandy, Inc. (b)

    39,200        360,248   
   

 

 

 
      3,125,021   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.3%

  

Central Garden and Pet Co. - Class A (a) (b)

    222,600        2,125,830   
   

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—0.6%

  

Atlantic Power Corp. (a)

    633,900        1,717,869   

Dynegy, Inc. (b)

    56,700        1,720,845   

Ormat Technologies, Inc.

    20,300        551,754   
   

 

 

 
      3,990,468   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—5.0%

  

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.

    147,900        4,317,201   

Arch Capital Group, Ltd. (b)

    13,156        777,519   

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd.

    43,240        2,398,523   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.

    367,800        6,333,516   

Global Indemnity plc (b)

    4,500        127,665   

Hallmark Financial Services, Inc. (a) (b)

    28,521        344,819   

Horace Mann Educators Corp.

    90,611        3,006,473   

Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc. (a)

    65,400        553,284   

Navigators Group, Inc. (The) (b)

    4,600        337,364   

Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd.

    79,700        5,851,574   

Primerica, Inc. (a)

    41,900        2,273,494   

ProAssurance Corp.

    67,700        3,056,655   

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc.

    24,600        1,718,556   

Symetra Financial Corp.

    122,100        2,814,405   
   

 

 

 
      33,911,048   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—0.3%

  

Coupons.com, Inc. (a) (b)

    15,800        280,450   

Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (b)

    182,500        1,501,975   

Wayfair, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    12,700        252,095   
   

 

 

 
      2,034,520   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.8%

  

Amber Road, Inc. (b)

    10,700        109,354   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Internet Software & Services—(Continued)

  

Benefitfocus, Inc. (a) (b)

    36,000      $ 1,182,240   

EarthLink Holdings Corp. (a)

    239,800        1,052,722   

Five9, Inc. (a) (b)

    17,900        80,192   

IntraLinks Holdings, Inc. (b)

    234,948        2,795,881   

OPOWER, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,000        14,230   

Q2 Holdings, Inc. (b)

    1,700        32,028   
   

 

 

 
      5,266,647   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—2.0%

  

CSG Systems International, Inc. (a)

    46,000        1,153,220   

EVERTEC, Inc.

    13,400        296,542   

Global Cash Access Holdings, Inc. (b)

    24,100        172,315   

Hackett Group, Inc. (The)

    20,500        180,195   

ManTech International Corp. - Class A

    45,100        1,363,373   

MoneyGram International, Inc. (a) (b)

    190,600        1,732,554   

NeuStar, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    131,700        3,661,260   

Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (b)

    48,100        1,128,907   

Unisys Corp. (b)

    130,500        3,847,140   
   

 

 

 
      13,535,506   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Products—0.2%

  

Nautilus, Inc. (b)

    79,900        1,212,882   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—0.2%

  

INC Research Holdings, Inc. - Class A (b)

    10,500        269,745   

PRA Health Sciences, Inc. (b)

    31,500        762,930   

VWR Corp. (b)

    25,900        670,033   
   

 

 

 
      1,702,708   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—2.8%

  

AGCO Corp. (a)

    36,700        1,658,840   

Briggs & Stratton Corp. (a)

    208,900        4,265,738   

Douglas Dynamics, Inc.

    143,942        3,084,677   

Federal Signal Corp.

    77,100        1,190,424   

Hurco Cos., Inc.

    24,882        848,227   

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.

    26,500        1,939,800   

Kadant, Inc.

    50,807        2,168,951   

Mueller Water Products, Inc. - Class A

    113,800        1,165,312   

Standex International Corp.

    21,157        1,634,590   

Wabash National Corp. (a) (b)

    71,400        882,504   

Watts Water Technologies, Inc. - Class A

    8,100        513,864   
   

 

 

 
      19,352,927   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.6%

  

International Shipholding Corp. (a)

    22,536        335,786   

Matson, Inc.

    100,700        3,476,164   
   

 

 

 
      3,811,950   
   

 

 

 

Media—1.1%

  

Entercom Communications Corp. - Class A (a) (b)

    69,960        850,714   

EW Scripps Co. (The) - Class A (a) (b)

    179,600        4,014,060   

Journal Communications, Inc. - Class A (b)

    132,447        1,513,869   

Lee Enterprises, Inc. (a) (b)

    109,600        403,328   

McClatchy Co. (The) - Class A (b)

    135,100        448,532   

Media—(Continued)

  

Saga Communications, Inc. - Class A

    3,535      153,702   
   

 

 

 
      7,384,205   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.8%

  

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corp. (a)

    2,300        44,275   

Coeur Mining, Inc. (a) (b)

    103,800        530,418   

Commercial Metals Co.

    59,700        972,513   

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. - Class A (a)

    15,300        345,168   

Worthington Industries, Inc.

    120,500        3,625,845   
   

 

 

 
      5,518,219   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—1.4%

  

Avista Corp. (a)

    133,000        4,701,550   

NorthWestern Corp.

    83,383        4,717,810   
   

 

 

 
      9,419,360   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—0.9%

  

Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (The) (a)

    61,954        459,079   

Dillard’s, Inc. - Class A (a)

    48,000        6,008,640   
   

 

 

 
      6,467,719   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.3%

  

Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.

    1,700        84,915   

Alon USA Energy, Inc. (a)

    35,400        448,518   

Cloud Peak Energy, Inc. (b)

    300,700        2,760,426   

Comstock Resources, Inc. (a)

    104,500        711,645   

EXCO Resources, Inc. (a)

    355,600        771,652   

Frontline, Ltd. (a) (b)

    82,900        208,079   

Midstates Petroleum Co., Inc. (a) (b)

    174,900        264,099   

Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (b)

    13,300        137,389   

REX American Resources Corp. (a) (b)

    58,041        3,596,801   

Stone Energy Corp. (a) (b)

    27,700        467,576   

VAALCO Energy, Inc. (b)

    364,000        1,659,840   

W&T Offshore, Inc. (a)

    106,500        781,710   

Warren Resources, Inc. (a) (b)

    123,100        198,191   

Western Refining, Inc.

    85,600        3,233,968   
   

 

 

 
      15,324,809   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—1.0%

  

Domtar Corp.

    48,800        1,962,736   

PH Glatfelter Co.

    14,500        370,765   

Resolute Forest Products, Inc. (b)

    50,300        885,783   

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.

    84,300        3,565,890   
   

 

 

 
      6,785,174   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.2%

  

Achaogen, Inc. (a) (b)

    6,700        87,435   

Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b)

    66,600        773,226   

Egalet Corp. (a) (b)

    19,000        108,110   

Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    19,800        335,412   

ZS Pharma, Inc. (a) (b)

    6,500        270,205   
   

 

 

 
      1,574,388   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Professional Services—1.7%

  

Barrett Business Services, Inc. (a)

    116,060      $ 3,180,044   

FTI Consulting, Inc. (b)

    151,600        5,856,308   

Paylocity Corp. (a) (b)

    11,800        308,098   

RPX Corp. (b)

    63,300        872,274   

VSE Corp.

    23,440        1,544,696   
   

 

 

 
      11,761,420   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—13.5%

  

American Assets Trust, Inc.

    8,900        354,309   

Anworth Mortgage Asset Corp.

    1,094,466        5,745,946   

Apartment Investment & Management Co. - Class A

    75,900        2,819,685   

Ashford Hospitality Prime, Inc.

    50,639        868,965   

Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.

    252,795        2,649,292   

Capstead Mortgage Corp. (a)

    418,558        5,139,892   

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc.

    161,800        3,142,156   

Chambers Street Properties

    186,900        1,506,414   

Coresite Realty Corp.

    128,700        5,025,735   

CubeSmart

    212,000        4,678,840   

CYS Investments, Inc. (a)

    835,500        7,285,560   

DCT Industrial Trust, Inc.

    183,975        6,560,548   

DiamondRock Hospitality Co.

    122,900        1,827,523   

Education Realty Trust, Inc.

    33,800        1,236,742   

EPR Properties

    29,000        1,671,270   

FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc.

    273,869        2,963,263   

First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc.

    48,600        999,216   

First Potomac Realty Trust

    188,200        2,326,152   

Franklin Street Properties Corp.

    62,600        768,102   

Getty Realty Corp. (a)

    56,136        1,022,237   

Gladstone Commercial Corp.

    28,300        485,911   

Glimcher Realty Trust

    11,800        162,132   

Government Properties Income Trust (a)

    132,300        3,044,223   

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    22,500        996,300   

Home Properties, Inc.

    25,400        1,666,240   

Hospitality Properties Trust

    61,500        1,906,500   

LaSalle Hotel Properties

    30,600        1,238,382   

LTC Properties, Inc. (a)

    38,100        1,644,777   

Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (a)

    5,632        420,598   

Parkway Properties, Inc.

    58,200        1,070,298   

Pebblebrook Hotel Trust

    49,600        2,263,248   

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust

    88,100        2,066,826   

Potlatch Corp.

    117,400        4,915,538   

PS Business Parks, Inc.

    13,800        1,097,652   

RAIT Financial Trust (a)

    364,700        2,797,249   

Saul Centers, Inc.

    1,582        90,475   

Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (b)

    29,300        387,639   

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

    166,900        2,755,519   

Taubman Centers, Inc.

    5,300        405,026   

Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. - Class A

    30,100        658,588   

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (a)

    113,600        3,142,176   
   

 

 

 
      91,807,144   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development—1.1%

  

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

    79,000        3,101,540   

Forestar Group, Inc. (a) (b)

    105,300        1,621,620   

Real Estate Management & Developmen—(Continued)

  

St. Joe Co. (The) (a) (b)

    140,400      2,581,956   
   

 

 

 
      7,305,116   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—1.1%

  

AMERCO

    1,800        511,668   

ArcBest Corp. (a)

    82,900        3,844,073   

Celadon Group, Inc.

    19,300        437,917   

PAM Transportation Services, Inc. (b)

    9,200        476,928   

Quality Distribution, Inc. (b)

    86,900        924,616   

USA Truck, Inc. (a) (b)

    49,800        1,414,320   
   

 

 

 
      7,609,522   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—2.9%

  

Amkor Technology, Inc. (b)

    182,400        1,295,040   

DSP Group, Inc. (b)

    108,487        1,179,254   

First Solar, Inc. (a) (b)

    39,700        1,770,421   

IXYS Corp.

    25,700        323,820   

Pericom Semiconductor Corp. (b)

    30,500        412,970   

Photronics, Inc. (b)

    118,000        980,580   

RF Micro Devices, Inc. (a) (b)

    220,400        3,656,436   

Spansion, Inc. - Class A (b)

    200,700        6,867,954   

SunPower Corp. (a) (b)

    52,100        1,345,743   

Ultra Clean Holdings, Inc. (b)

    48,800        452,864   

Xcerra Corp. (b)

    177,839        1,629,005   
   

 

 

 
      19,914,087   
   

 

 

 

Software—1.5%

  

A10 Networks, Inc. (b)

    70,400        306,944   

Actuate Corp. (b)

    50,500        333,300   

Aspen Technology, Inc. (b)

    48,600        1,701,972   

Fair Isaac Corp.

    24,600        1,778,580   

Globant S.A. (a) (b)

    14,800        231,176   

Paycom Software, Inc. (a) (b)

    19,700        518,701   

Rubicon Project, Inc. (The) (b)

    18,100        292,134   

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (a) (b)

    160,900        4,510,027   

TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. - Class A (b)

    54,400        169,728   

Varonis Systems, Inc. (a) (b)

    5,700        187,131   
   

 

 

 
      10,029,693   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—3.0%

  

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (a) (b)

    240,400        5,582,088   

Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (b)

    2,800        50,960   

Brown Shoe Co., Inc.

    118,700        3,816,205   

Children’s Place, Inc. (The) (a)

    104,600        5,962,200   

Guess, Inc.

    85,300        1,798,124   

hhgregg, Inc. (a) (b)

    394,284        2,984,730   
   

 

 

 
      20,194,307   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—0.4%

  

Avid Technology, Inc. (b)

    172,960        2,457,762   

Quantum Corp. (a) (b)

    255,400        449,504   
   

 

 

 
      2,907,266   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description       
    
Shares
    Value  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—1.1%

  

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (a) (b)

    177,100      $ 5,984,209   

Unifi, Inc. (b)

    61,881        1,839,722   
   

 

 

 
      7,823,931   
   

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance—1.1%

  

BankFinancial Corp. (a)

    8,485        100,632   

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp, Inc. (a) (b)

    37,600        461,352   

Charter Financial Corp. (a)

    125,482        1,436,769   

ESB Financial Corp. (a)

    11,500        217,810   

First Financial Northwest, Inc.

    12,400        149,296   

Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc.

    10,500        175,035   

Kearny Financial Corp. (a) (b)

    5,700        78,375   

Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

    190,800        2,823,840   

OceanFirst Financial Corp.

    21,800        373,652   

Territorial Bancorp, Inc.

    6,200        133,610   

United Financial Bancorp, Inc.

    37,500        538,500   

Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (b)

    19,900        349,046   

WSFS Financial Corp.

    9,865        758,520   
   

 

 

 
      7,596,437   
   

 

 

 

Tobacco—0.7%

  

Alliance One International, Inc. (b)

    73,000        115,340   

Universal Corp. (a)

    101,067        4,444,927   
   

 

 

 
      4,560,267   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.3%

  

Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

    39,798        1,814,391   
   

 

 

 

Water Utilities—0.2%

  

 

California Water Service Group

    43,100        1,060,691   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $564,817,096)

      653,863,354   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—25.1%   

Mutual Fund—21.6%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    147,079,562        147,079,562   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—3.5%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $23,662,191 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $24,140,000 Federal Home Loan Bank at 0.160% due 03/11/15 with a value of $24,140,000.

    23,662,191      23,662,191   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $170,741,753)

      170,741,753   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—121.3%
(Cost $735,558,849) (d)

      824,605,107   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(21.3)%

      (144,818,901
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 679,786,206   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $146,056,253 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $147,079,562 and non-cash collateral with a value of $4,342,473. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $737,342,883. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $123,190,558 and $(35,928,334), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $87,262,224 for federal income tax purposes.

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         225         USD 26,040,825       $ 974,925   
           

 

 

 

 

(USD)— United States Dollar

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Common Stocks*

   $ 653,863,354       $ —        $ —         $ 653,863,354   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     147,079,562         —          —           147,079,562   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           23,662,191        —           23,662,191   

Total Short-Term Investments

     147,079,562         23,662,191        —           170,741,753   

Total Investments

   $ 800,942,916       $ 23,662,191      $ —         $ 824,605,107   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (147,079,562   $ —         $ (147,079,562
Futures Contracts           

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 974,925       $ —        $ —         $ 974,925   

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 824,605,107   

Cash

     9,643   

Cash collateral for futures contracts

     1,190,000   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     2,421,943   

Fund shares sold

     9,127   

Dividends

     1,345,141   

Prepaid expenses

     1,714   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     829,582,675   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     147,079,562   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     1,210,703   

Fund shares redeemed

     732,532   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     218,250   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     386,011   

Distribution and service fees

     6,801   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     95,186   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     149,796,469   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 679,786,206   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 531,636,664   

Undistributed net investment income

     8,257,969   

Accumulated net realized gain

     49,870,601   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts and foreign currency transactions

     90,020,972   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 679,786,206   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 647,221,540   

Class B

     32,564,666   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     35,783,218   

Class B

     1,814,811   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 18.09   

Class B

     17.94   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $735,558,849.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $146,056,253.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 12,662,479   

Interest

     1,801   

Securities lending income

     1,019,856   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     13,684,136   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     5,401,092   

Administration fees

     16,753   

Custodian and accounting fees

     110,872   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     77,207   

Audit and tax services

     42,010   

Legal

     43,250   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     76,849   

Insurance

     4,333   

Miscellaneous

     10,856   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     5,826,982   

Less management fee waiver

     (629,287
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     5,197,695   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     8,486,441   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     52,539,078   

Futures contracts

     (330,563

Foreign currency transactions

     (21
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     52,208,494   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (32,526,372

Futures contracts

     710,055   

Foreign currency transactions

     (253
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation      (31,816,570
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     20,391,924   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 28,878,365   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $27,656.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 8,486,441      $ 7,670,608   

Net realized gain

     52,208,494        97,079,961   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (31,816,570     77,686,840   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     28,878,365        182,437,409   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (8,011,314     (4,693,106

Class B

     (267,345     (137,094

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (87,679,384     0   

Class B

     (3,695,921     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (99,653,964     (4,830,200
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (26,338,519     196,541,571   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (97,114,118     374,148,780   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     776,900,324        402,751,544   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 679,786,206      $ 776,900,324   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 8,257,969      $ 7,727,751   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     2,369,421      $ 41,163,248        17,042,620      $ 281,210,557   

Reinvestments

     5,675,605        95,690,698        295,536        4,693,106   

Redemptions

     (9,685,830     (167,274,836     (4,947,996     (87,090,034
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (1,640,804   $ (30,420,890     12,390,160      $ 198,813,629   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     224,136      $ 3,921,256        215,277      $ 3,745,167   

Reinvestments

     236,613        3,963,266        8,677        137,094   

Redemptions

     (214,007     (3,802,151     (355,231     (6,154,319
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     246,742      $ 4,082,371        (131,277   $ (2,272,058
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (26,338,519     $ 196,541,571   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 19.93       $ 15.07       $ 13.14       $ 14.85       $ 12.52   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.22         0.21         0.21         0.15         0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.52         4.77         1.84         (1.62      2.26   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.74         4.98         2.05         (1.47      2.44   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.22      (0.12      (0.12      (0.24      (0.11

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (2.36      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.58      (0.12      (0.12      (0.24      (0.11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 18.09       $ 19.93       $ 15.07       $ 13.14       $ 14.85   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.66         33.25         15.66         (10.12      19.53   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.82         0.83         0.84         0.85         0.87   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.73         0.75         0.84         0.85         0.87   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.22         1.21         1.44         1.08         1.39   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     35         110         38         47         41   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 647.2       $ 745.9       $ 377.3       $ 302.8       $ 258.5   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 19.79       $ 14.97       $ 13.06       $ 14.78       $ 12.48   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.18         0.16         0.17         0.12         0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.50         4.74         1.83         (1.62      2.24   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.68         4.90         2.00         (1.50      2.40   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.17      (0.08      (0.09      (0.22      (0.10

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (2.36      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2.53      (0.08      (0.09      (0.22      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 17.94       $ 19.79       $ 14.97       $ 13.06       $ 14.78   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.37         32.90         15.36         (10.36      19.25   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.07         1.08         1.09         1.10         1.12   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.98         1.00         1.09         1.10         1.12   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.00         0.90         1.18         0.85         1.21   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     35         110         38         47         41   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 32.6       $ 31.0       $ 25.4       $ 21.8       $ 16.3   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

 

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), foreign currency transactions, and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $23,662,191, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Equity

   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts*    $ 974,925   
     

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Equity  

Futures contracts

   $ (330,563
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Equity  

Futures contracts

   $ 710,055   
  

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 20,775   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”).

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 234,755,442       $ 830,000       $ 353,577,844   

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $6,665,760 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers

for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$5,401,092      0.800   First $100 million
     0.775   $100 million to $500 million
     0.750   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.725   Over $1 billion

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period November 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.075%    First $50 million
0.125%    $50 million to $100 million
0.100%    $100 million to $500 million
0.075%    $500 million to $1 billion
0.050%    Over $1 billion

Prior to November 1, 2014 the Adviser had agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to October 31, 2014, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.050%    First $50 million
0.100%    $50 million to $500 million
0.075%    $500 million to $1 billion
0.050%    Over $1 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$43,684,657    $ 4,830,200       $ 55,969,307       $       $ 99,653,964       $ 4,830,200   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed

Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$29,989,302    $ 30,965,653       $ 87,262,012       $       $ 148,216,967   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. (“JPMorgan”) regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other information relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board noted that JPMorgan assumed portfolio management responsibility for the Portfolio on April 29, 2013, and that investment performance prior to that date represents that of a different investment adviser. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Value Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. In addition, the Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance, including a recent trend toward improved performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below its Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also considered that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year. The Board also noted that the Adviser was in the final stages of negotiating reductions to the Portfolio’s sub-advisory fee schedule, and that the Adviser intended to waive a corresponding portion of its advisory fees in order for contractholders to benefit from the lower sub-advisory fees and that those changes would be presented to the Board in February 2015 to be effective later in 2015.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Managed by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio returned 3.76% and 3.47%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmarks, the MSCI World Index1 and the Citigroup World Government Bond Index (“Citi WGBI”)2, returned 4.94% and -0.48%, respectively. A blend of the MSCI World Index (60%) and the Citi WGBI (40%) returned 2.80%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

While the U.S. economy continued its recovery in 2014, the same could not be said for several other developed economies around the world, such as Europe and Japan, where stagnant growth resulted in reduced growth forecasts leading into 2015. The U.S. recovery was reflected in market returns with the S&P 500 Index reaching record highs on more than 50 trading days during the year, as healthy earnings-per-share growth, continued share buybacks, and double-digit dividend growth lifted share prices. Outside the U.S., dollar strength translated what were only muted gains in local currency terms into negative returns for U.S. investors.

Global bond yields continued to fall toward the end of the year. Concerns over global growth and easing central bank policies, along with geopolitical tensions, a commodity selloff and currency volatility, created the backdrop to drive yields lower across major markets. U.S. Treasuries have stayed near their lows, particularly among longer-dated issues.

The U.S. dollar furthered its rally against virtually every major currency, largely driven by diverging growth and interest rate projections for the U.S. compared to the rest of the world. Increasingly accommodative central banking policies by the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank (the “ECB”) caused the yen and euro to fall to levels not seen in several years. Additional pressure on oil-exporting countries, such as Norway, was another factor in the depreciation of such currencies. In the eurozone, the lack of growth and disinflationary pressures continued to be concerns. Credit conditions remained uneven with limited prospects for improvement; however, markets continued to rally on the expectation that the ECB would ramp up its quantitative easing efforts. Yields on German bunds and peripheral European bonds, with the exception of Greece, reached historic lows.

Elsewhere, oil prices fell to multi-year lows amid a substantial supply-demand imbalance. In November, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced that it would not cut production, which compounded a price rout that had been well underway since June.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Against this backdrop, the Portfolio, with its exposure to both equity and fixed income securities, underperformed the all-equity MSCI World Index. The equity portion of the Portfolio performed strongly with nearly every MSCI sector contributing to results. However, given the strength of U.S. large cap stocks, the Portfolio’s out-of-benchmark allocation to Emerging Markets securities and specific North American stocks detracted from overall performance relative to the MSCI World Index. On a sector basis, stock selection in the Information Technology (“IT”), Consumer Staples and Energy sectors diminished relative performance. Not having exposure to the Utilities sector also hurt due to the surprisingly low global interest rates in 2014.

The stocks that contributed least to overall performance were Adidas AG, Genomma Lab Internacional and Noble Energy. Global sports apparel company Adidas underperformed over the last year as conditions in Russia deteriorated, competitive intensity rose and its golf business underperformed expectations. These issues led to a material decline in operating margins that was far below our forecasts. Genomma, a large global pharmaceutical, is facing considerable challenges from continued weakness in the Mexican economy, foreign exchange headwinds and uncertainty around expansion plans in Europe. We believe the company’s valuation is very attractive, and we expect fundamentals to rebound strongly in 2015. Noble Energy, an independent energy exploration and production company, came under pressure during the fourth quarter of 2014 due primarily to a 50% decline in global crude oil prices. This decline was exacerbated by OPEC’s Thanksgiving Day decision keeping current production quotas in place, rather than cutting supply to support prices. Lower crude prices will likely negatively impact Noble’s cash flow and earnings potential and will most likely result in lower production growth in 2015. Recent news that Israel’s Antitrust Authority is reconsidering its prior deal allowing Noble to develop the Leviathan gas field presents additional risk to production and cash flow growth in the medium term.

On a positive note, an underweight exposure to Europe, combined with very strong stock selection within the region, negated a large part of this relative underperformance. A large underweight to Developed Asia also proved beneficial. Stock selection was particularly strong among the Consumer Discretionary, Health Care and Materials sectors. An underweight in Materials, plus not having exposure to the Telecommunications sector also boosted performance. On an individual basis, the top contributors to performance were Shire plc, Transdigm Group and Autozone. Under a new CEO, Shire plc, a specialty pharmaceutical company, is streamlining their existing businesses (mainly medications for ADHD and rare diseases) and utilizing their strong balance sheet to augment their internal growth via bolt-on acquisitions. In addition, the company’s strong cost discipline and their focus on internal research and development will also add to future earnings acceleration. Transdigm Group, a manufacturer of aircraft components, reported strong fiscal third-quarter earnings, highlighted by strong organic revenue growth of roughly 7% and a re-acceleration in aftermarket revenue growth, up 15% year over year. The company raised revenue and cash flow guidance for the fiscal year to reflect an improved outlook for the

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Managed by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

commercial aftermarket segment. The company also exhibited its commitment to shareholder returns via a $25 per share special dividend (in June) and its first share repurchase in years (disclosed in August). We continued to have high conviction in specialty-automotive retailer AutoZone. The company reported strong earnings in early December as revenues grew 8% with broad-based strength and reduced their share count by 5.5% on a year-over-year basis though its aggressive share buyback program.

For the fixed income portion of the Portfolio, currency allocation was a strong driver of performance during the year. Our preference for the U.S. dollar over the euro, British pound and Japanese yen contributed to results as these currencies lost value relative to the dollar. Small positions in the Mexican peso, Norwegian krone and Brazilian real hindered results as the currencies depreciated amid continued U.S. dollar strength. Selection among U.S. issuers aided performance, with strong returns from several high yield and convertible names. The Portfolio’s small exposure to the U.K. hindered returns as the U.K economic recovery continued.

Over the course of the year, the Portfolio’s sector and regional weights have changed based on where we discovered our best bottom-up stock ideas. We have further increased the Portfolio’s overweight to the Consumer Discretionary sector through a purchase of Jarden Corp. We found Jarden attractive, given the opportunity to meaningfully accelerate sales both organically and inorganically, expand margins though selective price increases and modest cost reductions, and what we view as a best-in-class management team that has a stellar record on capital allocation. We also have increased the Portfolio’s Financials exposure through purchases of AIA Group and Travelers. AIA is a pan-South East Asian life insurance company that was spun off by AIG in 2010. It sells life protection and long-term savings products. Its sales and profit growth is strong, driven by emergence of the middle class in Asia and by the need for greater savings and protection due to an insufficient social security safety net. We bought the stock because of our confidence in the company’s ability to sustain high growth for many more years. Travelers is a U.S. property and casualty insurance company with a strong franchise providing insurance for small- and medium-size businesses. It has excellent management and a history of retuning almost all of its profits to shareholders via dividends and buybacks. We liked the stock because we think that the pricing environment will stay more stable than the market expects.

Recently, given the turmoil in the energy market, we have decreased the Portfolio’s exposure to the Energy sector by exiting out of two names, as oil prices have plummeted almost 50% over the last six months. While operational execution improved markedly over the course of 2014, deteriorating macroeconomic fundamentals for natural gas in the U.S. are likely to pressure exploration and production company Gulfport Energy Corp.’s ability to grow cash flow and production, and as a result, we sold the security. We also have eliminated the Portfolio’s position in National Oilwell Varco (“NOV”), a global oil services company, due to the rapid decline in oil prices and the expected impact that this will have on NOV’s business moving forward. While slowing demand for offshore rigs has been evident for some time, the sharp decline in oil prices in the second half of 2015 will likely pressure NOV’s shorter-cycle businesses. The company’s strong cash generation has served as a redeeming attribute during the energy selloff and helped to buoy the stock. We deployed some of the capital into higher conviction names, like Kinder Morgan, and are holding the remainder of the proceeds in cash for now. The sale of these two names, along with sales of ACE Ltd. and Qualcomm reduced our North American exposure bringing our relative overweight to an underweight in the region at year-end.

At period end, the equity portion of the Portfolio had an unconstrained, fundamentally driven strategy with an emphasis on forward-looking scenario analysis. As a result of our bottom-up investment approach, we were primarily overweight the Consumer Discretionary, Health Care, Industrials and IT sectors, while underweight the Consumer Staples, Materials and Financials sectors. We did not own equity securities in the Telecommunications and Utilities sectors, as we continued to find the high capital intensity of these businesses relatively unattractive.

Equity positions held at period end are the direct result of our fundamental research and reflect what we believed are the most attractive opportunities based on quality, intrinsic value and valuation. From a regional perspective, we remained underweight developed Asia, Emerging Markets and Europe and held a large overweight in North America. Our relative positioning at year end was the result of our process as we look to identify quality companies that have the ability to grow intrinsic value and currently trade at an attractive valuation. While recent market conditions have been challenging, we continued to maintain our long-term focus in positioning the Portfolio.

At the end of the reporting period, the fixed income portion of the Portfolio had a corporate bond allocation of 60% and high yield allocation of 38%. Yields on corporates have remained relatively steady as government rates have declined, leading to spread widening. Volatility has clearly increased in the corporate bond market over the past few months, and we continued to see strong investor demand for new issues and generally favorable fundamentals and technicals. Overall, high yield valuations were more attractive at year end but still remained somewhat extended on a historical basis. Certain credit-specific stories and shorter-maturity high yield remained compelling.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Managed by Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio continued to prefer the U.S. dollar over the euro and yen, with tactical positioning in emerging market currencies. In addition, the Portfolio continued to maintain its short-duration stance.

Dan Fuss

David Rolley

Eileen Riley

Lee Rosenbaum

Portfolio Managers

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI WORLD INDEX & THE CITIGROUP WORLD GOVERNMENT BOND INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception3  
Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio                 

Class A

       3.76           11.52           8.24   

Class B

       3.47           11.24           7.97   
MSCI World Index        4.94           10.20           4.73   
Citigroup World Government Bond Index        -0.48           1.67           4.18   

1 The MSCI World Index is a capitalization weighted index that measures performance of stocks from developed countries around the world. The index returns shown above were calculated with net dividends: they reflect the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of the maximum possible withholding taxes.

2 The Citigroup World Government Bond Index is an index of bonds issued by governments in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

3 Inception date of the Class A and Class B shares is 5/1/2006. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Equity Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      14.8   
Consumer Discretionary      12.2   
Information Technology      11.3   
Health Care      10.6   
Industrials      9.3   

Top Fixed Income Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes      17.6   
Foreign Government      5.5   
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      3.2   
Convertible Bonds      1.7   
Municipals      0.2   

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.78    $ 1,000.00         $ 983.70         $ 3.90   
   Hypothetical*      0.78    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.27         $ 3.97   

Class B

   Actual      1.03    $ 1,000.00         $ 982.30         $ 5.15   
   Hypothetical*      1.03    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.01         $ 5.24   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—69.8% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—4.2%

  

Precision Castparts Corp.

    38,574      $ 9,291,705   

TransDigm Group, Inc. (a)

    61,907        12,155,440   
   

 

 

 
      21,447,145   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.6%

  

Motherson Sumi Systems, Ltd.

    412,605        3,001,074   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—0.7%

  

Suzuki Motor Corp.

    113,900        3,423,947   
   

 

 

 

Banks—5.1%

  

Citigroup, Inc.

    160,706        8,695,802   

HDFC Bank, Ltd.

    327,408        5,679,619   

M&T Bank Corp. (a)

    48,281        6,065,059   

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    1,039,200        5,696,004   
   

 

 

 
      26,136,484   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—3.2%

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV

    60,885        6,851,615   

Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.

    145,800        4,500,293   

Diageo plc

    181,979        5,219,367   
   

 

 

 
      16,571,275   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—1.2%

  

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (b)

    65,211        6,146,789   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—1.7%

  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    46,089        8,933,431   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—1.8%

  

Praxair, Inc.

    30,529        3,955,337   

Valspar Corp. (The)

    62,386        5,395,141   
   

 

 

 
      9,350,478   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—1.6%

  

American Express Co.

    86,618        8,058,939   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—1.7%

  

London Stock Exchange Group plc

    252,452        8,673,338   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—3.3%

  

Core Laboratories NV

    30,713        3,696,002   

Oceaneering International, Inc.

    97,888        5,756,793   

Schlumberger, Ltd.

    89,067        7,607,213   
   

 

 

 
      17,060,008   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—1.4%

  

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    72,645        7,343,683   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—1.5%

  

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

    90,255        7,740,269   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.7%

  

Jarden Corp. (b)

    78,190        3,743,737   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—4.5%

  

AIA Group, Ltd.

    1,342,000      7,363,982   

Legal & General Group plc

    2,461,751        9,455,143   

Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)

    59,759        6,325,490   
   

 

 

 
      23,144,615   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—3.6%

  

Amazon.com, Inc. (b)

    19,944        6,189,621   

Priceline Group, Inc. (The) (b)

    10,849        12,370,138   
   

 

 

 
      18,559,759   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—4.8%

  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. (ADR) (a) (b)

    82,459        8,570,788   

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (b)

    58,845        4,591,087   

Google, Inc. - Class A (b)

    11,014        5,844,689   

Google, Inc. - Class C (b)

    11,014        5,797,770   
   

 

 

 
      24,804,334   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—4.5%

  

CGI Group, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    249,500        9,511,409   

Cielo S.A.

    205,000        3,212,485   

HCL Technologies, Ltd.

    180,949        4,593,274   

Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (a)

    182,100        5,591,551   
   

 

 

 
      22,908,719   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—1.4%

  

Atlas Copco AB - A Shares

    255,791        7,120,487   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.1%

  

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (a)

    157,383        6,658,875   

Noble Energy, Inc.

    90,737        4,303,656   
   

 

 

 
      10,962,531   
   

 

 

 

Personal Products—1.3%

  

Hengan International Group Co., Ltd.

    661,500        6,900,315   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—8.0%

  

Bayer AG

    49,917        6,824,124   

Genomma Lab Internacional S.A.B. de C.V. - Class B (a) (b)

    2,857,147        5,443,660   

Novo Nordisk A/S - Class B

    169,719        7,181,083   

Roche Holding AG

    41,557        11,263,629   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (b)

    74,591        10,674,718   
   

 

 

 
      41,387,214   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—1.3%

  

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. - Class A (b)

    76,755        6,901,810   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—0.9%

  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    88,568        4,735,288   
   

 

 

 

Software—1.2%

  

FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (a)

    42,276        5,950,347   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—3.9%

  

AutoZone, Inc. (a) (b)

    19,208        11,891,865   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Specialty Retail—(Continued)

  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    54,495      $ 3,749,256   

Signet Jewelers, Ltd.

    34,948        4,598,108   
   

 

 

 
      20,239,229   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—1.2%

  

Luxottica Group S.p.A.

    116,407        6,373,009   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—2.4%

  

Brenntag AG

    107,076        6,025,098   

WW Grainger, Inc. (a)

    24,802        6,321,782   
   

 

 

 
      12,346,880   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $303,853,925)

      359,965,134   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—17.6%   

Advertising—0.1%

  

CBS Outdoor Americas Capital LLC / CBS Outdoor Americas Capital Corp.

   

5.250%, 02/15/22 (144A)

    25,000        25,188   

5.875%, 03/15/25 (144A) (a)

    55,000        55,412   

Visant Corp.

   

10.000%, 10/01/17

    100,000        86,750   

WPP plc

   

6.000%, 04/04/17 (GBP)

    160,000        274,003   
   

 

 

 
      441,353   
   

 

 

 

Aerospace/Defense—0.0%

  

TransDigm, Inc.

   

6.500%, 07/15/24

    76,000        76,380   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.4%

  

Air Canada

   

7.625%, 10/01/19 (144A) (CAD)

    470,000        430,334   

Delta Air Lines Pass-Through Trust

   

8.021%, 08/10/22

    1,128,882        1,303,858   

U.S. Airways Pass-Through Trust

   

5.900%, 10/01/24

    71,545        79,773   

8.000%, 10/01/19

    35,818        39,759   

United Continental Holdings, Inc.

   

6.375%, 06/01/18

    305,000        322,538   
   

 

 

 
      2,176,262   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.5%

  

Ford Motor Co.

   

6.625%, 10/01/28

    1,675,000        2,057,210   

Kia Motors Corp.

   

3.625%, 06/14/16 (144A)

    300,000        309,312   
   

 

 

 
      2,366,522   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.3%

  

Gajah Tunggal Tbk PT

   

7.750%, 02/06/18 (144A)

    300,000        277,500   

Auto Parts & Equipment—(Continued)

  

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)

   

7.000%, 03/15/28

    1,228,000      $ 1,270,980   
   

 

 

 
      1,548,480   
   

 

 

 

Banks—2.7%

  

Axis Bank, Ltd.

   

3.250%, 05/21/20 (144A)

    225,000        222,667   

Banco de Credito e Inversiones

   

3.000%, 09/13/17 (144A)

    600,000        611,875   

Banco do Brasil S.A.

   

3.875%, 10/10/22

    300,000        275,250   

Banco Santander Brasil S.A.

   

4.625%, 02/13/17 (144A)

    400,000        414,520   

Banco Santander Mexico S.A.

   

4.125%, 11/09/22 (144A)

    150,000        148,530   

Banco Votorantim S.A.

   

6.250%, 05/16/16 (144A) (BRL)

    450,000        197,680   

Barclays plc

   

2.750%, 11/08/19

    475,000        472,098   

Canara Bank

   

6.365%, 11/28/21 (c)

    200,000        203,099   

Corpbanca S.A.

   

3.125%, 01/15/18

    465,000        462,094   

Credit Agricole S.A.

   

7.500%, 06/23/26 (GBP) (c)

    160,000        244,139   

Export-Import Bank of Korea

   

3.000%, 05/22/18 (144A) (NOK)

    1,700,000        237,405   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

   

3.375%, 02/01/18 (CAD)

    300,000        266,243   

6.750%, 10/01/37

    945,000        1,188,219   

GTB Finance B.V.

   

6.000%, 11/08/18 (144A)

    200,000        186,000   

Hana Bank

   

4.000%, 11/03/16 (144A)

    200,000        208,696   

ICICI Bank, Ltd.

   

3.500%, 03/18/20 (144A)

    620,000        623,909   

6.375%, 04/30/22 (144A) (c)

    300,000        308,250   

Industrial Bank of Korea

   

2.375%, 07/17/17 (144A)

    300,000        303,852   

Itau Unibanco Holding S.A.

   

6.200%, 12/21/21 (144A) (a)

    300,000        314,814   

Lloyds Banking Group plc

   

4.500%, 11/04/24

    200,000        201,828   

Macquarie Bank, Ltd.

   

6.625%, 04/07/21 (144A)

    500,000        577,201   

Morgan Stanley

   

4.100%, 05/22/23

    200,000        202,488   

4.350%, 09/08/26

    315,000        316,882   

7.250%, 05/26/15 (AUD)

    300,000        248,875   

7.625%, 03/03/16 (AUD)

    500,000        427,659   

PKO Finance AB

   

4.630%, 09/26/22 (144A)

    450,000        471,375   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

   

6.000%, 12/19/23

    470,000        508,727   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—(Continued)

  

Siam Commercial Bank PCL

   

3.500%, 04/07/19 (144A)

    420,000      $ 431,420   

Societe Generale S.A.

   

5.000%, 01/17/24 (144A) (a)

    485,000        487,658   

6.750%, 04/07/21 (EUR) (c)

    195,000        228,999   

Standard Chartered plc

   

4.000%, 10/21/25 (EUR) (c)

    250,000        320,563   

State Bank of India

   

4.125%, 08/01/17 (144A)

    300,000        311,322   

TC Ziraat Bankasi A/S

   

4.250%, 07/03/19 (144A)

    380,000        379,544   

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S

   

4.000%, 09/13/17 (144A)

    300,000        304,524   

Turkiye Is Bankasi

   

3.875%, 11/07/17 (144A)

    400,000        402,440   

UniCredit S.p.A.

   

6.950%, 10/31/22 (EUR)

    300,000        426,578   

Woori Bank Co., Ltd.

   

5.875%, 04/13/21 (144A)

    200,000        227,918   

Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi A/S

   

5.250%, 12/03/18 (144A)

    360,000        372,204   
   

 

 

 
      13,737,545   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.0%

  

Constellation Brands, Inc.

   

4.750%, 11/15/24 (a)

    110,000        111,375   

DS Services of America, Inc.

   

10.000%, 09/01/21 (144A)

    125,000        144,375   
   

 

 

 
      255,750   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.2%

  

Atrium Windows & Doors, Inc.

   

7.750%, 05/01/19 (144A)

    215,000        180,600   

Cemex Finance LLC

   

6.000%, 04/01/24 (144A) (a)

    265,000        258,375   

Masco Corp.

   

6.500%, 08/15/32

    30,000        30,675   

7.750%, 08/01/29

    200,000        230,000   

Union Andina de Cementos SAA

   

5.875%, 10/30/21 (144A) (a)

    450,000        456,525   
   

 

 

 
      1,156,175   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.9%

  

Braskem Finance, Ltd.

   

5.750%, 04/15/21 (144A) (a)

    200,000        201,500   

Hercules, Inc.

   

6.500%, 06/30/29

    10,000        9,000   

Incitec Pivot Finance LLC

   

6.000%, 12/10/19 (144A)

    80,000        88,959   

Israel Chemicals, Ltd.

   

4.500%, 12/02/24 (144A)

    380,000        380,228   

Momentive Specialty Chemicals, Inc.

   

7.875%, 02/15/23 (d)

    899,000        548,390   

8.375%, 04/15/16 (d)

    1,961,000        1,637,435   

9.200%, 03/15/21 (d)

    1,910,000        1,360,875   

Chemicals—(Continued)

  

OCP S.A.

   

6.875%, 04/25/44 (144A) (a)

    245,000      262,787   
   

 

 

 
      4,489,174   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.1%

  

Cielo S.A. / Cielo USA, Inc.

   

3.750%, 11/16/22 (144A)

    540,000        486,000   

RR Donnelley & Sons Co.

   

7.000%, 02/15/22

    255,000        273,488   
   

 

 

 
      759,488   
   

 

 

 

Cosmetics/Personal Care—0.0%

  

Avon Products, Inc.

   

6.950%, 03/15/43

    35,000        28,875   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.9%

  

CIMPOR Financial Operations B.V.

   

5.750%, 07/17/24 (144A)

    410,000        359,734   

General Motors Financial Co., Inc.

   

4.375%, 09/25/21

    100,000        104,375   

Jefferies Group LLC

   

5.125%, 01/20/23

    50,000        50,826   

6.250%, 01/15/36

    175,000        171,985   

6.450%, 06/08/27

    50,000        51,877   

6.875%, 04/15/21

    480,000        545,645   

Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP / Ladder Capital Finance Corp.

   

7.375%, 10/01/17

    90,000        92,700   

Mubadala GE Capital, Ltd.

   

3.000%, 11/10/19 (144A)

    435,000        430,598   

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

   

2.750%, 03/19/19 (a)

    485,000        490,312   

Old Mutual plc

   

8.000%, 06/03/21 (GBP)

    280,000        495,919   

SLM Corp.

   

5.500%, 01/25/23

    555,000        531,412   

5.625%, 08/01/33

    975,000        736,125   

Springleaf Finance Corp.

   

7.750%, 10/01/21

    165,000        184,800   

8.250%, 10/01/23

    65,000        72,800   

Unifin Financiera SAPI de C.V.

   

6.250%, 07/22/19 (144A) (a)

    385,000        350,350   
   

 

 

 
      4,669,458   
   

 

 

 

Electric—0.7%

  

AES Corp.

   

4.875%, 05/15/23

    125,000        124,063   

CEZ A/S

   

4.250%, 04/03/22 (144A)

    400,000        425,324   

DPL, Inc.

   

6.750%, 10/01/19 (144A)

    131,000        132,310   

Dubai Electricity & Water Authority

   

6.375%, 10/21/16 (144A)

    200,000        215,500   

8.500%, 04/22/15 (144A)

    300,000        305,730   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—(Continued)

  

E.CL S.A.

   

5.625%, 01/15/21 (144A)

    250,000      $ 269,890   

EDP Finance B.V.

   

4.125%, 01/15/20 (144A) (a)

    200,000        201,120   

Emgesa S.A. E.S.P

   

8.750%, 01/25/21 (144A) (COP)

    1,210,000,000        548,102   

Empresas Publicas de Medellin E.S.P.

   

8.375%, 02/01/21 (144A) (COP)

    1,610,000,000        711,882   

Transelec S.A.

   

4.250%, 01/14/25 (144A)

    460,000        457,982   
   

 

 

 
      3,391,903   
   

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction—0.1%

  

AECOM Technology Corp.

   

5.750%, 10/15/22 (144A)

    20,000        20,450   

5.875%, 10/15/24 (144A)

    20,000        20,450   

Odebrecht Offshore Drilling Finance, Ltd.

   

6.750%, 10/01/22 (144A)

    377,000        344,955   

Sydney Airport Finance Co. Pty., Ltd.

   

5.125%, 02/22/21 (144A)

    140,000        156,836   
   

 

 

 
      542,691   
   

 

 

 

Food—0.6%

  

BRF S.A.

   

3.950%, 05/22/23 (144A)

    1,085,000        1,003,083   

5.875%, 06/06/22 (144A)

    200,000        211,600   

7.750%, 05/22/18 (144A) (BRL)

    480,000        156,196   

Cosan Luxembourg S.A.

   

5.000%, 03/14/23 (144A) (a)

    200,000        178,000   

SUPERVALU, Inc.

   

6.750%, 06/01/21 (a)

    1,415,000        1,390,237   
   

 

 

 
      2,939,116   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.2%

  

Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion S.A.

   

4.750%, 01/11/22

    400,000        411,107   

Inversiones CMPC S.A.

   

4.375%, 05/15/23 (144A)

    400,000        393,120   
   

 

 

 
      804,227   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.0%

  

China Resources Gas Group, Ltd.

   

4.500%, 04/05/22 (144A)

    200,000        211,071   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—1.8%

  

HCA, Inc.

   

7.050%, 12/01/27

    80,000        81,200   

7.500%, 11/06/33

    5,060,000        5,313,000   

7.580%, 09/15/25

    375,000        418,125   

7.690%, 06/15/25

    755,000        849,375   

7.750%, 07/15/36

    1,420,000        1,519,400   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

   

6.875%, 11/15/31

    910,000        855,400   
   

 

 

 
      9,036,500   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.0%

  

Hutchison Whampoa International, Ltd.

   

3.500%, 01/13/17 (144A)

    200,000      207,212   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—0.1%

  

K Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

   

5.000%, 11/01/21

    700,000        595,000   

KB Home

   

4.750%, 05/15/19

    100,000        98,500   

TRI Pointe Holdings, Inc.

   

4.375%, 06/15/19 (144A)

    20,000        19,725   
   

 

 

 
      713,225   
   

 

 

 

Home Furnishings—0.1%

  

Arcelik A/S

   

5.000%, 04/03/23 (144A) (a)

    300,000        288,930   
   

 

 

 

Housewares—0.0%

  

Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.

   

4.000%, 12/01/24

    150,000        153,086   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.3%

  

Forethought Financial Group, Inc.

   

8.625%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    820,000        939,241   

Genworth Holdings, Inc.

   

4.800%, 02/15/24 (a)

    75,000        60,797   

4.900%, 08/15/23

    135,000        108,769   

6.500%, 06/15/34

    90,000        74,450   

Old Republic International Corp.

   

4.875%, 10/01/24

    175,000        182,678   
   

 

 

 
      1,365,935   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.1%

  

Baidu, Inc.

   

3.250%, 08/06/18

    600,000        613,328   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.7%

  

ArcelorMittal

   

7.250%, 03/01/41

    540,000        545,400   

CSN Resources S.A.

   

6.500%, 07/21/20 (144A) (a)

    100,000        92,000   

GTL Trade Finance, Inc.

   

5.893%, 04/29/24 (144A)

    452,000        436,180   

Hyundai Steel Co.

   

4.625%, 04/21/16 (144A)

    400,000        413,192   

Samarco Mineracao S.A.

   

4.125%, 11/01/22 (144A)

    300,000        264,000   

Tupy Overseas S.A.

   

6.625%, 07/17/24 (144A)

    200,000        192,000   

United States Steel Corp.

   

7.500%, 03/15/22

    290,000        303,050   

Vale Overseas, Ltd.

   

6.875%, 11/21/36

    585,000        616,701   

Vale S.A.

   

5.625%, 09/11/42 (a)

    525,000        488,990   
   

 

 

 
      3,351,513   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Machinery-Diversified—0.0%

  

Cleaver-Brooks, Inc.

   

8.750%, 12/15/19 (144A)

    65,000      $ 68,413   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.2%

  

Dex Media, Inc.

   

14.000%, 01/29/17 (e)

    5,523        2,403   

DISH DBS Corp.

   

5.875%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    40,000        40,200   

Grupo Televisa S.A.B.

   

7.250%, 05/14/43 (MXN)

    6,000,000        348,258   

Myriad International Holding B.V.

   

6.000%, 07/18/20 (144A)

    200,000        218,500   

VTR Finance B.V.

   

6.875%, 01/15/24 (144A)

    200,000        204,000   
   

 

 

 
      813,361   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.1%

  

Hecla Mining Co.

   

6.875%, 05/01/21

    320,000        281,600   

Minera y Metalurgica del Boleo S.A. de C.V.

   

2.875%, 05/07/19 (144A) (a)

    480,000        487,494   
   

 

 

 
      769,094   
   

 

 

 

Multi-National—0.3%

  

Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior S.A.

   

3.750%, 04/04/17 (144A) (a)

    625,000        643,750   

Central American Bank for Economic Integration

   

3.875%, 02/09/17 (144A)

    550,000        565,168   

International Finance Corp.

   

7.800%, 06/03/19 (INR)

    29,000,000        500,703   
   

 

 

 
      1,709,621   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—1.5%

  

Cimarex Energy Co.

   

4.375%, 06/01/24

    120,000        114,600   

Continental Resources, Inc.

   

3.800%, 06/01/24

    50,000        44,727   

4.500%, 04/15/23

    10,000        9,512   

Ecopetrol S.A.

   

5.875%, 09/18/23 (a)

    740,000        783,475   

Halcon Resources Corp.

   

8.875%, 05/15/21 (a)

    185,000        139,213   

Korea National Oil Corp.

   

3.125%, 04/03/17 (144A)

    200,000        205,214   

NGC Corp. Capital Trust I

   

8.316%, 06/01/27 (f) (g)

    520,000        0   

Odebrecht Drilling Norbe VIII/IX, Ltd.

   

6.350%, 06/30/21 (144A)

    170,000        158,950   

Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp.

   

5.125%, 03/28/23 (144A) (a)

    895,000        704,812   

5.625%, 01/19/25 (144A) (a)

    235,000        180,362   

Pertamina Persero PT

   

4.300%, 05/20/23 (144A)

    1,115,000        1,064,825   

Petrobras Global Finance B.V.

   

4.375%, 05/20/23 (a)

    1,545,000        1,328,824   

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Petrobras International Finance Co.

   

5.750%, 01/20/20

    365,000      352,484   

6.250%, 12/14/26 (GBP)

    200,000        278,990   

Petroleos Mexicanos

   

4.250%, 01/15/25 (144A)

    320,000        317,920   

Reliance Holdings USA, Inc.

   

5.400%, 02/14/22 (144A)

    500,000        541,654   

Rosetta Resources, Inc.

   

5.625%, 05/01/21

    245,000        224,199   

Thai Oil PCL

   

3.625%, 01/23/23 (144A)

    350,000        344,022   

YPF S.A.

   

8.750%, 04/04/24 (144A)

    720,000        731,700   
   

 

 

 
      7,525,483   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—0.6%

  

Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc.

   

5.375%, 01/15/25 (144A) (a)

    1,230,000        1,242,300   

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc. / Reynolds Group Issuer LLC

   

5.750%, 10/15/20

    900,000        922,500   

8.250%, 02/15/21

    1,150,000        1,178,750   
   

 

 

 
      3,343,550   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.0%

  

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

   

6.375%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    5,000        5,225   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—0.1%

  

Regency Energy Partners L.P. / Regency Energy Finance Corp.

   

5.000%, 10/01/22

    440,000        415,800   

Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A.

   

9.625%, 05/14/20 (144A)

    263,674        263,674   
   

 

 

 
      679,474   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.0%

  

iStar Financial, Inc.

   

4.875%, 07/01/18

    70,000        68,775   
   

 

 

 

Retail—1.1%

  

J.C. Penney Corp., Inc.

   

7.625%, 03/01/97

    155,000        102,300   

Lotte Shopping Co., Ltd.

   

3.375%, 05/09/17 (144A)

    430,000        442,427   

New Albertsons, Inc.

   

7.450%, 08/01/29

    5,470,000        4,895,650   

Parkson Retail Group, Ltd.

   

4.500%, 05/03/18 (a)

    200,000        183,184   

Toys “R” Us, Inc.

   

7.375%, 10/15/18

    100,000        65,500   
   

 

 

 
      5,689,061   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Software—0.1%

  

First Data Corp.

   

10.625%, 06/15/21

    439,000      $ 497,168   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—2.5%

  

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.

   

6.450%, 03/15/29

    55,000        52,525   

Altice Financing S.A.

   

7.875%, 12/15/19 (144A)

    200,000        204,779   

Altice S.A.

   

7.750%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    200,000        200,375   

Bharti Airtel International Netherlands B.V.

   

5.125%, 03/11/23 (144A)

    500,000        533,640   

5.350%, 05/20/24 (144A)

    390,000        421,949   

British Telecommunications plc

   

5.750%, 12/07/28 (GBP)

    540,000        1,028,825   

CenturyLink, Inc.

   

6.875%, 01/15/28

    45,000        45,000   

7.600%, 09/15/39

    475,000        470,250   

7.650%, 03/15/42

    185,000        184,075   

Colombia Telecomunicaciones S.A. E.S.P.

   

5.375%, 09/27/22 (144A)

    250,000        243,750   

Indosat Palapa Co. B.V.

   

7.375%, 07/29/20 (144A)

    200,000        210,500   

Level 3 Financing, Inc.

   

7.000%, 06/01/20

    380,000        400,425   

Millicom International Cellular S.A.

   

4.750%, 05/22/20 (144A)

    225,000        212,062   

MTN Mauritius Investments, Ltd.

   

4.755%, 11/11/24 (144A)

    400,000        392,000   

Oi S.A.

   

9.750%, 09/15/16 (144A) (BRL)

    300,000        102,701   

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.

   

8.350%, 03/06/17

    95,000        108,300   

Qwest Capital Funding, Inc.

   

7.750%, 02/15/31

    1,445,000        1,466,675   

SoftBank Corp.

   

4.500%, 04/15/20 (144A)

    400,000        394,000   

Sprint Capital Corp.

   

6.875%, 11/15/28

    1,250,000        1,100,000   

8.750%, 03/15/32

    350,000        338,625   

Sprint Communications, Inc.

   

7.000%, 08/15/20

    1,500,000        1,500,000   

11.500%, 11/15/21

    2,000,000        2,405,000   

Turk Telekomunikasyon A/S

   

3.750%, 06/19/19 (144A) (a)

    495,000        496,485   

Wind Acquisition Finance S.A.

   

7.375%, 04/23/21 (144A)

    360,000        339,768   
   

 

 

 
      12,851,709   
   

 

 

 

Textiles—0.1%

  

INVISTA Finance LLC

   

4.250%, 10/15/19 (144A)

    305,000        305,000   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.2%

  

Jack Cooper Holdings Corp.

   

9.250%, 06/01/20 (144A)

    360,000        372,600   

Transportation—(Continued)

  

Transnet SOC, Ltd.

   

4.000%, 07/26/22 (144A) (a)

    555,000      524,475   
   

 

 

 
      897,075   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $87,544,285)

      90,547,208   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—5.5%   

Sovereign—5.5%

  

Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social

   

5.750%, 09/26/23 (144A)

    500,000        515,000   

Brazil Letras do Tesouro Nacional

   

Zero Coupon, 07/01/16 (BRL)

    2,900,000        908,350   

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional

   

6.000%, 05/15/15 (BRL)

    715,000        682,843   

10.000%, 01/01/19 (BRL)

    1,000,000        329,314   

10.000%, 01/01/21 (BRL)

    1,635,000        525,767   

Brazilian Government International Bonds

   

8.500%, 01/05/24 (BRL) (a)

    350,000        120,805   

10.250%, 01/10/28 (BRL)

    1,000,000        377,699   

Bundesrepublik Deutschland

   

3.250%, 01/04/20 (EUR)

    255,000        358,482   

Chile Government International Bond

   

5.500%, 08/05/20 (CLP)

    130,000,000        225,149   

Dominican Republic International Bond

   

8.625%, 04/20/27 (144A)

    200,000        234,500   

European Financial Stability Facility

   

1.625%, 07/17/20 (EUR)

    1,000,000        1,298,335   

Export Credit Bank of Turkey

   

5.000%, 09/23/21 (144A)

    225,000        229,023   

Hungary Government International Bonds

   

5.375%, 03/25/24

    540,000        584,550   

5.750%, 11/22/23

    410,000        454,075   

Iceland Government International Bond

   

5.875%, 05/11/22 (144A)

    500,000        560,357   

Indonesia Government International Bond

   

2.875%, 07/08/21 (144A) (EUR)

    220,000        269,539   

Indonesia Treasury Bonds

   

6.125%, 05/15/28 (IDR)

    5,300,000,000        354,833   

7.875%, 04/15/19 (IDR)

    10,200,000,000        828,724   

8.375%, 03/15/24 (IDR)

    5,900,000,000        494,247   

11.500%, 09/15/19 (IDR)

    2,901,000,000        268,550   

Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro

   

4.500%, 08/01/18 (EUR)

    1,040,000        1,424,769   

4.750%, 08/01/23 (144A) (EUR)

    625,000        939,680   

Korea Treasury Bond

   

2.750%, 09/10/17 (KRW)

    885,000,000        818,175   

Mexican Bonos

   

6.500%, 06/10/21 (MXN)

    26,700,000        1,900,575   

6.500%, 06/09/22 (MXN)

    10,420,000        740,498   

8.000%, 12/07/23 (MXN)

    11,500,000        895,815   

8.500%, 12/13/18 (MXN)

    19,350,000        1,477,848   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Sovereign—(Continued)

  

New Zealand Government Bonds

   

3.000%, 09/20/30 (NZD)

    1,195,000      $ 1,050,050   

5.000%, 03/15/19 (NZD)

    1,015,000        835,867   

5.500%, 04/15/23 (NZD)

    1,070,000        942,908   

Norwegian Government Bonds

   

2.000%, 05/24/23 (NOK)

    8,437,000        1,181,363   

4.250%, 05/19/17 (NOK)

    760,000        110,094   

Philippine Government International Bond

   

4.950%, 01/15/21 (PHP)

    30,000,000        695,803   

Poland Government Bonds

   

4.000%, 10/25/23 (PLN)

    7,110,000        2,261,392   

5.500%, 10/25/19 (PLN)

    1,330,000        432,483   

South Africa Government Bond

   

7.750%, 02/28/23 (ZAR)

    4,750,000        408,571   

South Africa Government International Bond

   

5.875%, 09/16/25 (a)

    200,000        225,250   

Spain Government Bond

   

4.300%, 10/31/19 (EUR)

    875,000        1,233,230   

Sweden Government Bonds

   

4.500%, 08/12/15 (SEK)

    6,080,000        800,546   

5.000%, 12/01/20 (SEK)

    2,650,000        430,599   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $30,854,315)

      28,425,658   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—3.2%   

U.S. Treasury—3.2%

  

U.S. Treasury Notes

   

0.250%, 02/15/15

    755,000        755,147   

0.250%, 02/29/16

    1,570,000        1,568,038   

0.250%, 05/15/16

    3,545,000        3,537,524   

0.375%, 03/31/16

    3,535,000        3,534,449   

0.375%, 10/31/16

    3,550,000        3,535,299   

0.500%, 11/30/16 (a)

    3,545,000        3,536,137   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $16,487,660)

      16,466,594   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds—1.7%   

Chemicals—0.0%

  

RPM International, Inc.

   

2.250%, 12/15/20 (a)

    20,000        23,313   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.0%

  

Macquarie Infrastructure Co. LLC

   

2.875%, 07/15/19 (a)

    34,000        38,633   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—0.0%

  

KB Home

   

1.375%, 02/01/19 (a)

    100,000        99,125   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.4%

  

Old Republic International Corp.

   

3.750%, 03/15/18 (a)

    1,875,000        2,172,656   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.1%

  

Priceline Group, Inc. (The)

   

0.900%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    515,000      490,537   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.0%

  

Trinity Industries, Inc.

   

3.875%, 06/01/36

    45,000        59,119   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.0%

  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   

2.500%, 05/15/37

    50,000        48,563   

2.750%, 11/15/35

    60,000        59,925   
   

 

 

 
      108,488   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.2%

  

Omnicare, Inc.

   

3.750%, 12/15/25

    365,000        1,006,944   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.9%

  

Intel Corp.

   

3.250%, 08/01/39

    2,670,000        4,642,462   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.1%

  

Ciena Corp.

   

3.750%, 10/15/18 (144A)

    115,000        142,384   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Bonds
(Cost $5,788,905)

      8,783,661   
   

 

 

 
Municipals—0.2%   

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp.

   

6.706%, 06/01/46
(Cost $1,304,710)

    1,305,000        980,420   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stock—0.2%   

Consumer Finance—0.2%

  

Ally Financial, Inc. , 7.000% (144A)
(Cost $211,643)

    906        905,632   
   

 

 

 
Floating Rate Loans (h)—0.1%   

Multi-Utilities—0.0%

  

PowerTeam Services LLC

   

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 05/06/20

    231,475        225,977   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.250%, 11/06/20

    60,000        58,350   

Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.250%, 05/06/20

    12,623        12,339   
   

 

 

 
      296,666   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.1%

  

FairPoint Communications, Inc.

   

Term Loan, 7.500%, 02/14/19

    447,038        445,920   
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loans
(Cost $750,285)

      742,586   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—0.1%

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—0.1%

  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust

   

5.796%, 08/10/45 (c)

    40,000      $ 40,868   

Institutional Mortgage Securities Canada, Inc.

   

2.616%, 07/12/47 (144A) (CAD)

    555,000        481,270   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $556,284)

      522,138   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stocks—0.1%   

Metals & Mining—0.0%

   

Alcoa, Inc.

   

5.375%, 10/01/17

    620        31,279   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.0%

   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   

5.000%, 12/31/49 (a)

    694        65,627   

5.750%, 12/31/49 (144A)

    20        20,475   
   

 

 

 
      86,102   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.1%

   

Weyerhaeuser Co.

   

6.375%, 07/01/16

    2,829        163,233   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
(Cost $249,656)

      280,614   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—12.1%   

Mutual Fund—10.9%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (i)

    55,960,360        55,960,360   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—1.2%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated
12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $6,382,654 on 01/02/15, collateralized by
$6,505,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.250% due 08/15/15 with a value of $6,513,131.

    6,382,654        6,382,654   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $62,343,014)

      62,343,014   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—110.6%
(Cost $509,944,682) (j)

      569,962,659   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(10.6)%

      (54,472,859
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 515,489,800   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $65,955,265 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $55,960,360 and non-cash collateral with a value of $12,364,652. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(d) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.7% of net assets.
(e) Payment-in-kind security for which part of the income earned may be paid as additional principal.
(f) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent less than 0.05% of net assets.
(g) Non-income producing; Security is in default and/or issuer is in bankruptcy.
(h) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.
(i) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(j) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $510,267,512. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $71,062,457 and $(11,367,310), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $59,695,147 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $39,430,753, which is 7.6% of net assets.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CLP)— Chilean Peso
(COP)— Colombian Peso
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(IDR)— Indonesian Rupiah

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(INR)— Indian Rupee
(KRW)— South Korea Won
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(NOK)— Norwegian Krone
(NZD)— New Zealand Dollar
(PHP)— Philippine Peso
(PLN)— Polish Zloty
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(ZAR)— South African Rand

Countries Diversification as of
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

% of
Net Assets

 

United States

     53.4   

United Kingdom

     6.1   

Canada

     4.2   

Japan

     3.9   

India

     2.9   

Hong Kong

     2.8   

Germany

     2.6   

Mexico

     2.3   

Switzerland

     2.2   

Brazil

     2.2   

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

   Settlement
Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     950,000      

Credit Suisse International

     03/18/15       $ 774,677       $ (3,136
BRL     1,200,000      

Credit Suisse International

     01/07/15         465,658         (14,468
EUR     6,020,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     03/18/15         7,482,890         (193,572
GBP     580,000      

Credit Suisse International

     03/18/15         909,944         (6,478
JPY     786,000,000      

Credit Suisse International

     03/18/15         6,599,829         (33,596

Contracts to Deliver

                           
AUD     1,695,000      

Credit Suisse International

     03/18/15         1,396,960         20,368   
BRL     8,180,000      

Credit Suisse International

     01/07/15         3,218,572         142,966   
BRL     2,325,000      

Credit Suisse International

     01/07/15         899,246         25,067   
COP     3,125,000,000      

Citibank N.A.

     03/24/15         1,263,647         (45,712
MXN     18,600,000      

UBS AG

     03/18/15         1,248,552         (6,455
NOK     2,250,000      

UBS AG

     03/18/15         323,870         22,597   
NZD     3,390,000      

Credit Suisse International

     03/18/15         2,599,554         (26,479
PLN     10,355,000      

Citibank N.A.

     03/18/15         3,085,151         169,829   
SEK     9,775,000      

UBS AG

     01/29/15         1,339,404         85,383   
             

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 136,314   
             

 

 

 

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(COP)— Colombian Peso
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(NOK)— Norwegian Krone
(NZD)— New Zealand Dollar
(PLN)— Polish Zloty
(SEK)— Swedish Krona

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks            

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 21,447,145       $ —         $ —         $ 21,447,145   

Auto Components

     —           3,001,074         —           3,001,074   

Automobiles

     —           3,423,947         —           3,423,947   

Banks

     20,440,480         5,696,004         —           26,136,484   

Beverages

     —           16,571,275         —           16,571,275   

Biotechnology

     6,146,789         —           —           6,146,789   

Capital Markets

     8,933,431         —           —           8,933,431   

Chemicals

     9,350,478         —           —           9,350,478   

Consumer Finance

     8,058,939         —           —           8,058,939   

Diversified Financial Services

     —           8,673,338         —           8,673,338   

Energy Equipment & Services

     17,060,008         —           —           17,060,008   

Health Care Providers & Services

     7,343,683         —           —           7,343,683   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     7,740,269         —           —           7,740,269   

Household Durables

     3,743,737         —           —           3,743,737   

Insurance

     6,325,490         16,819,125         —           23,144,615   

Internet & Catalog Retail

     18,559,759         —           —           18,559,759   

Internet Software & Services

     24,804,334         —           —           24,804,334   

IT Services

     9,511,409         13,397,310         —           22,908,719   

Machinery

     —           7,120,487         —           7,120,487   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     10,962,531         —           —           10,962,531   

Personal Products

     —           6,900,315         —           6,900,315   

Pharmaceuticals

     16,118,378         25,268,836         —           41,387,214   

Road & Rail

     6,901,810         —           —           6,901,810   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     4,735,288         —           —           4,735,288   

Software

     5,950,347         —           —           5,950,347   

Specialty Retail

     20,239,229         —           —           20,239,229   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     —           6,373,009         —           6,373,009   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     6,321,782         6,025,098         —           12,346,880   

Total Common Stocks

     240,695,316         119,269,818         —           359,965,134   
Corporate Bonds & Notes            

Advertising

     —           441,353         —           441,353   

Aerospace/Defense

     —           76,380         —           76,380   

Airlines

     —           2,176,262         —           2,176,262   

Auto Manufacturers

     —           2,366,522         —           2,366,522   

Auto Parts & Equipment

     —           1,548,480         —           1,548,480   

Banks

     —           13,737,545         —           13,737,545   

Beverages

     —           255,750         —           255,750   

Building Materials

     —           1,156,175         —           1,156,175   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Chemicals

   $ —         $ 4,489,174      $ —         $ 4,489,174   

Commercial Services

     —           759,488        —           759,488   

Cosmetics/Personal Care

     —           28,875        —           28,875   

Diversified Financial Services

     —           4,669,458        —           4,669,458   

Electric

     —           3,391,903        —           3,391,903   

Engineering & Construction

     —           542,691        —           542,691   

Food

     —           2,939,116        —           2,939,116   

Forest Products & Paper

     —           804,227        —           804,227   

Gas

     —           211,071        —           211,071   

Healthcare-Services

     —           9,036,500        —           9,036,500   

Holding Companies-Diversified

     —           207,212        —           207,212   

Home Builders

     —           713,225        —           713,225   

Home Furnishings

     —           288,930        —           288,930   

Housewares

     —           153,086        —           153,086   

Insurance

     —           1,365,935        —           1,365,935   

Internet

     —           613,328        —           613,328   

Iron/Steel

     —           3,351,513        —           3,351,513   

Machinery-Diversified

     —           68,413        —           68,413   

Media

     —           813,361        —           813,361   

Mining

     —           769,094        —           769,094   

Multi-National

     —           1,709,621        —           1,709,621   

Oil & Gas

     —           7,525,483        0         7,525,483   

Packaging & Containers

     —           3,343,550        —           3,343,550   

Pharmaceuticals

     —           5,225        —           5,225   

Pipelines

     —           679,474        —           679,474   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     —           68,775        —           68,775   

Retail

     —           5,689,061        —           5,689,061   

Software

     —           497,168        —           497,168   

Telecommunications

     —           12,851,709        —           12,851,709   

Textiles

     —           305,000        —           305,000   

Transportation

     —           897,075        —           897,075   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes

     —           90,547,208        0         90,547,208   

Total Foreign Government*

     —           28,425,658        —           28,425,658   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

     —           16,466,594        —           16,466,594   

Total Convertible Bonds*

     —           8,783,661        —           8,783,661   

Total Municipals

     —           980,420        —           980,420   

Total Preferred Stock*

     —           905,632        —           905,632   

Total Floating Rate Loans*

     —           742,586        —           742,586   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —           522,138        —           522,138   
Convertible Preferred Stocks           

Metals & Mining

     31,279         —          —           31,279   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     —           86,102        —           86,102   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     163,233         —          —           163,233   

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks

     194,512         86,102        —           280,614   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     55,960,360         —          —           55,960,360   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           6,382,654        —           6,382,654   

Total Short-Term Investments

     55,960,360         6,382,654        —           62,343,014   

Total Investments

   $ 296,850,188       $ 273,112,471      $ 0       $ 569,962,659   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (55,960,360   $ —         $ (55,960,360
Forward Contracts           

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 466,210      $ —         $ 466,210   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —           (329,896     —           (329,896

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —         $ 136,314      $ —         $ 136,314   

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2 in the amount of $67,665 were due to decreased trading activity.

As of December 31, 2014, the security designated as Level 3 was fair valued using significant unobservable inputs under procedures adopted by the Board. Such valuations were based on a review of inputs such as, but not limited to, similar securities, company specific financial information, and company specific news. For this security there was no change in the valuation techniques used since the December 31, 2013 annual report. The Level 3 security comprised 0.0% of net assets of the Portfolio. As such, the Level 3 roll forward and change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the Level 3 security held at December 31, 2014 have not been presented.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 569,962,659   

Cash

     12,513   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     1,122,849   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     466,210   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     231,890   

Dividends and interest

     2,169,903   

Prepaid expenses

     1,351   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     573,967,375   

Liabilities

  

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     329,896   

Collateral for securities loaned

     55,960,360   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     69,665   

Fund shares redeemed

     1,107,820   

Foreign taxes

     370,492   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     307,625   

Distribution and service fees

     73,506   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     108,662   

Other expenses

     149,549   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     58,477,575   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 515,489,800   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 458,132,747   

Undistributed net investment income

     7,253,760   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (9,615,675

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions (d)

     59,718,968   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 515,489,800   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 171,136,861   

Class B

     344,352,939   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     11,319,050   

Class B

     22,972,304   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 15.12   

Class B

     14.99   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $509,944,682.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $65,955,265.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $1,147,094.
(d) Includes foreign capital gains tax of $370,492.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 5,585,108   

Interest (b)

     8,229,020   

Securities lending income

     176,825   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     13,990,953   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     3,636,490   

Administration fees

     12,662   

Custodian and accounting fees

     224,202   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     859,802   

Audit and tax services

     58,315   

Legal

     35,879   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     41,971   

Shareholder reporting

     54,112   

Insurance

     3,368   

Miscellaneous

     10,567   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     4,937,368   

Less broker commission recapture

     (17,015
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     4,920,353   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     9,070,600   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments (c)

     28,285,749   

Foreign currency transactions

     (996,727
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     27,289,022   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments (d)

     (18,163,059

Foreign currency transactions

     159,058   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (18,004,001
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     9,285,021   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 18,355,621   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $241,918.
(b) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $27,520.
(c) Net of foreign capital gains tax of $16,243.
(d) Includes change in foreign capital gains tax of $(368,710).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 9,070,600      $ 11,698,420   

Net realized gain

     27,289,022        40,808,219   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (18,004,001     26,374,690   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     18,355,621        78,881,329   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (4,091,618     (4,577,342

Class B

     (7,158,160     (5,962,694
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (11,249,778     (10,540,036
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (25,916,414     49,411,912   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (18,810,571     117,753,205   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     534,300,371        416,547,166   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 515,489,800      $ 534,300,371   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 7,253,760      $ 11,536,209   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     1,040,648      $ 15,523,935        292,995      $ 4,060,134   

Shares issued through acquisition

     0        0        162,507        2,169,470   

Reinvestments

     282,570        4,091,618        350,217        4,577,342   

Redemptions

     (2,164,562     (32,388,542     (1,950,300     (26,866,584
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (841,344   $ (12,772,989     (1,144,581   $ (16,059,638
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     2,641,330      $ 39,276,962        2,423,008      $ 32,970,925   

Shares issued through acquisition

     0        0        8,430,155        111,783,861   

Reinvestments

     497,786        7,158,160        459,022        5,962,694   

Redemptions

     (4,012,592     (59,578,547     (6,212,433     (85,245,930
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (873,476   $ (13,143,425     5,099,752      $ 65,471,550   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (25,916,414     $ 49,411,912   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 14.92       $ 13.06       $ 11.42       $ 11.84       $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.29         0.35         0.36         0.27         0.23   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.26         1.87         1.59         (0.39      1.96   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.55         2.22         1.95         (0.12      2.19   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.35      (0.36      (0.31      (0.30      (0.35
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.35      (0.36      (0.31      (0.30      (0.35
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.12       $ 14.92       $ 13.06       $ 11.42       $ 11.84   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     3.76         17.34         17.24         (1.25      22.39   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.78         0.78         0.79         0.80         0.79   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.91         2.53         2.93         2.22         2.20   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     45         59         33         58         101   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 171.1       $ 181.4       $ 173.7       $ 168.9       $ 187.6   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 14.80       $ 12.95       $ 11.33       $ 11.77       $ 9.95   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.25         0.31         0.33         0.24         0.19   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.25         1.86         1.58         (0.40      1.96   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.50         2.17         1.91         (0.16      2.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.31      (0.32      (0.29      (0.28      (0.33
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.31      (0.32      (0.29      (0.28      (0.33
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.99       $ 14.80       $ 12.95       $ 11.33       $ 11.77   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     3.47         17.13         16.93         (1.48      22.01   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.03         1.03         1.04         1.05         1.04   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.65         2.26         2.67         1.99         1.83   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     45         59         33         58         101   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 344.4       $ 352.9       $ 242.8       $ 218.5       $ 181.2   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, premium amortization adjustment, foreign capital gain tax, broker commission recapture, real estate investment trusts (REITs), convertible preferred stock and paydown transactions. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $6,382,654, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no when-issued and delayed-delivery securities.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Foreign Exchange

   Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts    $ 466,210       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts    $ 329,896   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
     Net Amount*  

Citibank N.A.

   $ 169,829       $ (45,712   $       $ 124,117   

Credit Suisse International

     188,401         (84,157             104,244   

UBS AG

     107,980         (6,455             101,525   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 466,210       $ (136,324   $       $ 329,886   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net Amount**  

Citibank N.A.

   $ 45,712       $ (45,712   $       $   

Credit Suisse International

     84,157         (84,157               

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     193,572                        193,572   

UBS AG

     6,455         (6,455               
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 329,896       $ (136,324   $       $ 193,572   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Foreign
Exchange
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ (763,849
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Foreign
Exchange
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 221,262   
  

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 30,882,940   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$23,165,063    $ 206,262,877       $ 12,923,783       $ 245,446,019   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum   Average Daily Net Assets
$3,636,490        0.700 %   First $500 million
       0.650 %   $500 million to $1 billion
       0.600 %   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$11,249,778    $ 10,540,036       $       $       $ 11,249,778       $ 10,540,036   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards     Total  
$8,199,982    $       $ 59,214,183       $ (9,948,450   $ 57,465,715   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $28,297,602.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and the pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards and expiration dates were as follows:

 

Expiring
12/31/17

$9,948,450

9. Acquisition

At the close of business on April 26, 2013, the Portfolio, with aggregate Class A and Class B net assets of $175,934,064 and $250,560,658, respectively, acquired all of the assets and liabilities of Met/Franklin Income Portfolio of the Trust (“Met/Franklin Income”).

The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 162,507 Class A shares of the Portfolio (valued at $2,169,470) for 430,814 Class A shares of Met/Franklin Income and 8,430,155 Class B shares of the Portfolio (valued at $111,783,861) for 22,467,578 of Class B shares of Met/Franklin Income. Each shareholder of Met/Franklin Income received shares of the Portfolio with the same class designation and at the respective Class NAV, as determined at the close of business on April 26, 2013. The transaction was part of a restructuring designed to eliminate the offering of overlapping Portfolios in the MetLife, Inc. families of funds with similar investment objectives and similar investment strategies that serve as funding vehicles for insurance contracts that are offered by affiliates of MetLife. Some of the investments held by Met/Franklin Income may have been purchased or sold prior to the acquisition for the purpose of complying with the anticipated investment policies or limitations of the Portfolio after the acquisition. If such purchases or sales occurred, the transaction costs were borne by Met/Franklin Income. All other costs associated with the merger were not borne by the shareholders of either portfolio.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Met/Franklin Income’s net assets on April 26, 2013, were $2,169,470 and $111,783,861 for Class A and Class B shares, respectively, including investments valued at $112,769,128 with a cost basis of $105,846,223. For financial reporting purposes, assets received, liabilities assumed and shares issued by the Portfolio were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments received by the Portfolio from Met/Franklin Income were carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Portfolio’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.

The aggregate net assets of the Portfolio immediately after the acquisition were $540,448,053, which included $6,920,215 of acquired unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions.

Assuming the acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2013, the Portfolio’s pro-forma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

Net Investment income

   $ 17,420,201 (a) 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

   $ 82,440,620 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 99,860,821   
  

 

 

 

Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single integrated portfolio since the acquisition was completed, it is not practicable to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings of Met/Franklin Income that have been included in the Portfolio’s Statement of Operations since April 26, 2013.

 

(a) $11,698,420 net investment income as reported December 31, 2013, plus $5,676,177 from Met/Franklin Income pre-merger net investment income plus $98,528 in lower advisory fees, minus $52,924 of pro-forma additional other expenses.
(b) $77,722,969 Unrealized appreciation, as reported December 31, 2013, minus $70,640,321 pro-forma December 31, 2012 Unrealized appreciation, plus $40,808,219 Net realized gain as reported December 31, 2013, plus $34,549,753 in Net Realized gain from Met/Franklin Income pre-merger.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of the Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and agent banks; when replies were not received from brokers or agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Loomis Sayles Global Markets Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board took into account that the Portfolio outperformed its Blended Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also noted that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the five-year period ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one- and three-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its blended index, 60% MSCI World Index/40% Citigroup World Government Bond Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were below its Expense Group median and Sub-advised Expense Universe median and equal to its Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below its Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Managed by Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio returned 5.12%, 4.83%, and 4.90%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmarks, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1, Bank of America Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Constrained Index2 and the Hybrid Index3, returned 5.97%, 2.51%, and 4.58%, respectively.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

With the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) completing its “tapering” of bond purchases in 2014, fixed-income investors spent much of the year wondering about the prospects for an increase in interest rates in 2015.

The year began with widespread expectations among financial experts that the end of the bond-buying program would result in a sell-off of U.S. Treasury securities and an increase in yields. But the conventional wisdom was proven wrong, as low U.S. inflation and a global economic slowdown propelled U.S. Treasuries to their biggest returns since 2011, according to a Bloomberg report.

By the end of the year, the Fed signaled its intent to begin normalizing monetary policy after an extended period of near-zero interest rates, despite the weak global environment. The median “dot-plot” projections of Fed policymakers released in tandem with the Fed’s policy statement on December 17, suggested that the Fed funds rate would be at 1.125% by year-end 2015. That was lower than the previous Fed projection of 1.375%, but still higher than investors’ expectations of 0.50–0.75% implied by the futures market in mid-December.

Nonetheless, expectations of higher rates persisted into the close of the year. U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) expanded at a rate of 5% in the third quarter of 2014, the highest level in 11 years. Further, the U.S. jobless rate stood at 5.6% in December, representing its lowest level since 2008, while lower oil prices were poised to boost household spending.

Indeed, U.S. inflation remained at low levels throughout the year, even before energy prices started to decline in the second half. The core Consumer Price Index (CPI), which excludes volatile food and energy prices, posted a year-over-year increase of 1.7% in November, which is below the Fed’s stated inflation target of 2.0%.

Meanwhile, reflecting the demand for high-quality fixed-income assets, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, a market benchmark that is nearly half composed of Government-related debt, posted a gain for the year. Certain credit-sensitive asset classes, such as Bank Loans and High-Yield Corporate bonds, underperformed the investment-grade Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index by a wide margin. Convertible bonds outperformed the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, likely reflecting the underlying strength in U.S. Equities.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Throughout the year, we decreased the Portfolio’s allocation to High-Yield bonds and had an underweight in High-Yield bonds as of year-end versus the Hybrid Index, which contributed to relative performance, as the High-Yield market underperformed Government-related and Investment-Grade securities. Within the Portfolio’s High-Yield allocation, among the names that contributed the most to performance were health care services company Tenet Healthcare Corp. and B/E Aerospace, Inc., a manufacturer of aircraft passenger cabin interior products. The Portfolio’s holdings in B/E Aerospace, Inc. were sold during the period. Gaming holding River Rock Entertainment Authority and oil & natural gas company Chaparral Energy, Inc. were among the names that detracted the most from performance within High-Yield.

The Portfolio’s Convertible allocation added to absolute performance; however, the Portfolio maintained an underweight to Equity-Related securities throughout the year, which likely detracted from performance relative to the Hybrid Index, as the Convertible and Equity markets outperformed the Investment-Grade and High-Yield Corporate bond markets. One of the names that contributed the most to performance within the Convertible portion of the Portfolio was airline company United Airlines, Inc., while our holding in oil & natural gas exploration and production company Energy XXI, Ltd. was among the Convertible holdings that detracted the most from absolute performance. We continue to seek Convertible securities of companies with good prospects for improving earnings results.

Within the Portfolio’s Investment-Grade bond allocation, we maintained an underweight in U.S. Treasuries, which detracted from performance relative to the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, as U.S. Treasuries outperformed Corporates during the period. Within the Portfolio’s Investment-Grade allocation, among the names that contributed the most to absolute performance were personal banking company Regions Bank. Our holdings in Regions Bank were sold during the period. Oceaneering International, Inc., a subsea engineering and technology company, was among the names that detracted the most from performance within the sector due to falling oil prices and concerns over higher-cost oil production.

Overall across the Portfolio, among the industries that contributed the most to absolute performance were Health Care, Technology and Electronics, and Services. Among the industries that either detracted from absolute performance or contributed the least were Energy, Retail, and Transportation.

As of December 31, 2014, relative to the Hybrid Index, the Portfolio held an underweight position in High Yield and Equity-Related securities, and an overweight in Investment-Grade securities. During the period, we reduced the Portfolio’s exposure to High-Yield bonds and added exposure to Investment-Grade issuers to reduce the Portfolio’s risk profile. Additionally, as we moved toward the end of the year, we began to transition the Equity-Related portion of the

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Managed by Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Portfolio from Convertibles to Equities, as Equities offered more attractive valuation opportunities, greater liquidity, and more desirable correlations with other asset classes held in the Portfolio.

Steven F. Rocco

Robert A. Lee

Portfolio Managers

Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND INDEX,

THE BOFA MERRILL LYNCH HIGH YIELD MASTER II CONSTRAINED INDEX & THE HYBRID INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio                 

Class A

       5.12           8.83           7.35   

Class B

       4.83           8.57           7.08   

Class E

       4.90           8.68           7.19   
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index        5.97           4.45           4.71   
BofA Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Constrained Index        2.51           8.85           7.62   
Hybrid Index        4.58           8.61           7.05   

1 The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities.

2 The Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Master II Constrained Index is a market value-weighted index of all domestic and yankee high-yield bonds with maturities of one year or more and have a credit rating lower than BBB-/Baa3, but are not in default. This index limits any individual issuer to a maximum of 2% benchmark exposure.

3 The Hybrid Index is comprised of 60% Merrill Lynch High Yield Master II Constrained Index, 20% Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 20% BofA Merrill Lynch All Convertible Index. The BofA Merrill Lynch All Convertible Index is composed of approximately 700 issues of only convertible bonds and preferreds of all qualities.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes      73.9   
Common Stocks      11.3   
Convertible Bonds      6.3   
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      3.5   
Floating Rate Loans      2.5   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      2.3   
Convertible Preferred Stocks      1.3   
Foreign Government      0.5   
Preferred Stocks      0.1   
Warrants      0.0   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.55    $ 1,000.00         $ 990.10         $ 2.76   
   Hypothetical*      0.55    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.43         $ 2.80   

Class B

   Actual      0.80    $ 1,000.00         $ 989.30         $ 4.01   
   Hypothetical*      0.80    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.17         $ 4.08   

Class E

   Actual      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 989.30         $ 3.51   
   Hypothetical*      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.68         $ 3.57   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—73.9% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Advertising—0.8%

  

Affinion Group, Inc.
7.875%, 12/15/18 (a)

    1,200,000      $ 870,000   

Alliance Data Systems Corp.
6.375%, 04/01/20 (144A)

    7,500,000        7,668,750   

Omnicom Group, Inc.
3.650%, 11/01/24

    2,400,000        2,401,114   
   

 

 

 
      10,939,864   
   

 

 

 

Aerospace/Defense—0.6%

  

Esterline Technologies Corp.
7.000%, 08/01/20 (e)

    2,100,000        2,205,000   

GenCorp, Inc.
7.125%, 03/15/21

    2,525,000        2,644,433   

TransDigm, Inc.
6.000%, 07/15/22

    1,250,000        1,246,875   

6.500%, 07/15/24

    1,900,000        1,909,500   
   

 

 

 
      8,005,808   
   

 

 

 

Agriculture—0.3%

  

Altria Group, Inc.
2.625%, 01/14/20 (a)

    3,525,000        3,535,233   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.5%

  

American Airlines Group, Inc.
5.500%, 10/01/19 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,119,250   

Gol LuxCo S.A.
8.875%, 01/24/22 (144A)

    575,000        540,500   

Southwest Airlines Co.
2.750%, 11/06/19

    1,200,000        1,205,521   

UAL Pass-Through Trust
6.636%, 07/02/22

    1,607,589        1,736,196   

United Continental Holdings, Inc.
6.000%, 07/15/28 (a)

    2,000,000        1,905,000   
   

 

 

 
      6,506,467   
   

 

 

 

Apparel—0.3%

  

Perry Ellis International, Inc.
7.875%, 04/01/19

    1,700,000        1,742,500   

William Carter Co. (The)
5.250%, 08/15/21

    2,375,000        2,446,250   
   

 

 

 
      4,188,750   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.3%

  

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive plc
5.625%, 02/01/23 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,105,000   

Oshkosh Corp.
5.375%, 03/01/22

    2,000,000        2,040,000   
   

 

 

 
      4,145,000   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.4%

  

International Automotive Components Group S.A.
9.125%, 06/01/18 (144A) (b)

    2,000,000        2,085,000   

Auto Parts & Equipment—(Continued)

  

Stackpole International Intermediate / Stackpole International Powder
7.750%, 10/15/21 (144A) (a)

    2,025,000      2,025,000   

Tenneco, Inc.
6.875%, 12/15/20

    1,250,000        1,321,875   
   

 

 

 
      5,431,875   
   

 

 

 

Banks—4.3%

   

Banco GNB Sudameris S.A.
7.500%, 07/30/22 (144A)

    1,050,000        1,107,750   

Bangkok Bank PCL
3.875%, 09/27/22 (144A)

    1,225,000        1,266,248   

Bank of America Corp.
4.200%, 08/26/24

    1,200,000        1,222,470   

4.250%, 10/22/26

    2,825,000        2,818,658   

6.500%, 10/23/24 (a)(c)

    2,950,000        3,002,805   

Bank of China, Ltd.
5.000%, 11/13/24 (144A)

    2,375,000        2,440,481   

BBVA Bancomer S.A.
5.350%, 11/12/29 (144A) (c)

    1,450,000        1,435,500   

CIT Group, Inc.
5.000%, 08/15/22

    8,000,000        8,220,000   

Citigroup, Inc.
5.950%, 01/30/23 (c)

    2,375,000        2,339,375   

Comcel Trust via Comunicaciones Celulares S.A.
6.875%, 02/06/24 (144A) (a)

    2,575,000        2,697,312   

Commerzbank AG
8.125%, 09/19/23 (144A)

    2,400,000        2,759,640   

Discover Bank
7.000%, 04/15/20

    1,500,000        1,767,815   

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd.
3.231%, 11/13/19

    2,400,000        2,410,099   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
3.875%, 09/10/24

    3,000,000        3,002,553   

6.750%, 02/01/24 (a) (c)

    2,000,000        2,110,000   

Lloyds Banking Group plc
4.500%, 11/04/24

    3,575,000        3,607,672   

7.500%, 06/27/24 (c)

    888,000        903,540   

M&T Bank Corp.
6.450%, 02/15/24 (c)

    1,450,000        1,538,813   

Macquarie Bank, Ltd.
1.600%, 10/27/17 (144A)

    3,600,000        3,576,341   

National Savings Bank
5.150%, 09/10/19 (144A) (a)

    700,000        694,750   

Nordea Bank AB
6.125%, 09/23/24 (144A) (a) (c)

    1,425,000        1,409,681   

Popular, Inc.
7.000%, 07/01/19 (a)

    2,725,000        2,725,000   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
6.125%, 12/15/22

    1,000,000        1,088,406   

Synovus Financial Corp.
7.875%, 02/15/19

    1,500,000        1,668,750   

Wachovia Capital Trust III
5.570%, 02/02/15 (a) (c)

    3,143,000        3,034,566   
   

 

 

 
      58,848,225   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Beverages—0.6%

   

Anadolu Efes Biracilik Ve Malt Sanayii AS
3.375%, 11/01/22 (144A) (a)

    2,400,000      $ 2,202,000   

Constellation Brands, Inc.
4.250%, 05/01/23

    2,500,000        2,481,250   

6.000%, 05/01/22

    300,000        331,500   

Cott Beverages, Inc.
5.375%, 07/01/22 (144A)

    400,000        367,000   

6.750%, 01/01/20 (144A)

    1,475,000        1,475,000   

PepsiCo, Inc.
4.250%, 10/22/44

    1,200,000        1,252,378   
   

 

 

 
      8,109,128   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.3%

  

Gilead Sciences, Inc.
3.500%, 02/01/25 (a)

    2,525,000        2,591,660   

STHI Holding Corp.
8.000%, 03/15/18 (144A)

    1,850,000        1,933,250   
   

 

 

 
      4,524,910   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.4%

  

Associated Asphalt Partners LLC/Road Holdings III LLC/Associated Asphalt Finance
8.500%, 02/15/18 (144A)

    250,000        237,500   

Building Materials Corp. of America
5.375%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,496,250   

Owens Corning
9.000%, 06/15/19

    268,000        324,327   

Ply Gem Industries, Inc.
6.500%, 02/01/22 (a)

    425,000        399,500   

6.500%, 02/01/22 (144A)

    1,000,000        930,000   

Unifrax I LLC / Unifrax Holding Co.
7.500%, 02/15/19 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,477,500   
   

 

 

 
      4,865,077   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—1.5%

  

Braskem Finance, Ltd.
6.450%, 02/03/24

    2,075,000        2,080,187   

Grupo Idesa S.A. de C.V.
7.875%, 12/18/20 (144A) (a)

    1,450,000        1,479,000   

Hexion U.S. Finance Corp. / Hexion Nova Scotia Finance ULC
8.875%, 02/01/18 (a)

    2,200,000        1,958,000   

Huntsman International LLC
5.125%, 11/15/22 (144A)

    1,175,000        1,157,375   

Israel Chemicals, Ltd.
4.500%, 12/02/24 (144A)

    2,950,000        2,951,770   

Kissner Milling Co., Ltd.
7.250%, 06/01/19 (144A)

    1,350,000        1,350,000   

Methanex Corp.
5.250%, 03/01/22

    1,875,000        2,014,155   

NOVA Chemicals Corp.
5.000%, 05/01/25 (144A)

    675,000        669,938   

OCP S.A.
6.875%, 04/25/44 (144A) (a)

    1,175,000        1,260,305   

Chemicals—(Continued)

  

PetroLogistics L.P. / PetroLogistics Finance Corp.
6.250%, 04/01/20 (m)

    950,000      1,023,625   

Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc.
4.625%, 10/15/20

    2,725,000        2,813,562   

TPC Group, Inc.
8.750%, 12/15/20 (144A)

    1,390,000        1,351,775   
   

 

 

 
      20,109,692   
   

 

 

 

Coal—0.1%

  

Peabody Energy Corp.
6.500%, 09/15/20 (a)

    2,350,000        2,038,625   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—2.0%

  

APX Group, Inc.
6.375%, 12/01/19

    1,425,000        1,364,437   

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc.
11.000%, 03/15/21 (144A) (a)

    2,200,000        2,406,602   

Cleveland Clinic Foundation (The)
4.858%, 01/01/2114

    1,450,000        1,490,232   

FTI Consulting, Inc.
6.000%, 11/15/22 (a)

    2,000,000        2,045,000   

6.750%, 10/01/20 (a)

    1,000,000        1,047,500   

Hertz Corp. (The)
5.875%, 10/15/20

    400,000        403,000   

Iron Mountain Europe plc
6.125%, 09/15/22 (144A) (GBP)

    975,000        1,550,789   

MasterCard, Inc.
3.375%, 04/01/24

    2,025,000        2,078,575   

Mersin Uluslararasi Liman Isletmeciligi AS
5.875%, 08/12/20 (144A)

    1,350,000        1,443,150   

Midas Intermediate Holdco II LLC / Midas Intermediate Holdco II Finance, Inc.
7.875%, 10/01/22 (144A)

    1,025,000        994,250   

NES Rentals Holdings, Inc.
7.875%, 05/01/18 (144A)

    1,400,000        1,414,000   

Sotheby’s
5.250%, 10/01/22 (144A) (a)

    2,500,000        2,362,500   

Truven Health Analytics, Inc.
10.625%, 06/01/20

    3,300,000        3,217,500   

United Rentals North America, Inc.
5.750%, 11/15/24

    2,500,000        2,575,000   

7.625%, 04/15/22

    2,200,000        2,418,900   

8.250%, 02/01/21

    1,000,000        1,090,000   
   

 

 

 
      27,901,435   
   

 

 

 

Computers—1.3%

  

Compiler Finance Sub, Inc.
7.000%, 05/01/21 (144A)

    1,910,000        1,642,600   

Dell, Inc.
7.100%, 04/15/28

    175,000        185,500   

iGATE Corp.
4.750%, 04/15/19

    1,200,000        1,200,000   

IHS, Inc.
5.000%, 11/01/22 (144A)

    3,425,000        3,390,750   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Computers—(Continued)

  

NCR Corp.
6.375%, 12/15/23

    2,100,000      $ 2,184,000   

Seagate HDD Cayman
4.750%, 06/01/23

    2,150,000        2,233,093   

SRA International, Inc.
11.000%, 10/01/19 (a)

    3,750,000        3,984,375   

SunGard Data Systems, Inc.
6.625%, 11/01/19

    3,750,000        3,787,500   
   

 

 

 
      18,607,818   
   

 

 

 

Cosmetics/Personal Care—0.4%

  

Avon Products, Inc.
4.600%, 03/15/20

    900,000        816,750   

5.000%, 03/15/23 (a)

    1,325,000        1,182,563   

Elizabeth Arden, Inc.
7.375%, 03/15/21 (a)

    3,900,000        3,578,250   
   

 

 

 
      5,577,563   
   

 

 

 

Distribution/Wholesale—0.1%

   

LKQ Corp.
4.750%, 05/15/23

    1,650,000        1,584,000   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—4.0%

  

AerCap Ireland Capital, Ltd. / AerCap Global Aviation Trust
3.750%, 05/15/19 (144A)

    1,450,000        1,435,500   

5.000%, 10/01/21 (144A) (a)

    1,650,000        1,707,750   

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.
4.250%, 02/15/24

    1,875,000        1,953,497   

Air Lease Corp.
3.875%, 04/01/21 (a)

    1,700,000        1,708,500   

Denali Borrower LLC / Denali Finance Corp.
5.625%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    1,325,000        1,378,663   

General Electric Capital Corp.
7.125%, 06/15/22 (c)

    4,800,000        5,586,000   

General Motors Financial Co., Inc.
4.375%, 09/25/21

    5,650,000        5,897,187   

International Lease Finance Corp.
6.250%, 05/15/19

    4,000,000        4,370,000   

8.250%, 12/15/20

    3,000,000        3,615,000   

Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP / Ladder Capital Finance Corp.
5.875%, 08/01/21 (144A)

    2,600,000        2,470,000   

Macquarie Group, Ltd.
6.000%, 01/14/20 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,831,685   

Nationstar Mortgage LLC / Nationstar Capital Corp.
6.500%, 07/01/21

    1,325,000        1,205,750   

Neuberger Berman Group LLC / Neuberger Berman Finance Corp.
5.625%, 03/15/20 (144A)

    675,000        705,375   

5.875%, 03/15/22 (144A)

    4,550,000        4,788,875   

Ocwen Financial Corp.
6.625%, 05/15/19 (144A) (a)

    1,500,000        1,372,500   

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

OneMain Financial Holdings, Inc.
6.750%, 12/15/19 (144A)

    1,100,000      1,122,000   

Rio Oil Finance Trust
6.250%, 07/06/24 (144A)

    2,675,000        2,558,183   

Springleaf Finance Corp.
5.250%, 12/15/19

    4,025,000        3,944,500   

SUAM Finance B.V.
4.875%, 04/17/24 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,000,000   

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.
3.625%, 04/01/25 (a)

    4,850,000        4,915,538   
   

 

 

 
      55,566,503   
   

 

 

 

Electric—1.9%

   

AES El Salvador Trust II
6.750%, 03/28/23 (144A)

    1,225,000        1,152,725   

Black Hills Corp.
5.875%, 07/15/20

    2,000,000        2,288,856   

Dominion Gas Holdings LLC
3.600%, 12/15/24 (a)

    1,775,000        1,805,614   

DPL, Inc.
7.250%, 10/15/21

    1,325,000        1,351,500   

DTE Energy Co.
2.400%, 12/01/19

    1,425,000        1,425,235   

Dynegy Finance I, Inc. / Dynegy Finance II, Inc.
7.375%, 11/01/22 (144A)

    1,250,000        1,271,875   

7.625%, 11/01/24 (144A)

    1,150,000        1,173,000   

E-CL S.A.
4.500%, 01/29/25 (144A)

    2,575,000        2,579,859   

El Paso Electric Co.
5.000%, 12/01/44

    2,375,000        2,470,912   

Empresas Publicas de Medellin ESP
7.625%, 09/10/24 (144A) (COP)

    4,137,000,000        1,686,308   

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
4.950%, 12/15/44

    1,175,000        1,226,632   

FirstEnergy Transmission LLC
4.350%, 01/15/25 (144A)

    1,250,000        1,282,301   

Illinois Power Generating Co.
7.000%, 04/15/18 (a)

    1,475,000        1,298,000   

NSG Holdings LLC / NSG Holdings, Inc.
7.750%, 12/15/25 (144A) (b)

    3,047,131        3,245,194   

RJS Power Holdings LLC
5.125%, 07/15/19 (144A)

    600,000        592,500   

Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Co.
3.850%, 06/01/25 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,525,257   
   

 

 

 
      26,375,768   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.4%

  

Anixter, Inc.
5.625%, 05/01/19

    2,125,000        2,241,875   

Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Inc.
9.750%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    2,450,000        2,321,375   

WESCO Distribution, Inc.
5.375%, 12/15/21

    1,375,000        1,387,031   
   

 

 

 
      5,950,281   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electronics—0.5%

  

Flextronics International, Ltd.
5.000%, 02/15/23

    725,000      $ 739,500   

Jabil Circuit, Inc.
4.700%, 09/15/22

    1,400,000        1,393,000   

Trimble Navigation, Ltd.
4.750%, 12/01/24

    4,150,000        4,252,069   
   

 

 

 
      6,384,569   
   

 

 

 

Energy-Alternate Sources—0.2%

  

Alta Wind Holdings LLC
7.000%, 06/30/35 (144A)

    1,843,733        2,093,885   
   

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction—0.4%

   

China Railway Resources Huitung, Ltd.
3.850%, 02/05/23

    1,450,000        1,442,519   

Dycom Investments, Inc.
7.125%, 01/15/21

    2,575,000        2,703,750   

SBA Communications Corp.
4.875%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    900,000        866,250   
   

 

 

 
      5,012,519   
   

 

 

 

Entertainment—1.4%

  

CCM Merger, Inc.
9.125%, 05/01/19 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,575,000   

Cedar Fair L.P. / Canada’s Wonderland Co. / Magnum Management Corp.
5.250%, 03/15/21

    1,700,000        1,708,500   

Graton Economic Development Authority
9.625%, 09/01/19 (144A)

    3,180,000        3,474,150   

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority
9.750%, 09/01/21 (a)

    1,325,000        1,351,500   

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
6.375%, 08/01/21

    2,600,000        2,678,000   

7.750%, 04/01/22

    1,500,000        1,560,000   

Regal Entertainment Group
5.750%, 03/15/22

    2,100,000        2,005,500   

River Rock Entertainment Authority (The)
9.000%, 11/01/18 (d) (e)

    1,397,000        125,730   

Rivers Pittsburgh Borrower L.P. / Rivers Pittsburgh Finance Corp.
9.500%, 06/15/19 (144A) (b)

    1,676,000        1,776,560   

Scientific Games International, Inc.
7.000%, 01/01/22 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,012,500   

WMG Acquisition Corp.
6.750%, 04/15/22 (144A)

    2,200,000        2,002,000   
   

 

 

 
      19,269,440   
   

 

 

 

Environmental Control—0.3%

  

Clean Harbors, Inc.
5.250%, 08/01/20

    1,800,000        1,809,000   

Covanta Holding Corp.
5.875%, 03/01/24

    2,175,000        2,213,063   
   

 

 

 
      4,022,063   
   

 

 

 

Food—1.7%

  

B&G Foods, Inc.
4.625%, 06/01/21 (a)

    2,525,000      2,464,652   

Diamond Foods, Inc.
7.000%, 03/15/19 (144A)

    2,240,000        2,296,000   

ESAL GmbH
6.250%, 02/05/23 (144A) (a)

    975,000        923,812   

JBS U.S.A. LLC / JBS U.S.A. Finance, Inc.
5.875%, 07/15/24 (144A)

    2,100,000        2,063,250   

Land O’ Lakes, Inc.
6.000%, 11/15/22 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,140,000   

Pinnacle Foods Finance LLC / Pinnacle Foods Finance Corp.
4.875%, 05/01/21

    1,150,000        1,121,250   

Premier Foods Finance plc
6.500%, 03/15/21 (144A) (GBP)

    775,000        1,036,392   

R&R Ice Cream plc
5.500%, 05/15/20 (144A) (GBP)

    400,000        606,957   

Shearer’s Foods LLC / Chip Fin Corp.
9.000%, 11/01/19 (144A)

    1,850,000        2,016,500   

Smithfield Foods, Inc.
6.625%, 08/15/22

    1,275,000        1,332,375   

Stretford 79 plc
6.250%, 07/15/21 (144A) (GBP)

    1,325,000        1,621,140   

WhiteWave Foods Co. (The)
5.375%, 10/01/22

    5,780,000        5,953,400   
   

 

 

 
      23,575,728   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.3%

  

Cascades, Inc.
5.500%, 07/15/22 (144A) (a)

    2,500,000        2,487,500   

Millar Western Forest Products, Ltd.
8.500%, 04/01/21

    2,000,000        2,070,000   
   

 

 

 
      4,557,500   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.4%

  

LBC Tank Terminals Holding Netherlands B.V.
6.875%, 05/15/23 (144A)

    1,350,000        1,356,750   

National Fuel Gas Co.
6.500%, 04/15/18

    1,500,000        1,709,154   

Southern Star Central Corp.
5.125%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    1,425,000        1,432,125   

Transportadora de Gas del Peru S.A.
4.250%, 04/30/28 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,447,500   
   

 

 

 
      5,945,529   
   

 

 

 

Hand/Machine Tools—0.3%

   

Mcron Finance Sub LLC / Mcron Finance Corp.
8.375%, 05/15/19 (144A)

    2,800,000        2,968,000   

Milacron LLC / Mcron Finance Corp.
7.750%, 02/15/21 (144A) (a)

    1,100,000        1,122,000   
   

 

 

 
      4,090,000   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Healthcare-Products—1.6%

   

Becton Dickinson and Co.
3.734%, 12/15/24

    1,150,000      $ 1,184,011   

Biomet, Inc.
6.500%, 08/01/20

    5,325,000        5,697,750   

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. / KCI U.S.A., Inc.
12.500%, 11/01/19 (a)

    1,275,000        1,408,875   

Mallinckrodt International Finance S.A.
4.750%, 04/15/23 (a)

    2,575,000        2,472,000   

5.750%, 08/01/22 (144A) (a)

    3,975,000        4,084,312   

Medtronic, Inc.
3.150%, 03/15/22 (144A)

    3,600,000        3,645,634   

4.375%, 03/15/35 (144A)

    3,000,000        3,182,568   
   

 

 

 
      21,675,150   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—4.2%

   

Amsurg Corp.
5.625%, 11/30/20

    2,365,000        2,418,212   

5.625%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,127,500   

Centene Corp.
4.750%, 05/15/22

    1,075,000        1,077,688   

5.750%, 06/01/17

    3,250,000        3,445,000   

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
6.875%, 02/01/22 (a)

    2,000,000        2,118,750   

8.000%, 11/15/19

    6,300,000        6,725,250   

DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc.
5.750%, 08/15/22

    3,500,000        3,710,000   

Dignity Health
3.812%, 11/01/24

    1,800,000        1,854,715   

Envision Healthcare Corp.
5.125%, 07/01/22 (144A)

    1,250,000        1,240,625   

Fresenius Medical Care U.S. Finance II, Inc.
5.875%, 01/31/22 (144A)

    1,525,000        1,654,625   

HCA Holdings, Inc.
7.750%, 05/15/21

    5,000,000        5,325,000   

HCA, Inc.
4.250%, 10/15/19

    1,200,000        1,218,000   

6.500%, 02/15/20

    750,000        840,375   

7.500%, 02/15/22

    5,800,000        6,626,500   

7.580%, 09/15/25

    500,000        557,500   

7.690%, 06/15/25

    1,767,000        1,987,875   

Kindred Escrow Corp. II
8.000%, 01/15/20 (144A)

    1,025,000        1,089,063   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.
6.375%, 04/15/22 (144A)

    2,000,000        1,905,000   

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
5.500%, 12/01/21

    2,000,000        2,045,000   

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC
6.625%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    2,675,000        2,735,187   

Select Medical Corp.
6.375%, 06/01/21

    800,000        812,000   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.
8.125%, 04/01/22

    7,000,000        7,822,500   
   

 

 

 
      58,336,365   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.1%

  

San Miguel Corp.
4.875%, 04/26/23

    1,325,000      1,230,594   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—0.9%

  

Ashton Woods USA LLC / Ashton Woods Finance Co.
6.875%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    1,450,000        1,381,125   

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc.
6.500%, 12/15/20 (144A)

    1,600,000        1,672,000   

K Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
5.000%, 11/01/21

    1,650,000        1,402,500   

Lennar Corp.
4.500%, 11/15/19

    1,475,000        1,463,938   

PulteGroup, Inc.
6.375%, 05/15/33

    3,500,000        3,500,000   

William Lyon Homes, Inc.
7.000%, 08/15/22 (144A)

    3,350,000        3,383,500   
   

 

 

 
      12,803,063   
   

 

 

 

Housewares—0.1%

  

American Greetings Corp.
7.375%, 12/01/21

    1,200,000        1,254,000   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—1.0%

  

A-S Co-Issuer Subsidiary, Inc. / A-S Merger Sub LLC
7.875%, 12/15/20 (144A)

    1,785,000        1,820,700   

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co.
6.625%, 07/15/21

    1,950,000        2,067,000   

Galaxy Finco, Ltd.
7.875%, 11/15/21 (144A) (GBP)

    100,000        143,235   

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.
7.800%, 03/15/37 (144A)

    2,350,000        2,749,500   

Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America
4.900%, 09/15/44 (144A)

    2,775,000        3,092,316   

TIAA Asset Management Finance Co. LLC
4.125%, 11/01/24 (144A)

    4,000,000        4,097,664   
   

 

 

 
      13,970,415   
   

 

 

 

Internet—1.7%

  

Affinion Investments LLC
13.500%, 08/15/18 (a) (b)

    1,425,000        1,068,750   

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd.
3.125%, 11/28/21 (144A)

    2,975,000        2,939,232   

3.600%, 11/28/24 (144A) (a)

    2,800,000        2,777,163   

Amazon.com, Inc.
4.800%, 12/05/34

    7,700,000        8,082,983   

Expedia, Inc.
4.500%, 08/15/24

    1,825,000        1,842,832   

Netflix, Inc.
5.375%, 02/01/21

    3,700,000        3,848,000   

United Group B.V.
7.875%, 11/15/20 (144A) (EUR)

    100,000        128,749   

VeriSign, Inc.
4.625%, 05/01/23 (a)

    2,125,000        2,082,500   
   

 

 

 
      22,770,209   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Investment Company Security—0.1%

  

Constellation Enterprises LLC
10.625%, 02/01/16 (144A)

    1,500,000      $ 1,177,500   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.8%

  

Allegheny Ludlum Corp.
6.950%, 12/15/25

    1,500,000        1,635,207   

ArcelorMittal
5.750%, 08/05/20 (a)

    6,000,000        6,225,000   

Steel Dynamics, Inc.
5.125%, 10/01/21 (144A)

    1,825,000        1,859,219   

5.500%, 10/01/24 (144A)

    925,000        948,125   
   

 

 

 
      10,667,551   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—0.4%

  

NCL Corp., Ltd.
5.250%, 11/15/19 (144A)

    1,025,000        1,032,688   

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.
7.500%, 10/15/27 (a)

    3,500,000        3,937,500   
   

 

 

 
      4,970,188   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—1.5%

  

Caesars Growth Properties Holdings LLC / Caesars Growth Properties Finance, Inc.
9.375%, 05/01/22 (144A)

    800,000        704,000   

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC / Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp.
5.625%, 10/15/21

    3,000,000        3,135,000   

MCE Finance, Ltd.
5.000%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    2,925,000        2,734,875   

MGM Resorts International
6.000%, 03/15/23 (a)

    2,050,000        2,060,250   

MTR Gaming Group, Inc.
11.500%, 08/01/19 (a)

    1,525,000        1,650,812   

Playa Resorts Holding B.V.
8.000%, 08/15/20 (144A)

    2,300,000        2,294,250   

Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. / Seminole Hard Rock International LLC
5.875%, 05/15/21 (144A)

    1,525,000        1,509,750   

Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Prop Mezz L.P. / Sugarhouse HSP Gaming Finance Corp.
6.375%, 06/01/21 (144A)

    2,950,000        2,684,500   

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.
3.900%, 03/01/23

    2,550,000        2,515,922   

Wynn Las Vegas LLC / Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp.
7.750%, 08/15/20

    1,325,000        1,411,430   
   

 

 

 
      20,700,789   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.1%

  

BlueLine Rental Finance Corp.
7.000%, 02/01/19 (144A)

    1,350,000        1,383,750   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Diversified—0.8%

  

Cleaver-Brooks, Inc.
8.750%, 12/15/19 (144A)

    1,750,000      1,841,875   

CNH Industrial Capital LLC
3.375%, 07/15/19 (144A)

    1,475,000        1,408,625   

Flowserve Corp.
3.500%, 09/15/22 (a)

    325,000        325,122   

Gardner Denver, Inc.
6.875%, 08/15/21 (144A) (a)

    2,750,000        2,640,000   

Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The)
8.500%, 11/01/20

    2,850,000        3,078,000   

Waterjet Holdings, Inc.
7.625%, 02/01/20 (144A)

    1,725,000        1,776,750   
   

 

 

 
      11,070,372   
   

 

 

 

Media—3.8%

  

AMC Networks, Inc.
4.750%, 12/15/22 (a)

    2,825,000        2,740,250   

7.750%, 07/15/21

    1,500,000        1,605,000   

Cablevision Systems Corp.
5.875%, 09/15/22 (a)

    4,000,000        4,050,000   

CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp.
5.750%, 09/01/23 (a)

    1,400,000        1,417,500   

6.625%, 01/31/22

    2,200,000        2,337,500   

8.125%, 04/30/20

    2,000,000        2,105,000   

CCOH Safari LLC
5.500%, 12/01/22

    700,000        710,500   

5.750%, 12/01/24

    1,050,000        1,061,813   

Columbus International, Inc.
7.375%, 03/30/21 (144A) (a)

    1,400,000        1,456,000   

DISH DBS Corp.
5.125%, 05/01/20

    4,075,000        4,105,562   

5.875%, 07/15/22

    1,300,000        1,332,500   

6.750%, 06/01/21

    4,475,000        4,810,625   

Globo Comunicacao e Participacoes S.A.
4.875%, 04/11/22 (144A)

    525,000        538,125   

Harron Communications L.P. / Harron Finance Corp.
9.125%, 04/01/20 (144A)

    1,575,000        1,716,750   

iHeartCommunications, Inc.
9.000%, 12/15/19 (a)

    3,225,000        3,176,625   

11.250%, 03/01/21

    3,250,000        3,347,500   

Mediacom Broadband LLC / Mediacom Broadband Corp.
6.375%, 04/01/23

    3,950,000        4,048,750   

Mediacom LLC / Mediacom Capital Corp.
7.250%, 02/15/22

    400,000        427,000   

Numericable-SFR
6.000%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    2,950,000        2,966,225   

6.250%, 05/15/24 (144A)

    500,000        503,750   

RCN Telecom Services LLC / RCN Capital Corp.
8.500%, 08/15/20 (144A)

    725,000        746,750   

SiTV LLC / SiTV Finance, Inc.
10.375%, 07/01/19 (144A)

    750,000        695,625   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Media—(Continued)

  

Unitymedia Hessen GmbH & Co. KG / Unitymedia NRW GmbH
5.500%, 01/15/23 (144A)

    3,500,000      $ 3,657,500   

Univision Communications, Inc.
8.500%, 05/15/21 (144A)

    1,325,000        1,411,125   

VTR Finance B.V.
6.875%, 01/15/24 (144A)

    1,850,000        1,887,000   
   

 

 

 
      52,854,975   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.8%

  

Alcoa, Inc.
5.125%, 10/01/24 (a)

    2,650,000        2,808,391   

Aleris International, Inc.
7.875%, 11/01/20

    900,000        895,500   

ALROSA Finance S.A.
7.750%, 11/03/20 (144A)

    2,600,000        2,444,000   

Century Aluminum Co.
7.500%, 06/01/21 (144A)

    950,000        973,750   

Imperial Metals Corp.
7.000%, 03/15/19 (144A) (a)

    1,250,000        1,150,000   

Mirabela Nickel, Ltd.
1.000%, 09/10/44 (e) (f)

    32,278        3   

MMC Norilsk Nickel OJSC via MMC Finance, Ltd.
4.375%, 04/30/18

    1,150,000        1,063,750   

New Gold, Inc.
6.250%, 11/15/22 (144A)

    350,000        343,000   

Thompson Creek Metals Co., Inc.
7.375%, 06/01/18 (a)

    1,425,000        1,168,500   
   

 

 

 
      10,846,894   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.3%

  

Gates Global LLC / Gates Global Co.
6.000%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    1,475,000        1,412,608   

Trinity Industries, Inc.
4.550%, 10/01/24

    3,475,000        3,375,201   
   

 

 

 
      4,787,809   
   

 

 

 

Office Furnishings—0.3%

  

Steelcase, Inc.
6.375%, 02/15/21

    3,000,000        3,462,951   
   

 

 

 

Office/Business Equipment—0.2%

  

CDW LLC / CDW Finance Corp.
5.500%, 12/01/24

    2,210,000        2,212,763   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—5.9%

  

Antero Resources Finance Corp.
5.375%, 11/01/21

    2,500,000        2,418,750   

Atlas Energy Holdings Operating Co. LLC / Atlas Resource Finance Corp.
7.750%, 01/15/21

    3,400,000        2,465,000   

Berry Petroleum Co. LLC
6.750%, 11/01/20

    3,500,000        2,800,000   

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Bill Barrett Corp.
7.000%, 10/15/22

    350,000      281,750   

California Resources Corp.
5.500%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    3,050,000        2,607,750   

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.
7.500%, 09/15/20 (144A)

    1,050,000        1,008,000   

Chaparral Energy, Inc.
8.250%, 09/01/21

    4,350,000        2,958,000   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.
4.875%, 04/15/22

    1,000,000        972,500   

Concho Resources, Inc.
5.500%, 04/01/23

    4,875,000        4,897,912   

7.000%, 01/15/21 (a)

    1,400,000        1,466,500   

CrownRock L.P. / CrownRock Finance, Inc.
7.125%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    4,600,000        4,312,500   

Diamondback Energy, Inc.
7.625%, 10/01/21

    3,650,000        3,563,312   

EXCO Resources, Inc.
7.500%, 09/15/18 (a)

    1,000,000        764,375   

Gulfport Energy Corp.
7.750%, 11/01/20 (144A) (a)

    1,375,000        1,344,063   

Hilcorp Energy I L.P. / Hilcorp Finance Co.
5.000%, 12/01/24 (144A) (a)

    2,375,000        2,090,000   

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.
5.500%, 01/15/21 (a)

    2,500,000        2,506,250   

Kosmos Energy, Ltd.
7.875%, 08/01/21 (144A)

    1,475,000        1,246,375   

Laredo Petroleum, Inc.
5.625%, 01/15/22

    900,000        787,500   

Legacy Reserves L.P. / Legacy Reserves Finance Corp.
6.625%, 12/01/21 (a)

    2,000,000        1,630,000   

8.000%, 12/01/20 (a)

    3,600,000        2,988,000   

MEG Energy Corp.
6.500%, 03/15/21 (144A)

    3,675,000        3,353,438   

7.000%, 03/31/24 (144A) (a)

    2,300,000        2,081,500   

Memorial Resource Development Corp.
5.875%, 07/01/22 (144A)

    2,325,000        2,104,125   

Newfield Exploration Co.
5.625%, 07/01/24

    4,800,000        4,749,000   

6.875%, 02/01/20

    2,775,000        2,816,625   

Northern Tier Energy LLC / Northern Tier Finance Corp.
7.125%, 11/15/20

    425,000        429,250   

Oasis Petroleum, Inc.
6.500%, 11/01/21

    1,500,000        1,365,000   

7.250%, 02/01/19 (a)

    2,825,000        2,697,875   

Parsley Energy LLC / Parsley Finance Corp.
7.500%, 02/15/22 (144A)

    1,450,000        1,373,875   

PDC Energy, Inc.
7.750%, 10/15/22

    2,625,000        2,493,750   

Penn Virginia Corp.
8.500%, 05/01/20

    1,450,000        1,160,000   

QEP Resources, Inc.
6.800%, 03/01/20 (e)

    1,450,000        1,500,750   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

Rice Energy, Inc.
6.250%, 05/01/22 (144A) (a)

    2,000,000      $ 1,860,000   

Rosetta Resources, Inc.
5.875%, 06/01/22

    700,000        630,000   

Seven Generations Energy, Ltd.
8.250%, 05/15/20 (144A)

    2,150,000        2,064,000   

Seventy Seven Energy, Inc.
6.500%, 07/15/22 (a)

    1,500,000        877,500   

SM Energy Co.
6.500%, 11/15/21

    1,725,000        1,673,250   

6.500%, 01/01/23

    325,000        312,000   

Tesoro Corp.
5.125%, 04/01/24 (a)

    2,060,000        2,044,550   

Triangle USA Petroleum Corp.
6.750%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    2,025,000        1,336,500   

W&T Offshore, Inc.
8.500%, 06/15/19 (a)

    1,950,000        1,277,250   
   

 

 

 
      81,308,775   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Services—1.0%

  

Dresser-Rand Group, Inc.
6.500%, 05/01/21

    2,600,000        2,795,000   

Gulfmark Offshore, Inc.
6.375%, 03/15/22

    2,500,000        1,862,500   

Hiland Partners L.P. / Hiland Partner Finance Corp.
5.500%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    375,000        330,000   

7.250%, 10/01/20 (144A)

    2,015,000        1,914,250   

Light Tower Rentals, Inc.
8.125%, 08/01/19 (144A)

    1,550,000        1,205,125   

Oceaneering International, Inc.
4.650%, 11/15/24

    3,450,000        3,378,078   

SEACOR Holdings, Inc.
7.375%, 10/01/19

    2,125,000        2,225,937   
   

 

 

 
      13,710,890   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—2.3%

  

AEP Industries, Inc.
8.250%, 04/15/19

    2,500,000        2,525,000   

Ball Corp.
4.000%, 11/15/23

    5,225,000        5,042,125   

Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc.
7.375%, 12/15/26

    3,675,000        4,060,875   

Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
4.750%, 04/15/21

    1,400,000        1,410,500   

4.875%, 11/15/22

    575,000        577,875   

Pactiv LLC
7.950%, 12/15/25

    1,300,000        1,306,500   

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc. / Reynolds Group Issuer LLC
5.750%, 10/15/20

    1,250,000        1,281,250   

8.250%, 02/15/21

    2,625,000        2,690,625   

8.500%, 05/15/18

    4,650,000        4,743,000   

Packaging & Containers—(Continued)

  

Sealed Air Corp.
4.875%, 12/01/22 (144A)

    1,250,000      1,240,625   

5.125%, 12/01/24 (144A)

    200,000        202,000   

6.875%, 07/15/33 (144A)

    4,000,000        4,090,000   

8.375%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    1,700,000        1,899,750   
   

 

 

 
      31,070,125   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—2.1%

  

Bayer U.S. Finance LLC
3.375%, 10/08/24 (144A)

    3,000,000        3,052,716   

Catamaran Corp.
4.750%, 03/15/21

    1,375,000        1,375,000   

Grifols Worldwide Operations, Ltd.
5.250%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    3,000,000        3,068,100   

JLL/Delta Dutch Newco B.V.
7.500%, 02/01/22 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,030,000   

Omnicare, Inc.
4.750%, 12/01/22 (a)

    1,075,000        1,088,438   

5.000%, 12/01/24

    700,000        717,500   

Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.
7.375%, 10/15/20 (a)

    4,150,000        4,336,750   

Perrigo Finance plc
4.900%, 12/15/44

    1,300,000        1,377,581   

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
6.000%, 01/15/21 (144A)

    2,400,000        2,448,000   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
5.625%, 12/01/21 (144A) (a)

    1,000,000        1,007,500   

6.375%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    6,275,000        6,557,375   

Zoetis, Inc.
3.250%, 02/01/23

    2,125,000        2,096,159   
   

 

 

 
      29,155,119   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—4.1%

  

Access Midstream Partners L.P. / ACMP Finance Corp.
6.125%, 07/15/22

    347,000        368,688   

Energy Transfer Equity L.P.
5.875%, 01/15/24

    1,375,000        1,395,625   

Energy Transfer Partners L.P.
5.200%, 02/01/22

    2,550,000        2,727,368   

IFM U.S. Colonial Pipeline 2 LLC
6.450%, 05/01/21 (144A) (b)

    4,900,000        5,326,800   

Kinder Morgan, Inc.
5.000%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,080,708   

5.300%, 12/01/34

    1,175,000        1,192,691   

6.500%, 09/15/20

    4,000,000        4,525,956   

8.050%, 10/15/30

    2,925,000        3,583,154   

MarkWest Energy Partners L.P. / MarkWest Energy Finance Corp.
5.500%, 02/15/23 (a)

    1,475,000        1,493,438   

6.750%, 11/01/20

    3,000,000        3,120,000   

Midcontinent Express Pipeline LLC
6.700%, 09/15/19 (144A)

    2,400,000        2,628,000   

Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. L.P.
7.000%, 06/15/18

    1,850,000        2,102,347   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Pipelines—(Continued)

  

Regency Energy Partners L.P. / Regency Energy Finance Corp.
5.875%, 03/01/22

    2,000,000      $ 1,995,000   

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC
6.875%, 04/15/40 (144A)

    2,825,000        3,008,625   

Rose Rock Midstream L.P. / Rose Rock Finance Corp.
5.625%, 07/15/22

    390,000        364,650   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC
5.625%, 02/01/21

    1,925,000        1,891,312   

5.750%, 05/15/24

    5,150,000        5,053,437   

SemGroup Corp.
7.500%, 06/15/21

    890,000        890,000   

Southeast Supply Header LLC
4.250%, 06/15/24 (144A)

    2,450,000        2,482,850   

Targa Resources Partners L.P. / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.
5.250%, 05/01/23

    1,650,000        1,592,250   

Tesoro Logistics L.P. / Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp.
5.500%, 10/15/19 (144A) (a)

    1,100,000        1,091,750   

5.875%, 10/01/20

    1,753,000        1,757,383   

6.125%, 10/15/21

    1,200,000        1,197,000   

6.250%, 10/15/22 (144A)

    1,975,000        1,970,062   

Transportadora de Gas Internacional S.A. ESP
5.700%, 03/20/22 (144A) (a)

    2,850,000        2,992,215   
   

 

 

 
      56,831,309   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.2%

  

CBRE Services, Inc.
5.000%, 03/15/23

    1,425,000        1,456,208   

5.250%, 03/15/25

    1,100,000        1,122,000   
   

 

 

 
      2,578,208   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.1%

  

American Tower Corp.
4.700%, 03/15/22

    2,750,000        2,883,353   

Crown Castle International Corp.
5.250%, 01/15/23 (a)

    1,350,000        1,377,000   

DDR Corp.
7.875%, 09/01/20

    1,625,000        2,004,067   

Federal Realty Investment Trust
3.000%, 08/01/22

    1,175,000        1,171,636   

Goodman Funding Property, Ltd.
6.000%, 03/22/22 (144A)

    1,200,000        1,365,575   

Host Hotels & Resorts L.P.
5.250%, 03/15/22

    1,300,000        1,418,708   

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.
4.950%, 04/01/24

    800,000        832,512   

5.875%, 03/15/24

    525,000        557,813   

6.750%, 10/15/22

    1,675,000        1,775,500   

RHP Hotel Properties L.P. / RHP Finance Corp.
5.000%, 04/15/21

    1,000,000        995,000   

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust
3.950%, 10/15/22

    1,375,000        1,375,496   
   

 

 

 
      15,756,660   
   

 

 

 

Retail—3.8%

  

Bon-Ton Department Stores, Inc. (The)
8.000%, 06/15/21 (a)

    1,350,000      1,127,250   

Brookstone Co., Inc.
Escrow (144A) (b) (d) (f)

    2,041,798        4,451   

Brookstone Holdings Corp.
10.000%, 07/07/21 (e) (f) (g)

    223,812        223,812   

Chinos Intermediate Holdings A, Inc.
7.750%, 05/01/19 (144A) (a) (g)

    1,475,000        1,305,375   

Claire’s Stores, Inc.
8.875%, 03/15/19 (a)

    3,000,000        2,430,000   

9.000%, 03/15/19 (144A)

    700,000        689,500   

CST Brands, Inc.
5.000%, 05/01/23

    2,250,000        2,272,500   

DBP Holding Corp.
7.750%, 10/15/20 (144A) (a)

    1,457,000        1,238,450   

El Puerto de Liverpool S.A.B. de C.V.
3.950%, 10/02/24 (144A) (a)

    1,675,000        1,649,037   

Ferrellgas Partners L.P. / Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.
8.625%, 06/15/20

    1,950,000        1,954,875   

Hema Bondco I B.V.
6.250%, 06/15/19 (144A) (EUR)

    1,975,000        2,007,569   

Hillman Group, Inc. (The)
6.375%, 07/15/22 (144A)

    1,425,000        1,368,000   

Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc.
4.500%, 12/15/34

    2,750,000        2,769,107   

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The)
7.000%, 07/01/22 (144A) (a)

    1,375,000        1,412,812   

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd., Inc.
8.000%, 10/15/21 (144A)

    3,800,000        4,018,500   

New Albertsons, Inc.
7.450%, 08/01/29

    1,000,000        895,000   

7.750%, 06/15/26

    3,000,000        2,685,000   

Petco Holdings, Inc.
8.500%, 10/15/17 (144A) (a) (g)

    1,500,000        1,522,500   

PF Chang’s China Bistro, Inc.
10.250%, 06/30/20 (144A) (a)

    1,980,000        1,975,050   

Rite Aid Corp.
6.875%, 12/15/28 (144A)

    1,250,000        1,275,000   

7.700%, 02/15/27

    4,500,000        4,905,000   

Ruby Tuesday, Inc.
7.625%, 05/15/20

    150,000        147,000   

SACI Falabella
4.375%, 01/27/25 (144A)

    1,425,000        1,393,924   

Sally Holdings LLC / Sally Capital, Inc.
5.500%, 11/01/23

    875,000        914,375   

5.750%, 06/01/22

    1,925,000        2,016,437   

Serta Simmons Holdings LLC
8.125%, 10/01/20 (144A)

    1,325,000        1,401,188   

Tops Holding Corp. / Tops Markets LLC
8.875%, 12/15/17

    2,000,000        2,040,000   

Tops Holding II Corp.
8.750%, 06/15/18

    1,875,000        1,800,000   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
3.300%, 11/18/21

    1,800,000        1,812,523   

3.800%, 11/18/24

    2,400,000        2,447,760   
   

 

 

 
      51,701,995   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Savings & Loans—0.0%

   

Washington Mutual Bank
6.875%, 06/15/11 (d) (e) (f)

    6,000,000      $ 600   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.9%

   

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
10.750%, 08/01/20 (a)

    3,075,000        3,359,437   

KLA-Tencor Corp.
4.650%, 11/01/24

    7,950,000        8,230,214   

Micron Technology, Inc.
5.500%, 02/01/25 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,515,000   
   

 

 

 
      13,104,651   
   

 

 

 

Shipbuilding—0.2%

   

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
5.000%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    500,000        508,750   

7.125%, 03/15/21

    2,500,000        2,700,000   
   

 

 

 
      3,208,750   
   

 

 

 

Software—1.6%

   

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
5.625%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    3,000,000        3,150,000   

6.125%, 09/15/23 (144A)

    3,600,000        3,879,000   

Audatex North America, Inc.
6.000%, 06/15/21 (144A)

    1,300,000        1,339,000   

Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The)
4.375%, 12/01/22 (a)

    1,500,000        1,534,408   

First Data Corp.
8.250%, 01/15/21 (144A)

    6,550,000        7,008,500   

11.250%, 01/15/21

    1,452,000        1,648,020   

MSCI, Inc.
5.250%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    1,175,000        1,216,125   

Sophia L.P. / Sophia Finance, Inc.
9.750%, 01/15/19 (144A)

    2,200,000        2,348,500   
   

 

 

 
      22,123,553   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—5.3%

   

Altice Finco S.A.
9.875%, 12/15/20 (144A)

    3,650,000        3,901,602   

Altice S.A.
7.750%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    3,500,000        3,506,563   

CC Holdings GS V LLC / Crown Castle GS III Corp.
3.849%, 04/15/23

    1,370,000        1,360,837   

Clearwire Communications LLC /Clearwire Finance, Inc.
14.750%, 12/01/16 (144A)

    1,900,000        2,284,750   

CommScope, Inc.
5.500%, 06/15/24 (144A)

    2,200,000        2,167,000   

Consolidated Communications, Inc.
6.500%, 10/01/22 (144A)

    1,350,000        1,353,375   

CPI International, Inc.
8.750%, 02/15/18 (a)

    2,500,000        2,568,750   

Digicel Group, Ltd.
7.125%, 04/01/22 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,395,000   

8.250%, 09/30/20 (144A)

    2,000,000        1,940,000   

Telecommunications—(Continued)

  

Digicel, Ltd.
7.000%, 02/15/20 (144A) (a)

    3,000,000      2,967,000   

Frontier Communications Corp.
7.625%, 04/15/24 (a)

    1,400,000        1,442,000   

9.250%, 07/01/21

    1,225,000        1,414,875   

Hughes Satellite Systems Corp.
7.625%, 06/15/21

    4,000,000        4,400,000   

Inmarsat Finance plc
4.875%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    2,775,000        2,747,250   

Intelsat Luxembourg S.A.
7.750%, 06/01/21 (a)

    5,595,000        5,608,987   

8.125%, 06/01/23

    1,025,000        1,045,500   

Motorola Solutions, Inc.
3.500%, 09/01/21

    1,800,000        1,800,054   

Sable International Finance, Ltd.
8.750%, 02/01/20 (144A)

    1,690,000        1,833,650   

SBA Telecommunications, Inc.
5.750%, 07/15/20

    2,000,000        2,035,600   

Sprint Capital Corp.
6.900%, 05/01/19

    1,900,000        1,938,000   

T-Mobile USA, Inc.
6.500%, 01/15/24

    5,500,000        5,637,500   

6.542%, 04/28/20

    3,425,000        3,536,312   

6.625%, 11/15/20

    2,000,000        2,035,000   

Telemovil Finance Co., Ltd.
8.000%, 10/01/17 (144A) (a)

    1,500,000        1,545,000   

UPCB Finance V, Ltd.
7.250%, 11/15/21 (144A)

    2,850,000        3,117,188   

VimpelCom Holdings B.V.
5.950%, 02/13/23 (144A)

    350,000        265,825   

Virgin Media Finance plc
6.000%, 10/15/24 (144A) (a)

    925,000        967,781   

Virgin Media Secured Finance plc
5.375%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    4,000,000        4,130,000   

Wind Acquisition Finance S.A.
7.375%, 04/23/21 (144A)

    4,250,000        4,011,150   
   

 

 

 
      72,956,549   
   

 

 

 

Textiles—0.1%

   

Polymer Group, Inc.
6.875%, 06/01/19 (144A)

    950,000        912,000   

Springs Industries, Inc.
6.250%, 06/01/21

    900,000        895,500   
   

 

 

 
      1,807,500   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.5%

   

Florida East Coast Holdings Corp.
6.750%, 05/01/19 (144A)

    675,000        668,250   

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc.
5.000%, 03/01/21 (a)

    1,800,000        1,476,000   

5.875%, 04/01/20

    2,875,000        2,544,375   

Watco Cos. LLC / Watco Finance Corp. 6.375%, 04/01/23 (144A)

    1,400,000        1,386,000   

XPO Logistics, Inc.
7.875%, 09/01/19 (144A)

    1,325,000        1,384,625   
   

 

 

 
      7,459,250   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares/

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Trucking & Leasing—0.1%

   

Jurassic Holdings III, Inc.
6.875%, 02/15/21 (144A)

    1,350,000      $ 1,255,500   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $1,026,103,314)

      1,017,968,027   
   

 

 

 
Common Stocks—11.3%   

Aerospace & Defense—0.3%

   

Raytheon Co. (a)

    13,100        1,417,027   

TransDigm Group, Inc.

    11,800        2,316,930   
   

 

 

 
      3,733,957   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.3%

   

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (a)

    27,800        1,661,328   

Southwest Airlines Co.

    44,700        1,891,704   
   

 

 

 
      3,553,032   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.2%

   

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (a) (h)

    95,000        2,146,050   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—0.1%

   

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (a)

    24,400        1,608,204   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.1%

   

Monster Beverage Corp. (h)

    15,400        1,668,590   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.8%

   

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (h)

    7,700        1,424,731   

Bluebird Bio, Inc. (h)

    17,000        1,559,240   

Celgene Corp. (a) (h)

    16,700        1,868,062   

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (h)

    64,400        727,720   

Pharmacyclics, Inc. (a) (h)

    17,200        2,102,872   

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (a) (h)

    7,800        1,476,306   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (h)

    14,700        1,746,360   
   

 

 

 
      10,905,291   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.1%

   

Invesco, Ltd.

    35,900        1,418,768   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.6%

   

Axalta Coating Systems, Ltd. (a) (h)

    133,300        3,468,466   

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (a)

    14,400        1,459,584   

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc.

    39,800        1,405,736   

PPG Industries, Inc. (a)

    6,400        1,479,360   
   

 

 

 
      7,813,146   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.1%

  

Ally Financial, Inc. (h)

    65,900        1,556,558   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.1%

  

Rock-Tenn Co. - Class A

    25,800        1,573,284   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.1%

  

LKQ Corp. (h)

    58,200      1,636,584   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.3%

  

ITC Holdings Corp.

    39,700        1,605,071   

Portland General Electric Co. (a)

    42,600        1,611,558   

PPL Corp. (a)

    41,400        1,504,062   
   

 

 

 
      4,720,691   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.2%

  

Polypore International, Inc. (a) (h)

    27,600        1,298,580   

Sensata Technologies Holding NV (a) (h)

    32,600        1,708,566   
   

 

 

 
      3,007,146   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—0.2%

  

Kroger Co. (The)

    39,600        2,542,716   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—0.7%

  

Gruma S.A.B. de C.V. (ADR)

    47,741        1,986,980   

Hershey Co. (The) (a)

    22,400        2,328,032   

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (a)

    10,400        1,376,908   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

    13,700        1,377,398   

Pinnacle Foods, Inc.

    43,000        1,517,900   

WhiteWave Foods Co. (The) (a) (h)

    41,600        1,455,584   
   

 

 

 
      10,042,802   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.2%

  

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (a)

    22,900        1,489,187   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

    13,800        1,565,196   
   

 

 

 
      3,054,383   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—0.7%

  

Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc. (a) (h)

    29,300        1,793,453   

Catamaran Corp. (a) (h)

    51,000        2,639,250   

Community Health Systems, Inc. (a) (h)

    29,900        1,612,208   

Team Health Holdings, Inc. (a) (h)

    38,600        2,220,658   

Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B

    14,100        1,568,766   
   

 

 

 
      9,834,335   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—1.3%

  

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (a) (h)

    9,200        1,659,496   

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (a) (h)

    2,200        1,505,922   

Domino’s Pizza, Inc. (a)

    16,200        1,525,554   

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (h)

    53,700        1,401,033   

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. (h)

    62,000        2,899,120   

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. (a) (h)

    27,600        1,553,052   

Restaurant Brands International L.P. (h)

    47,900        1,807,485   

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (a)

    24,500        2,019,535   

Starbucks Corp. (a)

    18,900        1,550,745   

Yum! Brands, Inc.

    29,500        2,149,075   
   

 

 

 
      18,071,017   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares

    Value  

Household Durables—0.2%

  

Whirlpool Corp.

    11,300      $ 2,189,262   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.2%

  

Allstate Corp. (The)

    30,100        2,114,525   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—0.1%

  

Netflix, Inc. (a) (h)

    4,000        1,366,440   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.1%

  

Yelp, Inc. (a) (h)

    28,300        1,548,859   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—0.3%

  

Alliance Data Systems Corp. (h)

    5,000        1,430,250   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (h)

    27,200        1,432,352   

VeriFone Systems, Inc. (a) (h)

    40,000        1,488,000   
   

 

 

 
      4,350,602   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.1%

  

Middleby Corp. (The) (h)

    14,600        1,446,860   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.2%

  

ION Media Networks, Inc. (e) (f)

    785        169,403   

Time Warner, Inc.

    16,600        1,417,972   

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. - Class A (a)

    42,000        1,613,010   
   

 

 

 
      3,200,385   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.0%

  

Mirabela Nickel, Ltd. (e) (f) (h)

    5,556,301        131,549   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.2%

  

Sempra Energy (a)

    25,700        2,861,952   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—0.1%

  

Dollar General Corp. (h)

    20,000        1,414,000   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—0.6%

  

Diamondback Energy, Inc. (a) (h)

    37,200        2,223,816   

MEG Energy Corp. (h)

    105,300        1,771,919   

Memorial Resource Development Corp. (h)

    85,900        1,548,777   

Parsley Energy, Inc. - Class A (a) (h)

    124,800        1,991,808   
   

 

 

 
      7,536,320   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—0.0%

  

PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper Corp.

    1,867,500        156,419   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.5%

  

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (a)

    28,100        1,658,743   

Mallinckrodt plc (a) (h)

    15,500        1,534,965   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (h)

    10,000        1,431,100   

Zoetis, Inc.

    64,400        2,771,132   
   

 

 

 
      7,395,940   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—0.2%

  

Robert Half International, Inc. (a)

    50,600      2,954,028   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.1%

  

Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (a)

    48,200        1,448,892   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.1%

  

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (a) (h)

    18,900        1,467,396   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—0.5%

  

Avago Technologies, Ltd.

    17,900        1,800,561   

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

    39,000        1,689,870   

NXP Semiconductor NV (h)

    22,700        1,734,280   

TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (a) (h)

    56,100        1,545,555   
   

 

 

 
      6,770,266   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.5%

  

FireEye, Inc. (a) (h)

    49,400        1,560,052   

Mobileye NV (a) (h)

    33,300        1,350,648   

Splunk, Inc. (a) (h)

    36,800        2,169,360   

VMware, Inc. - Class A (a) (h)

    17,600        1,452,352   
   

 

 

 
      6,532,412   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—0.4%

  

Brown Shoe Co., Inc.

    43,600        1,401,740   

Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc. (a) (h)

    19,300        1,852,993   

Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. (a) (h)

    51,000        1,567,740   
   

 

 

 
      4,822,473   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.5%

  

Carter’s, Inc.

    26,700        2,331,177   

PVH Corp.

    3,700        474,229   

Ralph Lauren Corp.

    7,500        1,388,700   

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. - Class A (a) (h)

    24,500        1,353,625   

Vince Holding Corp. (a) (h)

    52,900        1,382,806   
   

 

 

 
      6,930,537   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $145,176,997)

      155,525,671   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds—6.3%                

Airlines—0.1%

   

United Airlines, Inc.
4.500%, 01/15/15

    400,000        1,401,250   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.2%

  

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV
7.875%, 12/15/16

    3,000,000        3,225,000   
   

 

 

 

Banks—0.0%

  

LBG Capital No.1 plc
8.000%, 06/15/20 (144A) (c)

    560,000        596,400   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Convertible Bonds—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Biotechnology—1.2%

  

Illumina, Inc.
0.250%, 03/15/16

    1,550,000      $ 3,424,531   

0.500%, 06/15/21 (144A) (a)

    1,850,000        2,102,062   

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
1.000%, 11/15/21 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,682,813   

Medivation, Inc.
2.625%, 04/01/17

    2,250,000        4,363,594   

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
4.500%, 07/15/20 (a)

    475,000        905,766   

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
1.875%, 10/01/16

    800,000        3,898,000   
   

 

 

 
      16,376,766   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.3%

  

Macquarie Infrastructure Co. LLC
2.875%, 07/15/19 (a)

    3,175,000        3,607,594   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.3%

  

Janus Capital Group, Inc.
0.750%, 07/15/18

    950,000        1,441,031   

PRA Group, Inc.
3.000%, 08/01/20

    2,450,000        2,745,531   
   

 

 

 
      4,186,562   
   

 

 

 

Electric—0.3%

  

NRG Yield, Inc.
3.500%, 02/01/19 (144A)

    3,600,000        3,969,000   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.4%

  

CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
3.943%, 09/15/29 (i)

    75,000        5,044,125   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.3%

  

Cepheid, Inc.
1.250%, 02/01/21 (144A) (a)

    3,425,000        3,765,359   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.6%

  

Twitter, Inc.
1.000%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    4,150,000        3,615,687   

Vipshop Holdings, Ltd.
1.500%, 03/15/19 (a)

    3,750,000        4,462,500   
   

 

 

 
      8,078,187   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—0.2%

  

Jarden Corp.
1.875%, 09/15/18

    1,450,000        2,273,781   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.0%

  

Energy XXI, Ltd.
3.000%, 12/15/18 (a)

    1,675,000        489,938   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.8%

  

Depomed, Inc.
2.500%, 09/01/21

    2,045,000        2,207,322   

Pharmaceuticals—(Continued)

  

Mylan, Inc.
3.750%, 09/15/15

    1,275,000      5,388,469   

Omnicare, Inc.
3.250%, 12/15/35

    1,225,000        1,417,172   

3.500%, 02/15/44 (a)

    2,075,000        2,479,625   
   

 

 

 
      11,492,588   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.5%

  

ProLogis L.P.
3.250%, 03/15/15

    1,500,000        1,666,875   

SL Green Operating Partnership L.P.
3.000%, 10/15/17 (144A)

    3,225,000        4,744,781   
   

 

 

 
      6,411,656   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.2%

  

Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc.
Zero Coupon, 06/15/19 (144A)

    3,225,000        3,331,828   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.7%

  

Proofpoint, Inc.
1.250%, 12/15/18

    2,750,000        3,755,468   

PROS Holdings, Inc.
2.000%, 12/01/19 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,031,250   

ServiceNow, Inc.
Zero Coupon, 11/01/18

    1,850,000        2,104,375   

Workday, Inc.
0.750%, 07/15/18

    2,150,000        2,549,094   
   

 

 

 
      9,440,187   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.2%

  

Nortel Networks Corp.
2.125%, 04/15/14 (a) (d)

    3,300,000        3,223,688   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Bonds
(Cost $79,852,382)

      86,913,909   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—3.5%   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—3.5%

  

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool
3.500%, 07/01/43

    10,941,638        11,418,625   

4.000%, TBA (j)

    9,400,000        10,006,484   

4.500%, TBA (j)

    24,550,000        26,648,259   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $47,774,131)

      48,073,368   
   

 

 

 
Floating Rate Loans (n)—2.5%   

Airlines—0.1%

  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 04/20/17

    1,196,899        1,187,798   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (n)—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Biotechnology—0.3%

  

Amgen, Inc.
Term Loan, 1.255%, 09/18/18 (e)

    3,500,000      $ 3,497,812   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.0%

  

Britax U.S. Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.500%, 10/15/20 (e)

    773,043        572,052   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.1%

  

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC
Term Loan B, 3.000%, 03/15/19

    1,421,383        1,411,611   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.2%

  

AWAS Finance Luxembourg S.A.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 07/16/18

    1,625,000        1,604,687   

RPI Finance Trust
Term Loan B4, 3.500%, 11/09/20

    1,125,000        1,124,531   
   

 

 

 
      2,729,218   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.0%

  

Generac Power Systems, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 05/31/20

    76,719        74,417   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.1%

  

Chief Exploration & Development LLC
2nd Lien Term Loan, 6.500%, 05/12/21 (e)

    775,000        703,313   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.1%

  

Astoria Energy LLC
Term Loan B, 0.000%, 12/04/21 (k)

    900,000        888,750   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.0%

  

Asurion LLC
2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.500%, 03/03/21

    125,000        124,688   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—0.1%

  

Delta 2 (LUX) S.a.r.l.
2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.750%, 07/31/22

    1,500,000        1,464,375   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.4%

  

Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc.
2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.500%, 07/25/22

    1,800,000        1,781,100   

Charter Communications Operating LLC
Term Loan G, 4.250%, 09/12/21

    2,000,000        2,012,638   

Kasima LLC
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 05/17/21

    1,925,758        1,882,428   
   

 

 

 
      5,676,166   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.2%

  

MEG Energy Corp.
Term Loan, 0.000%, 03/31/20 (k)

    847,816        812,208   

Templar Energy LLC
2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.500%, 11/25/20

    3,675,000        2,655,187   
   

 

 

 
      3,467,395   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—0.2%

  

Crown Americas, LLC
Delayed Draw Term Loan, 1.919%, 12/19/18

    1,750,000      1,754,375   

Term Loan A, 1.919%, 12/19/18

    650,000        651,625   
   

 

 

 
      2,406,000   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.5%

  

Avago Technologies Cayman, Ltd.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 05/06/21

    2,418,922        2,412,875   

NXP B.V.
Term Loan D, 3.250%, 01/11/20

    2,144,571        2,118,658   

Sensata Technologies B.V.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 10/14/21

    2,718,188        2,720,906   
   

 

 

 
      7,252,439   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.1%

  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 10/12/20

    2,050,000        2,048,971   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.1%

  

Neff Rental LLC
2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.250%, 06/09/21

    1,249,565        1,233,946   
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loans
(Cost $35,499,059)

      34,738,951   
   

 

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities—2.3%   

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—2.3%

  

BB-UBS Trust
4.026%, 11/05/36 (144A) (c)

    2,775,000        2,678,710   

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust
4.345%, 10/10/47

    875,000        911,130   

4.534%, 10/10/47 (c)

    1,000,000        1,017,790   

Commercial Mortgage Pass Through Certificates
1.087%, 12/10/47 (c) (l)

    19,900,000        1,424,342   

4.349%, 12/10/47 (c)

    1,000,000        1,038,142   

4.467%, 12/10/47 (c)

    1,800,000        1,782,517   

Commercial Mortgage Trust
0.044%, 12/10/47 (144A) (c) (l)

    10,100,000        68,468   

0.177%, 11/10/47 (144A) (l)

    16,375,000        188,444   

0.500%, 12/10/47 (144A) (c) (l)

    4,850,000        185,328   

1.436%, 11/10/47 (144A) (l)

    1,225,000        134,340   

4.508%, 11/10/47 (c)

    1,250,000        1,270,262   

4.613%, 09/10/47 (c)

    950,000        985,263   

Commercial WWP Mortgage Trust
3.898%, 03/10/31 (144A)

    1,800,000        1,800,529   

DBUBS Mortgage Trust
5.443%, 07/10/44 (144A) (c)

    950,000        1,003,936   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust
4.511%, 11/10/47 (c)

    1,200,000        1,140,088   

Impact Funding LLC
0.342%, 08/25/47 (l)

    3,100,000        110,378   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares/
Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

  

JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
0.312%, 11/15/47 (c) (l)

    9,300,000      $ 258,382   

0.476%, 01/15/48 (c) (l)

    8,125,000        332,186   

0.500%, 01/15/48 (144A) (c) (l)

    6,475,000        249,343   

3.927%, 01/15/48 (144A) (c)

    2,300,000        1,946,180   

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust
0.442%, 12/15/47 (144A) (c) (l)

    13,150,000        529,708   

0.602%, 12/15/46 (144A) (l)

    6,175,000        294,548   

3.989%, 12/15/46 (144A)

    1,200,000        1,197,360   

4.000%, 12/15/47

    1,350,000        1,300,552   

4.071%, 05/15/46 (c)

    850,000        861,199   

4.083%, 07/15/46 (c)

    725,000        735,825   

4.384%, 12/15/46 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,494,500   

4.750%, 12/15/46 (144A)

    1,150,000        1,073,180   

Motel 6 Trust
3.781%, 10/05/25 (144A)

    2,225,000        2,200,129   

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust
0.396%, 12/15/47 (c) (l)

    10,125,000        357,645   

1.216%, 12/15/47 (c) (l)

    10,375,000        857,265   

4.193%, 12/15/47 (c)

    600,000        597,692   

WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust
4.326%, 11/15/47 (c)

    425,000        430,757   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $31,383,080)

      31,456,118   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stocks—1.3%   

Diversified Financial Services—0.3%

  

AMG Capital Trust II
5.150%, 10/15/37

    65,500        4,044,625   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.4%

  

NextEra Energy, Inc.
5.889%, 09/01/15

    70,000        4,685,800   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.1%

  

Alcoa, Inc.
5.375%, 10/01/17

    29,200        1,473,140   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.2%

  

Dominion Resources, Inc.
6.000%, 07/01/16

    50,000        3,006,000   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.3%

  

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.
5.000%, 10/01/15

    36,000        4,177,800   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
(Cost $15,741,940)

      17,387,365   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—0.5%   
Security Description  

Shares/
Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Sovereign—0.5%

  

Bermuda Government International Bonds
4.138%, 01/03/23 (144A) (a)

    2,150,000      2,171,500   

4.854%, 02/06/24 (144A)

    1,225,000        1,274,000   

Government of the Cayman Island
5.950%, 11/24/19 (144A)

    800,000        912,000   

Senegal Government International Bond
6.250%, 07/30/24 (144A) (a)

    1,425,000        1,357,598   

Vietnam Government International Bond
4.800%, 11/19/24 (144A) (a)

    1,525,000        1,566,937   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $7,316,043)

      7,282,035   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stock—0.1%   

Banks—0.1%

  

Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc., 6.500% (a)
(Cost $2,170,000)

    86,800        2,106,636   
   

 

 

 
Warrant—0.0%   

Auto Components—0.0%

  

Cooper-Standard Holding, Inc., Strike Price $27.33, Expires 11/27/17 (e) (h)
(Cost $205,581)

    20,875        666,539   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—13.9%   

Mutual Fund—13.5%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (o)

    185,558,274        185,558,274   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—0.4%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $5,144,599 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $5,245,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.250% due 08/15/15 with a value of $5,251,556.

    5,144,599        5,144,599   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $190,702,873)

      190,702,873   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—115.6%
(Cost $1,581,925,400) (p)

      1,592,821,492   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(15.6)%

      (215,042,166
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,377,779,326   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $189,603,273 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $185,558,274 and non-cash collateral with a value of $10,617,588. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

(b) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $10,353,005, which is 0.8% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
(c) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(d) Non-income producing; Security is in default and/or issuer is in bankruptcy.
(e) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.7% of net assets.
(f) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent less than 0.05% of net assets.
(g) Payment-in-kind security for which part of the income earned may be paid as additional principal.
(h) Non-income producing security.
(i) Security is a “step-up” bond where coupon increases or steps up at a predetermined date. Rate shown is current coupon rate.
(j) TBA (To Be Announced) Securities are purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and no defined maturity date. The actual principal and maturity date will be determined upon settlement date.
(k) This loan will settle after December 31, 2014, at which time the interest rate will be determined.
(l) Interest only security.
(m) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $53,875.
(n) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.
(o) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(p) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,584,173,990. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $48,398,027 and $(39,750,525), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $8,647,502 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $447,647,326, which is 32.5% of net assets.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(COP)— Colombian Peso
(EMTN)— Euro Medium-Term Note
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

Brookstone Co., Inc.

     07/25/14       $ 2,041,798       $ 4,340       $ 4,451   

IFM U.S. Colonial Pipeline 2 LLC

     04/14/11         4,900,000         4,898,107         5,326,800   

NSG Holdings LLC / NSG Holdings, Inc.

     01/25/13         3,047,131         3,222,281         3,245,194   

Rivers Pittsburgh Borrower L.P. / Rivers Pittsburgh Finance Corp.

     05/30/12         1,676,000         1,741,625         1,776,560   
           

 

 

 
            $ 10,353,005   
           

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Short

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         (120     USD         (15,319,021   $ 103,396   

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         (7     USD         (831,621     (887
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 102,509   
            

 

 

 

 

(USD)— United States Dollar

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Corporate Bonds & Notes            

Advertising

   $ —         $ 10,939,864       $ —         $ 10,939,864   

Aerospace/Defense

     —           8,005,808         —           8,005,808   

Agriculture

     —           3,535,233         —           3,535,233   

Airlines

     —           6,506,467         —           6,506,467   

Apparel

     —           4,188,750         —           4,188,750   

Auto Manufacturers

     —           4,145,000         —           4,145,000   

Auto Parts & Equipment

     —           5,431,875         —           5,431,875   

Banks

     —           58,848,225         —           58,848,225   

Beverages

     —           8,109,128         —           8,109,128   

Biotechnology

     —           4,524,910         —           4,524,910   

Building Materials

     —           4,865,077         —           4,865,077   

Chemicals

     —           20,109,692         —           20,109,692   

Coal

     —           2,038,625         —           2,038,625   

Commercial Services

     —           27,901,435         —           27,901,435   

Computers

     —           18,607,818         —           18,607,818   

Cosmetics/Personal Care

     —           5,577,563         —           5,577,563   

Distribution/Wholesale

     —           1,584,000         —           1,584,000   

Diversified Financial Services

     —           55,566,503         —           55,566,503   

Electric

     —           26,375,768         —           26,375,768   

Electrical Components & Equipment

     —           5,950,281         —           5,950,281   

Electronics

     —           6,384,569         —           6,384,569   

Energy-Alternate Sources

     —           2,093,885         —           2,093,885   

Engineering & Construction

     —           5,012,519         —           5,012,519   

Entertainment

     —           19,269,440         —           19,269,440   

Environmental Control

     —           4,022,063         —           4,022,063   

Food

     —           23,575,728         —           23,575,728   

Forest Products & Paper

     —           4,557,500         —           4,557,500   

Gas

     —           5,945,529         —           5,945,529   

Hand/Machine Tools

     —           4,090,000         —           4,090,000   

Healthcare-Products

     —           21,675,150         —           21,675,150   

Healthcare-Services

     —           58,336,365         —           58,336,365   

Holding Companies-Diversified

     —           1,230,594         —           1,230,594   

Home Builders

     —           12,803,063         —           12,803,063   

Housewares

     —           1,254,000         —           1,254,000   

Insurance

     —           13,970,415         —           13,970,415   

Internet

     —           22,770,209         —           22,770,209   

Investment Company Security

     —           1,177,500         —           1,177,500   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Iron/Steel

   $ —         $ 10,667,551       $ —         $ 10,667,551   

Leisure Time

     —           4,970,188         —           4,970,188   

Lodging

     —           20,700,789         —           20,700,789   

Machinery-Construction & Mining

     —           1,383,750         —           1,383,750   

Machinery-Diversified

     —           11,070,372         —           11,070,372   

Media

     —           52,854,975         —           52,854,975   

Mining

     —           10,846,891         3         10,846,894   

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

     —           4,787,809         —           4,787,809   

Office Furnishings

     —           3,462,951         —           3,462,951   

Office/Business Equipment

     —           2,212,763         —           2,212,763   

Oil & Gas

     —           81,308,775         —           81,308,775   

Oil & Gas Services

     —           13,710,890         —           13,710,890   

Packaging & Containers

     —           31,070,125         —           31,070,125   

Pharmaceuticals

     —           29,155,119         —           29,155,119   

Pipelines

     —           56,831,309         —           56,831,309   

Real Estate

     —           2,578,208         —           2,578,208   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     —           15,756,660         —           15,756,660   

Retail

     —           51,473,732         228,263         51,701,995   

Savings & Loans

     —           —           600         600   

Semiconductors

     —           13,104,651         —           13,104,651   

Shipbuilding

     —           3,208,750         —           3,208,750   

Software

     —           22,123,553         —           22,123,553   

Telecommunications

     —           72,956,549         —           72,956,549   

Textiles

     —           1,807,500         —           1,807,500   

Transportation

     —           7,459,250         —           7,459,250   

Trucking & Leasing

     —           1,255,500         —           1,255,500   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes

     —           1,017,739,161         228,866         1,017,968,027   
Common Stocks            

Aerospace & Defense

     3,733,957         —           —           3,733,957   

Airlines

     3,553,032         —           —           3,553,032   

Auto Components

     2,146,050         —           —           2,146,050   

Automobiles

     1,608,204         —           —           1,608,204   

Beverages

     1,668,590         —           —           1,668,590   

Biotechnology

     10,905,291         —           —           10,905,291   

Capital Markets

     1,418,768         —           —           1,418,768   

Chemicals

     7,813,146         —           —           7,813,146   

Consumer Finance

     1,556,558         —           —           1,556,558   

Containers & Packaging

     1,573,284         —           —           1,573,284   

Distributors

     1,636,584         —           —           1,636,584   

Electric Utilities

     4,720,691         —           —           4,720,691   

Electrical Equipment

     3,007,146         —           —           3,007,146   

Food & Staples Retailing

     2,542,716         —           —           2,542,716   

Food Products

     10,042,802         —           —           10,042,802   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     3,054,383         —           —           3,054,383   

Health Care Providers & Services

     9,834,335         —           —           9,834,335   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     18,071,017         —           —           18,071,017   

Household Durables

     2,189,262         —           —           2,189,262   

Insurance

     2,114,525         —           —           2,114,525   

Internet & Catalog Retail

     1,366,440         —           —           1,366,440   

Internet Software & Services

     1,548,859         —           —           1,548,859   

IT Services

     4,350,602         —           —           4,350,602   

Machinery

     1,446,860         —           —           1,446,860   

Media

     3,030,982         —           169,403         3,200,385   

Metals & Mining

     —           —           131,549         131,549   

Multi-Utilities

     2,861,952         —           —           2,861,952   

Multiline Retail

     1,414,000         —           —           1,414,000   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     7,536,320         —           —           7,536,320   

Paper & Forest Products

     —           156,419         —           156,419   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Pharmaceuticals

   $ 7,395,940      $ —        $ —         $ 7,395,940   

Professional Services

     2,954,028        —          —           2,954,028   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     1,448,892        —          —           1,448,892   

Road & Rail

     1,467,396        —          —           1,467,396   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     6,770,266        —          —           6,770,266   

Software

     6,532,412        —          —           6,532,412   

Specialty Retail

     4,822,473        —          —           4,822,473   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     6,930,537        —          —           6,930,537   

Total Common Stocks

     155,068,300        156,419        300,952         155,525,671   

Total Convertible Bonds*

     —          86,913,909        —           86,913,909   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

     —          48,073,368        —           48,073,368   

Total Floating Rate Loans*

     —          34,738,951        —           34,738,951   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —          31,456,118        —           31,456,118   
Convertible Preferred Stocks          

Diversified Financial Services

     —          4,044,625        —           4,044,625   

Electric Utilities

     4,685,800        —          —           4,685,800   

Metals & Mining

     1,473,140        —          —           1,473,140   

Multi-Utilities

     3,006,000        —          —           3,006,000   

Road & Rail

     4,177,800        —          —           4,177,800   

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks

     13,342,740        4,044,625        —           17,387,365   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          7,282,035        —           7,282,035   

Total Preferred Stock*

     2,106,636        —          —           2,106,636   

Total Warrant*

     666,539        —          —           666,539   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Fund

     185,558,274        —          —           185,558,274   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          5,144,599        —           5,144,599   

Total Short-Term Investments

     185,558,274        5,144,599        —           190,702,873   

Total Investments

   $ 356,742,489      $ 1,235,549,185      $ 529,818       $ 1,592,821,492   
                                   

Collateral for Securities Loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (185,558,274   $ —         $ (185,558,274
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 103,396      $ —        $ —         $ 103,396   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (887     —          —           (887

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 102,509      $ —        $ —         $ 102,509   

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

   Balance as of
December 31,
2013
    Accrued
Discounts/
(Premiums)
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
    Purchases      Sales     Balance as of
December 31,
2014
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
from Investments
Still Held at
December 31,
2014
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes                 

Retail

   $      $      $ 111      $ 344,278       $ (116,126   $ 228,263       $ 111   

Mining

                   (32,152     32,155                3         (32,152

Saving & Loans

     600        (363     363                       600         363   
Common Stocks                 

Media

     76,961            92,442                       169,403         92,442   

Metals & Mining

                   (272,472     404,021                131,549         (272,472
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 77,561      $ (363   $ (211,708   $ 780,454       $ (116,126   $ 529,818       $ (211,708
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Warrants held at December 31, 2013 were converted to common stock shares on a 1 for 1 basis.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,592,821,492   

Cash

     162,598   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     257,298   

Cash collateral for futures contracts

     106,148   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     1,305,509   

TBA securities sold

     10,018,895   

Fund shares sold

     414,875   

Dividends and interest

     16,731,139   

Prepaid expenses

     3,790   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,621,821,744   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     185,558,274   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     10,125,198   

TBA securities purchased

     46,602,908   

Fund shares redeemed

     656,672   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     27,344   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     600,893   

Distribution and service fees

     164,412   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     239,293   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     244,042,418   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,377,779,326   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,242,106,510   

Undistributed net investment income

     73,783,849   

Accumulated net realized gain

     50,898,331   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts and foreign currency transactions

     10,990,636   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,377,779,326   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 596,319,729   

Class B

     761,885,345   

Class E

     19,574,252   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     45,691,656   

Class B

     59,067,305   

Class E

     1,512,303   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 13.05   

Class B

     12.90   

Class E

     12.94   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,581,925,400.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $189,603,273.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $265,255.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 3,173,657   

Interest

     74,648,261   

Securities lending income

     658,509   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     78,480,427   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     7,408,928   

Administration fees

     33,947   

Custodian and accounting fees

     185,944   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,012,500   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     32,652   

Audit and tax services

     63,784   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     168,225   

Insurance

     9,365   

Miscellaneous

     15,952   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     10,009,377   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     68,471,050   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     63,227,352   

Futures contracts

     (1,202,521

Foreign currency transactions

     2,079   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     62,026,910   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:   

Investments

     (58,868,894

Futures contracts

     (661,920

Foreign currency transactions

     (11,472
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (59,542,286
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     2,484,624   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 70,955,674   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $6,743.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 68,471,050      $ 79,862,605   

Net realized gain

     62,026,910        44,063,075   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (59,542,286     (7,066,080
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     70,955,674        116,859,600   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (36,660,759     (42,518,412

Class B

     (45,157,543     (53,791,660

Class E

     (1,256,379     (1,589,195

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (17,089,978     0   

Class B

     (21,987,704     0   

Class E

     (602,285     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (122,754,648     (97,899,267
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (38,974,240     (109,762,823
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (90,773,214     (90,802,490

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,468,552,540        1,559,355,030   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,377,779,326      $ 1,468,552,540   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 73,783,849      $ 81,007,631   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     2,238,273      $ 29,402,800        4,364,094      $ 58,692,112   

Reinvestments

     4,202,560        53,750,737        3,285,812        42,518,412   

Redemptions

     (7,813,025     (102,547,240     (14,420,147     (196,904,953
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (1,372,192   $ (19,393,703     (6,770,241   $ (95,694,429
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     5,498,341      $ 72,158,652        6,559,278      $ 85,792,951   

Reinvestments

     5,303,732        67,145,247        4,195,917        53,791,660   

Redemptions

     (11,995,075     (156,556,330     (11,626,686     (152,201,329
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (1,193,002   $ (17,252,431     (871,491   $ (12,616,718
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     119,523      $ 1,580,886        261,672      $ 3,472,694   

Reinvestments

     146,352        1,858,664        123,673        1,589,195   

Redemptions

     (439,761     (5,767,656     (494,024     (6,513,565
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (173,886   $ (2,328,106     (108,679   $ (1,451,676
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (38,974,240     $ (109,762,823
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.55       $ 13.43       $ 12.80       $ 12.98       $ 12.24   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.64         0.73         0.75         0.80         0.79   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.03         0.32         0.86         (0.17      0.76   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.67         1.05         1.61         0.63         1.55   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.80      (0.93      (0.98      (0.81      (0.81

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.37      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.17      (0.93      (0.98      (0.81      (0.81
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 13.05       $ 13.55       $ 13.43       $ 12.80       $ 12.98   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     5.12         8.17         13.19         4.83         13.18   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.55         0.54         0.54         0.54         0.53   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     4.86         5.50         5.76         6.18         6.40   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     87         46         47         36         42   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 596.3       $ 637.9       $ 722.9       $ 715.6       $ 1,163.2   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.41       $ 13.29       $ 12.67       $ 12.87       $ 12.14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.60         0.69         0.71         0.76         0.76   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.02         0.33         0.86         (0.19      0.76   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.62         1.02         1.57         0.57         1.52   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.76      (0.90      (0.95      (0.77      (0.79

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.37      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.13      (0.90      (0.95      (0.77      (0.79
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.90       $ 13.41       $ 13.29       $ 12.67       $ 12.87   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.83         7.98         12.95         4.46         12.97   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.80         0.79         0.79         0.79         0.78   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     4.61         5.24         5.51         5.98         6.16   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     87         46         47         36         42   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 761.9       $ 808.0       $ 812.6       $ 780.4       $ 805.0   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.45       $ 13.33       $ 12.71       $ 12.89       $ 12.16   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.62         0.71         0.72         0.78         0.77   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.02         0.32         0.86         (0.18      0.76   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.64         1.03         1.58         0.60         1.53   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.78      (0.91      (0.96      (0.78      (0.80

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.37      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.15      (0.91      (0.96      (0.78      (0.80
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.94       $ 13.45       $ 13.33       $ 12.71       $ 12.89   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.90         8.06         13.01         4.69         13.03   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.70         0.69         0.69         0.69         0.68   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     4.71         5.34         5.61         6.07         6.26   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     87         46         47         36         42   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 19.6       $ 22.7       $ 23.9       $ 24.3       $ 30.0   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to convertible preferred stocks, foreign currency transactions, premium amortization adjustments, contingent payment debt instruments, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), return of capital adjustments and paydown adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $5,144,599, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

TBA Purchase & Forward Sale Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into TBA commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA commitments are considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases prior to settlement date, which is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the Portfolio’s other assets. TBA forward sale commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities, according to the procedures described under “Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements”.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts*    $ 103,396       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts*    $ 887   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate  

Futures contracts

   $ (1,202,521
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate  

Futures contracts

   $ (661,920
  

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts short

   $ (31,325,000

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$109,703,879    $ 1,134,382,571       $ 74,379,860       $ 1,193,876,279   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC. that amounted to $959,979 in purchases and $5,101,502 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$7,408,928      0.600   First $250 million
     0.550   $250 million to $500 million
     0.500   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.450   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$91,288,007    $ 97,899,267       $ 31,466,641       $       $ 122,754,648       $ 97,899,267   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$78,687,874    $ 48,412,832       $ 8,639,535       $       $ 135,740,241   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and agent banks; when replies were not received from brokers or agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust, as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one- and three-year periods ended June 30, 2014, and underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the five-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further noted that the Portfolio outperformed one of its benchmarks, the BoA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Master II Constrained Index, for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014, and underperformed its benchmark for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio outperformed its blended benchmark for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board further considered the recent change in the investment management team that became effective in October 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Adviser was in the final stages of negotiating reductions to the Portfolio’s sub-advisory fee schedule, and that the Adviser intended to waive a corresponding portion of its advisory fees in order for contractholders to benefit from the lower sub-advisory fees and that those changes would be presented to the Board in February 2015 to be effective later in 2015.

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Managed By Artisan Partners Limited Partnership

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

Since its inception on April 29, 2014, the Class A shares of the Met/Artisan International Portfolio returned 0.40%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index1, returned -5.41% over the same period. Since its inception on November 12, 2014, the Class B shares of the Met/Artisan International Portfolio returned -1.18%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index, returned -2.38% over the same period.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

After a benign start to the year, volatility returned to the market in the latter half of 2014 as investors were faced with increasing divergence among global growth rates and corresponding central bank moves. The U.S. landed on one end of the spectrum as its recovery gathered momentum, boosted by strong hiring, with the unemployment rate declining to 5.8% in November from 7.0% a year earlier. Third quarter gross domestic product (“GDP”) grew at an annualized 5.0% rate, its fastest in more than a decade, helped by healthy consumer spending and business investment. The Federal Reserve ended its program of quantitative easing and at year end prepared to hike its key interest rate, which has been at exceptionally low levels since December 2008. Benchmark U.S. equity indices climbed to record highs as the year came to a close.

The eurozone and Japan landed at the other end of the spectrum. The eurozone is facing a difficult combination of high unemployment, weakening demand and investment, and stubbornly low inflation. At year end the European Central Bank (“ECB”) remained on the brink of large-scale quantitative easing, which many think the economy urgently needs, but the ECB must first overcome key vocal opponents. Greece jumped back into the spotlight during the fourth quarter after an election failed to produce a president, prompting a snap election which could bring the anti-austerity Syriza party to power. The political uncertainty stoked demand for safe-haven assets, driving the yield on the German 10-year government bond down to a record low of 0.56%.

Meanwhile, Japan’s economy fell into a technical recession. To jumpstart growth, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved an emergency stimulus package of $29 billion and laid out plans to cut taxes on corporate income, working to steer his nation out from recession. Earlier in the quarter, Abe won a snap election as voters showed their support for his “three arrows” economic plan, but observers wonder if his remaining ammunition will be sufficient.

In China, the path to a reformed economy was bumpy in 2014 with many expecting growth in the world’s second-largest economy to post its slowest rate in decades. Home sales and industrial output were slowed by a decline in credit, driven by a deleveraging of the shadow banking system. Meanwhile, anti-corruption campaigns hindered spending on luxury goods. In November, the central bank cut interest rates in an effort to offset the slowdown. Despite the gloomy economic showing, mainland benchmark Chinese indices finished near five-year highs as retail investors piled into the market.

Oil was an important force in the fourth quarter. Oil prices fell about 50% in 2014, most of that coming since June on the back of growing supply (largely U.S. shale) and waning global demand. Emerging markets were broadly pressured by the strengthening U.S. dollar, falling commodity prices and slower economic growth. Russia and Brazil, each facing political tensions, were among the most notable laggards.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio benefited from positive stock selection in several sectors, including Information Technology and Health Care. Regionally, holdings in the U.S. and emerging markets were a source of strength. From an allocation perspective, the Portfolio benefited from minimal exposure to the Energy sector. As always, sector weightings are the residual of our bottom-up stock selection process. Traditionally, we have viewed the Energy sector as highly cyclical and offering few sustainable growth opportunities which fit our investment criteria.

The Portfolio’s top individual contributors included media company Liberty Global and medical device manufacturer Covidien. European cable company Liberty Global continued to benefit from secular demographics trends, including a seemingly unwavering demand for broadband Internet. As broadband continues to shift from a convenience to an essential product, consumers continue increasing spending on it regardless of the overall macro environment. Liberty Global also benefits from its dominant market position, owing to its scale and the relatively faster speeds offered by its fixed-line cable networks. With Liberty’s network infrastructure already built out, capital expenditures are minimal relative to its competitors, supporting higher margins. Given these favorable supply and demand characteristics, we believe Liberty Global should continue to have advantageous pricing power, allowing it to raise customer prices without a meaningful impact on demand. During the fourth quarter, shares of Liberty Global rose on news the company may be considered for acquisition by mobile operator Vodafone. The news further underscores the significance of Liberty Global’s network advantage: as European telecoms vie to remain competitive by bundling fixed and mobile services, Liberty Global is squarely in the catbird seat.

Covidien (Ireland) is a global leader in the development of health care products for use in clinical and home settings. The company is currently slated for a $43 billion cash and stock acquisition by U.S.-based Medtronic. The combined company is expected to benefit from cost synergies, a lower tax rate from its new Irish domicile and market share gains that can be leveraged into stronger pricing power. During the fourth quarter, the merger gained several key regulatory approvals, including from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission. The clearances reassured investors the merger will likely close in early 2015 following a shareholder vote on January 6.

 

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Managed By Artisan Partners Limited Partnership

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Detracting from the Portfolio’s relative returns was aero-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom). Defense spending cuts have weakened Rolls-Royce’s end markets and difficult near-term economic conditions have negatively impacted its shorter-cycle customers. Restructuring costs are another drag on underlying profit expectations for 2015. Communication is also an issue for Rolls-Royce: while the company has put impressive 2018 targets in place, the management team has yet to explain how the company will achieve them. Over the year we reduced the Portfolio’s position in favor of other opportunities.

Although we have historically found few attractive opportunities in the Energy sector, we did hold two oil field services companies during the period: Schlumberger and Technip (France). Their shares were not immune to the effects of falling oil prices and were counted among the Portfolio’s detractors. We chose to exit our small residual position in Technip. We continued to closely monitor our position in Schlumberger and have chosen to remain investors. A name we know well and have held for many years, we believe Schlumberger will be able to weather this near-term storm thanks to its scale, geographic diversification and unique technological advantages.

Over the reporting period we initiated positions in a handful of stocks, including Telefonica (Spain). Telefonica is a Spanish telecommunications operator, offering fixed and mobile services. The company also has significant assets in other countries including Germany, the United Kingdom and Brazil. We believed Telefonica is reaching an inflection point in its domestic market, where revenue trends will improve as average revenue per user stabilizes and churn rates decline. We were also attracted to the company’s efforts to consolidate its other primary markets.

During the year we exited our position in watch manufacturer Swatch (Switzerland) in favor of other opportunities, as slowing growth and an anti-corruption campaign impacted sales in China, a key region for the company.

Mark L. Yockey

Charles-Henri Hamker

Andrew Euretig

Portfolio Managers

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI AC WORLD (EX-U.S.) INDEX

 

LOGO

CUMULATIVE RETURNS (%) FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

        Since Inception2  
Met/Artisan International Portfolio       

Class A

       0.40   

Class B

       -1.18   
MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index        -5.41   

1 The MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index is an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. The index returns shown above were calculated with net dividends: they reflect the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of the maximum possible withholding taxes.

2 Inception date of the Class A and Class B shares are 4/29/2014 and 11/12/2014, respectively. Index since inception return is based on the Class A inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Baidu, Inc.(ADR)

     5.6   

Bayer AG

     4.0   

Covidien plc

     3.7   

AIA Group, Ltd.

     3.4   

Toyota Motor Corp.

     3.4   

Linde AG

     3.3   

ASML Holding NV

     3.2   

Grupo Televisa S.A.B.(ADR)

     2.9   

Liberty Global plc - Series C

     2.8   

Nestle S.A.

     2.7   

Top Countries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
United Kingdom      18.9   

Japan

     14.5   

Germany

     12.6   

China

     12.3   

Switzerland

     8.3   

United States

     7.4   

France

     6.1   

Hong Kong

     4.2   

Belgium

     3.9   

Netherlands

     3.2   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 958.90         $ 4.10   
   Hypothetical*      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.02         $ 4.23   

Class B(a)

   Actual      1.29    $ 1,000.00         $ 988.20         $ 1.76   
   Hypothetical*      1.29    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,005.08         $ 1.77   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days for Class A and 50 days for Class B) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) Commencement of operations was November 12, 2014.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—96.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Belgium—3.9%

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV

    178,327      $ 20,067,799   

Telenet Group Holding NV

    142,715        8,015,447   

UCB S.A.

    125,576        9,529,990   
   

 

 

 
      37,613,236   
   

 

 

 

Brazil—0.2%

  

Ambev S.A. (ADR) (b)

    270,353        1,681,596   
   

 

 

 

China—12.3%

  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. (ADR) (a) (b)

    27,277        2,835,171   

Baidu, Inc. (ADR) (a)

    239,859        54,680,656   

Beijing Enterprises Holdings, Ltd.

    1,790,000        13,993,255   

China Mobile, Ltd.

    1,479,500        17,419,027   

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd. - Class H

    9,882,000        7,178,654   

Ping An Insurance Group Co. of China, Ltd. - Class H

    625,572        6,316,752   

Tencent Holdings, Ltd.

    1,202,000        17,246,700   
   

 

 

 
      119,670,215   
   

 

 

 

Denmark—0.1%

  

Rockwool International A/S - B Shares

    12,296        1,389,313   
   

 

 

 

France—6.1%

  

L’Oreal S.A.

    42,355        7,110,858   

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.

    42,753        6,760,706   

Orange S.A.

    629,416        10,704,022   

Pernod-Ricard S.A.

    34,371        3,810,952   

Publicis Groupe S.A.

    671        48,059   

Schneider Electric SE

    126,428        9,186,493   

Vinci S.A.

    105,785        5,788,628   

Zodiac Aerospace

    490,318        16,547,044   
   

 

 

 
      59,956,762   
   

 

 

 

Germany—11.3%

  

Allianz SE

    56,522        9,391,339   

Bayer AG

    286,398        39,153,304   

Beiersdorf AG

    146,425        11,942,788   

Deutsche Post AG

    427,499        13,987,186   

Linde AG

    170,144        31,735,219   

MTU Aero Engines AG

    43,970        3,839,181   
   

 

 

 
      110,049,017   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—4.2%

  

AIA Group, Ltd.

    6,055,972        33,231,053   

Sands China, Ltd.

    1,597,100        7,778,157   
   

 

 

 
      41,009,210   
   

 

 

 

Italy—0.6%

  

Telecom Italia S.p.A. (b)

    5,135,697        5,446,507   
   

 

 

 

Japan—14.5%

  

Bridgestone Corp.

    33,219        1,154,390   

IHI Corp.

    4,427,000        22,477,344   

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

    970,505        4,432,006   

Japan—(Continued)

  

KDDI Corp. (b)

    226,400      14,165,899   

LIXIL Group Corp.

    386,200        8,167,377   

NGK Insulators, Ltd.

    669,000        13,778,284   

Olympus Corp.

    714,900        25,190,154   

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    52,800        4,678,718   

SoftBank Corp.

    248,264        14,774,746   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    526,100        32,807,894   
   

 

 

 
      141,626,812   
   

 

 

 

Mexico—2.9%

  

Grupo Televisa S.A.B. (ADR)

    821,922        27,994,663   
   

 

 

 

Netherlands—3.2%

  

ASML Holding NV

    295,399        31,648,068   
   

 

 

 

South Korea—0.4%

  

NAVER Corp.

    5,405        3,491,740   

Orion Corp.

    115        105,766   
   

 

 

 
      3,597,506   
   

 

 

 

Spain—2.2%

  

Grifols S.A. (b)

    131,800        5,246,645   

Grifols S.A. (ADR)

    117,207        3,983,866   

Telefonica S.A.

    861,947        12,329,259   
   

 

 

 
      21,559,770   
   

 

 

 

Sweden—0.9%

  

Swedbank AB - A Shares

    336,631        8,376,372   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—8.3%

  

Actelion, Ltd. (a)

    110,578        12,721,687   

Nestle S.A.

    356,541        26,135,005   

Novartis AG

    10,471        962,992   

Roche Holding AG

    96,060        26,036,147   

Syngenta AG

    18,595        5,970,863   

Zurich Insurance Group AG (a)

    30,593        9,579,978   
   

 

 

 
      81,406,672   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—18.9%

  

Babcock International Group plc

    304,117        4,975,641   

BT Group plc

    2,018,123        12,527,627   

Croda International plc

    333,580        13,744,806   

Diageo plc

    31,581        905,779   

InterContinental Hotels Group plc

    233,455        9,355,041   

Johnson Matthey plc

    395,447        20,730,936   

Liberty Global plc - Class A (a)

    345,421        17,341,861   

Liberty Global plc - Series C (a) (b)

    572,676        27,665,978   

Lloyds Banking Group plc (a)

    6,190,562        7,310,226   

Prudential plc

    500,423        11,515,813   

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (a)

    945,168        12,732,420   

SABMiller plc

    374,847        19,399,194   

Saga plc

    244,573        585,498   

Unilever NV

    252,697        9,926,635   

WPP plc

    752,533        15,612,196   
   

 

 

 
      184,329,651   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

United States—6.1%

  

Autoliv, Inc.

    13,975      $ 1,494,699   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (a)

    234,826        12,365,937   

Covidien plc (a)

    354,788        36,287,717   

Schlumberger, Ltd. (b)

    112,893        9,642,191   
   

 

 

 
      59,790,544   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $919,632,805)

      937,145,914   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stock—1.3%   

Germany—1.3%

  

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
(Cost $12,763,542)

    115,194        12,461,060   
   

 

 

 
Equity Linked Security—0.9%   

Ireland—0.9%

  

Ryanair Holdings plc (HSBC Bank plc), 11/17/16 (c)
(Cost $7,085,047)

    739,900        8,765,145   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—6.2%   

Mutual Fund—4.8%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (d)

    46,918,992        46,918,992   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—1.4%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $13,594,621 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $13,900,000 U.S. Treasury Notes with a rates ranging from of 0.750% - 2.500%, maturity dates ranging from 03/31/18 - 05/15/24 with a value of $13,869,454.

    13,594,621        13,594,621   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $60,513,613)

      60,513,613   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—104.5%
(Cost $999,995,007) (e)

      1,018,885,732   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(4.5)%

      (44,050,003
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 974,835,729   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $45,139,111 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $46,918,992. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian.
(c) Security whose performance, including redemption at maturity, is linked to the price of the underlying equity security. The investment is subject to credit risk of the issuing financial institution (HSBC Bank plc) in addition to the market risk of the underlying security.
(d) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,000,040,559. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $66,894,725 and $(48,049,552), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $18,845,173 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

 

Ten Largest Industries as of
December 31, 2014

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Media

     9.9   

Pharmaceuticals

     8.2   

Internet Software & Services

     8.0   

Chemicals

     7.4   

Insurance

     7.3   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     6.3   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     4.8   

Beverages

     4.7   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     4.2   

Machinery

     4.2   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Belgium

   $ —         $ 37,613,236      $ —         $ 37,613,236   

Brazil

     1,681,596         —          —           1,681,596   

China

     57,515,827         62,154,388        —           119,670,215   

Denmark

     —           1,389,313        —           1,389,313   

France

     —           59,956,762        —           59,956,762   

Germany

     —           110,049,017        —           110,049,017   

Hong Kong

     —           41,009,210        —           41,009,210   

Italy

     —           5,446,507        —           5,446,507   

Japan

     —           141,626,812        —           141,626,812   

Mexico

     27,994,663         —          —           27,994,663   

Netherlands

     —           31,648,068        —           31,648,068   

South Korea

     —           3,597,506        —           3,597,506   

Spain

     3,983,866         17,575,904        —           21,559,770   

Sweden

     —           8,376,372        —           8,376,372   

Switzerland

     —           81,406,672        —           81,406,672   

United Kingdom

     45,007,839         139,321,812        —           184,329,651   

United States

     58,295,845         1,494,699        —           59,790,544   

Total Common Stocks

     194,479,636         742,666,278        —           937,145,914   

Total Preferred Stock*

     —           12,461,060        —           12,461,060   

Total Equity Linked Security*

     8,765,145         —          —           8,765,145   

Short-Term Investments

          

Mutual Fund

     46,918,992         —          —           46,918,992   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           13,594,621        —           13,594,621   

Total Short-Term Investments

     46,918,992         13,594,621        —           60,513,613   

Total Investments

   $ 250,163,773       $ 768,721,959      $ —         $ 1,018,885,732   
                                    
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (46,918,992   $ —         $ (46,918,992

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,018,885,732   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     95,370   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     3,448,692   

Fund shares sold

     181,516   

Dividends

     839,042   

Prepaid expenses

     2,517   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,023,452,869   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     46,918,992   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     827,612   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     629,505   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     14,019   

Other expenses

     227,012   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     48,617,140   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 974,835,729   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 970,519,272   

Undistributed net investment income

     7,651,431   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (22,171,492

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     18,836,518   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 974,835,729   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 974,834,746   

Class B

     983   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     97,054,996   

Class B

     98   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 10.04   

Class B

     10.03   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $999,995,007.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $45,139,111.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $97,783.

Statement of Operations

 

Period Ended December 31, 2014(a)

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (b)

   $ 11,124,583   

Securities lending income

     36,350   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     11,160,933   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     4,938,820   

Administration fees

     15,710   

Custodian and accounting fees

     315,045   

Distribution and service fees—Class B (c)

     0   

Audit and tax services

     53,787   

Legal

     58,563   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     28,769   

Shareholder reporting

     42,000   

Insurance

     3,571   

Miscellaneous

     4,988   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     5,461,253   

Less broker commission recapture

     (4,566
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     5,456,687   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     5,704,246   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     (21,137,558

Futures contracts

     (1,019,622

Foreign currency transactions

     1,932,873   
  

 

 

 

Net realized loss

     (20,224,307
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     18,890,725   

Foreign currency transactions

     (54,207
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     18,836,518   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (1,387,789
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 4,316,457   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations of the Portfolio was April 29, 2014.
(b) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $854,339.
(c) Distribution and service fees paid during the period amounted to less than $1.00.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Period Ended
December 31,
2014(a)
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

  

From Operations

  

Net investment income

   $ 5,704,246   

Net realized loss

     (20,224,307

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     18,836,518   
  

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     4,316,457   
  

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     970,519,272   
  

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     974,835,729   

Net Assets

  

Beginning of period

     0   
  

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 974,835,729   
  

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

  

End of period

   $ 7,651,431   
  

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Period Ended
December 31, 2014
 
     Shares     Value  

Class A(a)

    

Sales

     98,371,303      $ 983,894,348   

Redemptions

     (1,316,307     (13,376,076
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     97,054,996      $ 970,518,272   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B(b)

    

Sales

     98      $ 1,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     98      $ 1,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 970,519,272   
    

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations of the Portfolio and Class A was April 29, 2014.
(b) Commencement of operations of Class B was November 12, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Period Ended
December 31,

2014(a)
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.00   
  

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

  

Net investment income (b)

     0.06   

Net realized and unrealized loss on investments

     (0.02
  

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.04   
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.04   
  

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     0.40  (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.83  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.86  (e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     33  (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 974.8   
     Class B  
     Period Ended
December 31,
2014(f)
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.15   
  

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

  

Net investment loss (b)

     (0.00 )(g) 

Net realized and unrealized loss on investments

     (0.12
  

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.12
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.03   
  

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     (1.18 )(d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.29  (e) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets (%)

     (0.04 )(e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     33  (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 0.0  (h) 

 

(a) Commencement of operations of the Portfolio and Class A was April 29, 2014.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Commencement of operations of Class B was November 12, 2014.
(g) Net investment income (loss) was less than $0.01.
(h) Net assets, end of period rounds to less than $0.1 million.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Met/Artisan International Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) (commenced operations on April 29, 2014), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Class B commenced operations on November 12, 2014. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, broker commission recapture and passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $13,594,621, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the period ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the period ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 29, 2014 through May 7, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $699,968,700 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the period ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized losses in the amount of $1,019,622 which are shown under Net realized loss on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the period ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 1,269,195,494       $ 0       $ 308,655,010   

During the period ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $83,995,996 in purchases of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the period ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$4,938,820      0.750   ALL

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement,

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

There were no distributions paid for the period ending December 31, 2014.

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Other
Accumulated
Capital Losses
    Total  
$7,652,290    $       $ 18,804,126       $ (22,125,940   $ 4,330,476   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had short-term accumulated capital losses of $22,125,940.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Artisan International Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Met/Artisan International Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Met/Artisan International Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations, the statement of changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the period April 29, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian, and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedure. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Met/Artisan International Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for the period April 29, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Managed by Eaton Vance Management

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio returned 1.01% and 0.74%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index1, returned 1.60%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Following a typical “clip-the-coupon” type year in calendar year 2013, where leveraged loans, as measured by the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index (the “Index”), returned 5.29%, loans eked out a more modest 1.60% return in calendar year 2014. At mid-year, June 30, 2014, loans were on pace to produce a similar return experience to 2013, but loan prices retreated in the final six months of 2014 as technical conditions weighed on loan performance. Decomposing the 1.60% calendar year return, 4.58% was attributed to coupon income, while price declines represented -2.98%.

Technical conditions in the leveraged loan market, which were favorable at the beginning of the period, deteriorated in the second half of 2014, as loan supply growth outstripped demand. Total outstanding loans for the Index grew from $682 billion as of December 31, 2013 to a record $832 billion as of December 31, 2014. Alternatively, demand from retail investors, which was robust going into 2014, went from net inflows to net outflows in April 2014 for the first time in nearly two years, and remained in net redemptions for the remainder of 2014. Investor expectations of rising interest rates in 2014 did not materialize as rates actually fell across the longer end of the yield curve, with strong investor demand for high quality, longer-term fixed income securities. Helping to partially offset the retail redemptions were robust production in collateralized loan obligations and net inflows from the institutional investor channel.

Issuer fundamentals remained strong during the period, with continued robust operating performance, as measured by quarter-over-quarter earnings growth and strong cash flow and interest coverage ratios. The trailing-12-month default rate by principal edged up from 2.1% to 3.2% over the period, with the increase attributed to the default of Energy Future Holdings (formerly TXU Corp.), a widely anticipated default which occurred during the second quarter 2014. Excluding the Energy Future Holdings default from the 3.2% total, the default rate finished the period at a scant 0.3%.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Relative to the benchmark, the Portfolio maintains a greater focus on higher-quality loans. During the period, lower quality CCC loans were the strongest-performing loan group by a meaningful margin, outperforming the broader leveraged loan market, 6.01% vs. 1.60%. The Portfolio’s consistent underweight to this loan group detracted from relative performance. While delivering lower overall credit risk compared to the benchmark, the Portfolio’s quality bias also contributed to lower coupon income compared to the overall benchmark, with the benchmark’s yield advantage serving as a relative headwind to performance.

With respect to individual loan positions, the Portfolio’s underexposure to distressed firm Energy Future Holdings, which defaulted in the second quarter 2014, helped relative performance. Additionally, the Portfolio’s underweights to a number of oil-related issuers also contributed to relative performance given the steep decline in oil prices during the period. Detracting from relative performance results were overweight positions in post-secondary education provider Education Management and weight management services company Weight Watchers as well as not owning distressed loans of educational content and services provider Cengage Learning, which rallied during the period.

The Portfolio employs a rigorous, bottom-up credit research process where loan selection drives Portfolio performance. That said, looking at the impact of performance results by industry, select industry exposures had a meaningful impact on relative performance. A modest underweight to the oil & gas industry, which was the worst-performing industry during the period by a wide margin, was beneficial to relative performance, as steep oil price declines weighed on performance. An underweight to the utilities industry, namely the avoidance of its largest constituent, Energy Future Holdings, also aided results. Detracting from relative performance was an underweight to the publishing industry, which was the strongest-performing industry during the period, and an overweight to the steel industry, which lagged the broader loan market.

The cornerstones of the strategy’s investment philosophy are intense, internal credit research and broad diversification. The Portfolio held 445 issuer positions across 35 industries as of December 31, 2014. Important to note, we believe the optimal risk/return profile can be achieved predominately through interest income realized through investments of higher quality loans, rather than primarily seeking the capital gains associated with distressed loans. As of the end of the calendar year 2014, the Portfolio maintained a sizeable overweight position relative to the Index in BB loans (42.3% vs. 36.2%) and minimal exposure to the more distressed loan categories rated below B (0.5% vs. 5.3%). The Portfolio’s higher quality positioning was also exhibited in its average loan price of $97.37 vs. a $95.92 average loan price for the Index as of December 31, 2014.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Managed by Eaton Vance Management

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Given the floating-rate nature of the asset class, the Portfolio is exposed to minimal interest rate risk as the loans in the Portfolio reset their coupons every 60 days on average as of December 31, 2014, resulting in a portfolio duration of roughly 0.16 years for the period.

Scott H. Page

Craig P. Russ

Andrew N. Sveen

Portfolio Managers

Eaton Vance Management

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE S&P/LSTA LEVERAGED LOAN INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio            

Class A

       1.01           3.91   

Class B

       0.74           3.64   
S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index        1.60           4.63   

1 The Standard & Poor’s/Loan Syndications and Trading Association (S&P/LSTA) Leveraged Loan Index is a weekly total return index that uses mark-to-market pricing to calculate market value change. The Index tracks the current outstanding balance and spread over LIBOR for fully funded term loans. The facilities included represent a broad cross section of leveraged loans syndicated in the U.S., including dollar-denominated loans to overseas issuers.

2 Inception date of the Class A and Class B shares is 4/30/2010. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Industries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Healthcare-Services      7.3   
Retail      6.4   
Commercial Services      5.9   
Food      4.9   
Chemicals      4.6   
Software      4.6   
Media      4.5   
Telecommunications      4.5   
Diversified Financial Services      3.6   
Healthcare-Products      3.4   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 995.20         $ 3.42   
   Hypothetical*      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.78         $ 3.47   

Class B

   Actual      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 993.20         $ 4.67   
   Hypothetical*      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.52         $ 4.74   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—96.8% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Advertising—0.4%

  

inVentiv Health, Inc.

   

Incremental Term Loan B3, 7.750%, 05/15/18

    1,543,450      $ 1,539,592   

Term Loan B4, 7.750%, 05/15/18

    1,681,243        1,675,989   
   

 

 

 
      3,215,581   
   

 

 

 

Aerospace/Defense—2.3%

  

BE Aerospace, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 12/16/21

    1,000,000        1,000,000   

DAE Aviation Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B1, 5.000%, 11/02/18

    1,167,546        1,164,627   

Ducommun, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 06/28/17

    236,842        237,434   

Flying Fortress, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 06/30/17

    2,729,167        2,701,875   

Silver II U.S. Holdings LLC
Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/13/19

    5,460,287        5,083,757   

Standard Aero, Ltd.
Term Loan B2, 5.000%, 11/02/18

    304,908        304,146   

Transdigm, Inc.

   

Term Loan C, 3.750%, 02/28/20

    8,715,197        8,580,835   

Term Loan D, 3.750%, 06/04/21

    1,791,000        1,761,449   
   

 

 

 
      20,834,123   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—1.1%

  

CS Intermediate Holdco 2 LLC
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 04/04/21

    696,500        689,100   

Dayco Products LLC
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 12/12/19

    997,487        991,876   

Federal-Mogul Holdings Corp.
Term Loan C, 4.750%, 04/15/21

    4,289,250        4,263,785   

MPG Holdco I, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 10/20/21

    2,655,185        2,645,892   

Visteon Corp.
Delayed Draw Term Loan B, 3.500%, 04/09/21

    1,169,125        1,156,703   
   

 

 

 
      9,747,356   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—1.0%

  

Chrysler Group LLC
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 12/31/18

    4,242,938        4,215,095   

Term Loan B, 3.500%, 05/24/17

    4,768,235        4,762,275   
   

 

 

 
      8,977,370   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment —1.7%

  

Affinia Group Intermediate Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 4.750%, 04/27/20

    430,258        426,897   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)
2nd Lien Term Loan, 4.750%, 04/30/19

    7,300,000        7,283,575   

INA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 05/15/20

    1,025,000        1,026,709   

TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/02/21

    1,840,750        1,817,740   

Auto Parts & Equipment —(Continued)

  

Tower Automotive Holdings USA LLC
Term Loan, 4.000%, 04/23/20

    1,531,645      1,507,713   

Veyance Technologies, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 09/08/17

    3,090,938        3,089,006   
   

 

 

 
      15,151,640   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.2%

  

Flavors Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.750%, 04/03/20

    790,000        756,425   

Virtuoso U.S. LLC
Term Loan, 4.750%, 02/11/21

    720,184        715,683   
   

 

 

 
      1,472,108   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.2%

  

Ikaria, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 02/12/21

    2,253,169        2,244,016   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.3%

  

CPG International, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 09/30/20

    617,188        612,559   

Quikrete Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.000%, 09/28/20

    945,346        934,710   

Summit Materials Cos. I LLC
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 01/30/19

    438,809        438,992   

Tank Holding Corp.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/09/19

    767,915        755,437   
   

 

 

 
      2,741,698   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.8%

  

Armor Holding II LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 06/26/20

    650,706        647,241   

Corporate Capital Trust, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 05/15/19

    1,167,320        1,153,429   

Guggenheim Partners LLC
Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/22/20

    1,736,856        1,724,915   

Medley LLC
Term Loan, 6.500%, 06/15/19

    496,591        494,108   

NXT Capital, Inc.
Incremental Term Loan, 6.250%, 09/04/18

    124,058        124,678   

Term Loan B, 6.250%, 09/04/18

    740,625        744,328   

RCS Capital Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.500%, 04/29/19

    1,911,123        1,786,900   

Sheridan Investment Partners II L.P.
Term Loan A, 4.250%, 12/16/20

    101,178        81,954   

Term Loan B, 4.250%, 12/16/20

    727,338        589,144   

Term Loan M, 4.250%, 12/16/20

    37,734        30,565   
   

 

 

 
      7,377,262   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—4.6%

  

AIlnex (Luxembourg) & Cy SCA
Term Loan B1, 4.500%, 10/03/19

    925,597        918,655   

AIlnex USA, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 4.500%, 10/03/19

    480,248        476,646   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Chemicals—(Continued)

  

Arysta LifeScience SPC LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 05/29/20

    2,216,246      $ 2,207,011   

Axalta Coating Systems U.S. Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.750%, 02/01/20

    4,731,147        4,621,739   

AZ Chem U.S., Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 06/12/21

    653,973        646,207   

Chemtura Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 08/27/16

    283,095        283,213   

ECO Services Operations LLC
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 10/08/21

    400,000        396,000   

Emerald Performance Materials LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 08/01/21

    498,750        488,567   

Flint Group GmbH
Term Loan C, 4.750%, 09/07/21

    141,506        137,791   

Flint Group U.S. LLC
1st Lien Term Loan B2, 4.750%, 09/07/21

    855,994        833,524   

Gemini HDPE LLC
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 08/07/21

    448,876        434,288   

Huntsman International LLC
Incremental Term Loan, 3.750%, 08/12/21

    2,050,000        2,020,531   

Ineos U.S. Finance LLC
Term Loan, 3.750%, 05/04/18

    7,981,694        7,769,325   

Kronos Worldwide, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 02/18/20

    322,563        322,159   

MacDermid, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.000%, 06/07/20

    2,309,763        2,270,065   

Minerals Technologies, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 05/09/21

    1,999,952        1,984,952   

Omnova Solutions, Inc.
Term Loan B1, 4.250%, 05/31/18

    1,754,406        1,736,862   

Orion Engineered Carbons GmbH
Term Loan, 5.000%, 07/25/21

    573,563        575,714   

OXEA Finance LLC
Term Loan B2, 4.250%, 01/15/20

    2,153,250        2,067,120   

PQ Corp.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 08/07/17

    1,835,540        1,802,500   

Sonneborn LLC
Term Loan, 5.500%, 12/10/20

    382,500        383,456   

Sonneborn Refined Products B.V.
Term Loan, 5.500%, 12/10/20

    67,500        67,669   

Tata Chemicals North America, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 08/07/20

    1,157,375        1,138,568   

Tronox Pigments (Netherlands) B.V.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 03/19/20

    4,203,806        4,146,004   

Unifrax Corp.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 11/28/18

    272,705        270,546   

Univar, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 06/30/17

    3,913,821        3,797,107   
   

 

 

 
      41,796,219   
   

 

 

 

Coal—1.0%

  

Alpha Natural Resources LLC
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 05/22/20

    2,726,438        2,211,822   

Arch Coal, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.250%, 05/16/18

    2,780,124        2,311,673   

Coal—(Continued)

  

Murray Energy Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 12/05/19

    1,463,938      1,413,066   

Patriot Coal Corp.
Term Loan, 9.000%, 12/15/18

    990,000        946,688   

Walter Energy, Inc.
Term Loan B, 7.250%, 04/02/18

    2,236,381        1,740,184   
   

 

 

 
      8,623,433   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—5.9%

  

Acosta Holdco, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 09/26/21

    3,350,000        3,349,163   

BakerCorp International, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 02/14/20

    1,737,871        1,603,186   

Brickman Group, Ltd. LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/18/20

    891,011        869,572   

Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 01/30/20

    1,473,684        1,453,421   

Ceridian LLC
Term Loan, 4.500%, 09/15/20

    605,807        598,235   

ClientLogic Corp.
Extended Term Loan, 7.479%, 01/30/17

    2,394,165        2,334,311   

Education Management LLC
Term Loan C3, 9.250%, 03/30/18

    2,018,684        913,454   

Garda World Security Corp.
Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.000%, 11/06/20

    729,040        713,548   

Term Loan B, 4.000%, 11/06/20

    2,849,884        2,789,324   

Genpact International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 08/30/19

    1,519,116        1,505,824   

Hertz Corp. (The)
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 03/11/18

    1,764,000        1,741,214   

Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 03/11/18

    2,503,410        2,444,998   

IAP Worldwide Services, Inc.
2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.000%, 07/18/19 (b)

    341,473        273,178   

Revolver, 0.000%, 07/18/18 (c)

    248,024        248,024   

Interactive Data Corp.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 05/02/21

    1,641,750        1,633,952   

KAR Auction Services, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 03/11/21

    4,663,098        4,607,724   

Language Line LLC
1st Lien Term Loan B, 6.250%, 06/20/16

    1,349,782        1,339,378   

Laureate Education, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 06/15/18

    6,753,340        6,466,323   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan B1, 3.500%, 08/17/20

    2,689,575        2,659,318   

McGraw-Hill Global Education Holdings LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 03/22/19

    672,638        670,431   

Merrill Communications LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 03/08/18

    628,341        628,341   

Moneygram International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 03/27/20

    910,044        844,066   

Monitronics International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 03/23/18

    2,129,605        2,108,309   

Rent-A-Center, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 03/19/21

    545,875        534,275   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Services—(Continued)

  

ServiceMaster Co.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/01/21

    2,418,938      $ 2,379,315   

SGS Cayman L.P.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 04/23/21

    202,478        201,465   

SunEdison Semiconductor B.V.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.500%, 05/27/19

    845,750        833,064   

Truven Health Analytics, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 06/06/19

    1,588,560        1,546,860   

U.S. Security Holdings, Inc.
Delayed Draw Term Loan, 6.250%, 07/28/17

    110,962        110,407   

Term Loan, 6.250%, 07/28/17

    566,863        564,029   

Weight Watchers International, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 04/02/20

    7,049,438        5,467,720   
   

 

 

 
      53,432,429   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—0.3%

  

Blue Coat Systems, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.000%, 05/31/19

    2,468,756        2,410,123   
   

 

 

 

Computers—2.7%

  

Dell, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 04/29/20

    9,604,241        9,591,381   

Term Loan C, 3.750%, 10/29/18

    1,023,462        1,020,354   

Expert Global Solutions, Inc.
Term Loan B, 8.522%, 04/03/18

    626,946        624,073   

Sirius Computer Solutions, Inc.
Term Loan B, 7.000%, 11/30/18

    428,077        429,147   

SkillSoft Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 04/28/21

    2,244,375        2,207,343   

Smart Technologies ULC
Term Loan, 10.500%, 01/31/18

    566,406        560,742   

SunGard Data Systems, Inc.
Term Loan C, 3.907%, 02/28/17

    2,213,819        2,205,037   

Term Loan E, 4.000%, 03/08/20

    5,949,290        5,904,670   

TNS, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 02/14/20

    1,492,360        1,492,982   
   

 

 

 
      24,035,729   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.2%

  

Fairmount Minerals, Ltd.
Term Loan B1, 3.813%, 03/15/17

    395,000        365,375   

Term Loan B2, 4.500%, 09/05/19

    1,999,688        1,821,381   
   

 

 

 
      2,186,756   
   

 

 

 

Cosmetics/Personal Care—0.1%

  

Revlon Consumer Products Corp.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 10/08/19

    1,188,000        1,171,294   
   

 

 

 

Distribution/Wholesale—0.2%

  

ABC Supply Co., Inc.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 04/16/20

    1,731,856        1,682,065   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.0%

  

PFS Holding Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 01/31/21

    248,125      207,184   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services—0.0%

  

WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems LLC
Term Loan, 4.500%, 02/21/19

    294,750        291,434   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—3.6%

  

Altisource Solutions S.a.r.l.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 12/09/20

    1,798,766        1,403,037   

American Beacon Advisors, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 11/22/19

    349,495        345,126   

Citco Funding LLC
Term Loan, 4.250%, 06/29/18

    2,421,277        2,414,214   

Clipper Acquisitions Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.000%, 02/06/20

    1,497,109        1,441,866   

Delos Finance S.a.r.l.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 03/06/21

    2,675,000        2,659,397   

Grosvenor Capital Management Holdings LLP
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 01/04/21

    4,286,712        4,211,695   

Hamilton Lane Advisors LLC
Term Loan, 4.000%, 02/28/18

    507,516        501,172   

Harbourvest Partners LLC
Term Loan, 3.250%, 02/04/21

    823,974        798,225   

Home Loan Servicing Solutions, Ltd.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 06/26/20

    1,034,250        978,659   

La Frontera Generation LLC
Term Loan, 4.500%, 09/30/20

    2,817,503        2,780,523   

LPL Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 03/29/19

    3,411,731        3,364,479   

MIP Delaware LLC
Term Loan B1, 4.000%, 03/09/20

    517,614        513,732   

Nord Anglia Education Finance LLC
Term Loan, 4.500%, 03/31/21

    920,375        906,569   

Ocwen Financial Corp.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 02/15/18

    2,173,937        2,047,125   

PGX Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.250%, 09/29/20

    571,406        573,549   

Shield Finance Co. S.a.r.l.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 01/29/21

    744,375        742,514   

TransUnion LLC
Term Loan, 4.000%, 04/09/21

    4,565,500        4,511,285   

Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 12/11/20

    693,000        691,268   

Walter Investment Management Corp.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 12/11/20

    2,241,334        2,028,407   
   

 

 

 
      32,912,842   
   

 

 

 

Electric—2.4%

  

Calpine Construction Finance Co. L.P.
Term Loan B1, 3.000%, 05/03/20

    1,009,625        978,705   

Term Loan B2, 3.250%, 01/31/22

    1,012,749        984,055   

Calpine Corp.
Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.000%, 10/30/20

    371,250        366,899   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—(Continued)

  

Calpine Corp.
Term Loan B1, 4.000%, 04/01/18

    3,946,250      $ 3,916,653   

Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 04/01/18

    868,500        862,203   

Term Loan B3, 4.000%, 10/09/19

    782,000        773,691   

Dynegy Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 04/23/20

    4,020,898        3,980,689   

EFS Cogen Holdings I LLP
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 12/17/20

    547,462        540,619   

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Co. LLC
Term Loan, 4.250%, 06/19/16

    1,725,000        1,727,696   

Equipower Resources Holdings LLC
Term Loan C, 4.250%, 12/31/19

    566,378        564,491   

Granite Acquisition, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 10/15/21

    2,490,421        2,515,326   

Term Loan C, 5.000%, 10/15/21

    109,579        110,674   

NRG Energy, Inc.
Term Loan B, 2.750%, 07/02/18

    4,006,021        3,935,916   
   

 

 

 
      21,257,617   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.8%

  

Carros Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 09/30/21

    349,125        346,070   

Electrical Components International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.750%, 05/28/21

    848,250        849,310   

Orbotech, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 08/06/20

    448,875        445,508   

Pelican Products, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.250%, 04/10/20

    1,609,465        1,601,418   

Tallgrass Operations LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 11/13/18

    1,677,249        1,641,608   

Zebra Technologies Corp.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 10/27/21

    2,125,000        2,141,603   
   

 

 

 
      7,025,517   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—2.2%

  

Allflex Holdings III, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/17/20

    617,188        604,844   

CDW LLC
Term Loan, 3.250%, 04/29/20

    3,267,567        3,180,349   

CompuCom Systems, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 05/11/20

    2,175,219        2,078,694   

Eagle Parent, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 05/16/18

    2,446,571        2,419,047   

EIG Investors Corp.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 11/09/19

    4,898,000        4,879,632   

Excelitas Technologies Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.000%, 10/31/20

    1,831,925        1,822,765   

Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
Term Loan B, 5.750%, 04/03/19

    351,500        349,959   

Sensata Technologies B.V.
Term Loan, 3.250%, 05/12/19

    1,701,204        1,701,470   

Sensus USA, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 05/09/17

    2,063,755        2,022,480   

Vantiv LLC
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/13/21

    895,500        889,478   
   

 

 

 
      19,948,718   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.6%

  

EnergySolutions LLC
Term Loan, 6.750%, 05/29/20

    845,750      846,279   

Floatel International, Ltd.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 06/27/20

    1,042,125        849,332   

Seadrill Partners Finco LLC
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 02/21/21

    3,887,859        3,036,418   

Seventy Seven Operating LLC
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/25/21

    497,500        421,631   
   

 

 

 
      5,153,660   
   

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction—0.1%

  

Brock Holdings III, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 03/16/17

    795,006        749,293   
   

 

 

 

Entertainment—1.8%

  

Affinity Gaming LLC
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 11/09/17

    388,333        385,421   

Amaya Holdings B.V.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 08/01/21

    2,718,188        2,702,558   

Aufinco Pty, Ltd.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.000%, 05/29/20

    443,250        433,277   

Dave & Buster’s, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/25/20

    141,981        141,449   

National CineMedia LLC
Term Loan, 2.920%, 11/26/19

    500,000        477,083   

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 08/13/20

    693,357        686,208   

Scientific Games International, Inc.
Term Loan B1, 6.000%, 10/18/20

    3,514,500        3,472,765   

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.000%, 05/14/20

    2,937,796        2,790,906   

Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 05/14/20

    270,875        261,620   

SGMS Escrow Corp.
Incremental Term Loan B2, 6.000%, 10/01/21

    875,000        864,062   

Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 12/20/18

    2,006,854        2,005,183   

WMG Acquisition Corp.
Term Loan, 3.750%, 07/01/20

    2,374,460        2,291,354   
   

 

 

 
      16,511,886   
   

 

 

 

Environmental Control—0.5%

  

Darling International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 01/06/21

    744,375        741,584   

Tervita Corp.
Term Loan, 6.250%, 05/15/18

    3,756,962        3,487,712   
   

 

 

 
      4,229,296   
   

 

 

 

Food—4.9%

  

AdvancePierre Foods, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.750%, 07/10/17

    3,231,829        3,215,670   

Albertson’s Holdings LLC
Term Loan B3, 4.000%, 08/25/19

    2,225,000        2,218,325   

Term Loan B4, 4.500%, 08/25/21

    900,000        901,688   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Food—(Continued)

  

American Seafoods Group LLC
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 03/18/18

    386,228      $ 366,917   

Aramark Services, Inc.
Extended Synthetic LOC 2, 3.671%, 07/26/16

    154,267        152,431   

Extended Synthetic LOC 3, 3.671%, 07/26/16

    160,084        158,179   

Blue Buffalo Co., Ltd.
Term Loan B3, 3.750%, 08/08/19

    1,222,054        1,210,598   

Centerplate, Inc.
Term Loan A, 4.750%, 11/26/19

    467,716        460,700   

Charger OpCo B.V.
Term Loan B1, 3.500%, 07/23/21

    2,175,000        2,126,063   

Clearwater Seafoods L.P.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 06/24/19

    443,250        442,419   

CSM Bakery Solutions LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 07/03/20

    987,505        970,223   

Del Monte Foods, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 02/18/21

    1,517,303        1,395,919   

Diamond Foods, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 08/20/18

    1,215,813        1,207,201   

Dole Food Co., Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 11/01/18

    2,788,750        2,764,348   

H.J. Heinz Co.
Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 06/05/20

    7,062,991        7,033,955   

High Liner Foods, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 04/24/21

    868,438        858,668   

JBS USA Holdings, Inc.
Incremental Term Loan, 3.750%, 09/18/20

    1,580,000        1,560,724   

Term Loan, 3.750%, 05/25/18

    4,960,810        4,889,375   

NPC International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 12/28/18

    2,099,956        2,047,457   

Pinnacle Foods Finance LLC
Incremental Term Loan H, 3.000%, 04/29/20

    691,250        671,895   

Post Holdings, Inc.
Incremental Term Loan, 3.750%, 06/02/21

    547,250        546,077   

Supervalu, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 03/21/19

    4,110,864        4,047,918   

U.S. Foods, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.500%, 03/31/19

    4,828,969        4,807,842   
   

 

 

 
      44,054,592   
   

 

 

 

Food Service—0.1%

  

OSI Restaurant Partners LLC
Term Loan, 3.500%, 10/25/19

    596,250        590,660   
   

 

 

 

Hand/Machine Tools—0.2%

  

Apex Tool Group LLC
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 01/31/20

    1,677,674        1,631,539   

Milacron LLC
Term Loan, 4.000%, 03/28/20

    517,093        504,165   
   

 

 

 
      2,135,704   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—3.4%

  

Alere, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 06/30/17

    5,094,668      5,064,951   

Biomet, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.670%, 07/25/17

    6,931,541        6,910,601   

BSN Medical, Inc.
Term Loan B1B, 4.000%, 08/28/19

    544,143        544,143   

CeramTec Acquisition Corp.
Term Loan B2, 4.250%, 08/30/20

    31,275        30,962   

CHG Healthcare Services, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 11/19/19

    832,423        824,619   

Convatec, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/22/16

    3,099,203        3,072,085   

DJO Finance LLC
Term Loan, 4.250%, 09/15/17

    2,749,305        2,694,319   

Faenza Acquisition GmbH
Term Loan B1, 4.250%, 08/30/20

    315,262        312,109   

Term Loan B3, 4.250%, 08/30/20

    94,239        93,296   

Halyard Health, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 11/01/21

    675,000        676,582   

Hologic, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 08/01/19

    1,065,508        1,061,845   

Kinetic Concepts, Inc.
Term Loan E1, 4.000%, 05/04/18

    4,812,942        4,768,822   

Mallinckrodt International Finance S.A.
Incremental Term Loan B1, 3.500%, 03/19/21

    1,122,188        1,106,407   

Term Loan B, 3.250%, 03/19/21

    1,662,438        1,631,613   

Sage Products Holdings III LLC
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 12/13/19

    1,137,209        1,135,788   

Tecomet, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 12/05/21

    1,100,000        1,061,500   
   

 

 

 
      30,989,642   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—7.3%

   

Alliance Healthcare Services, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 06/03/19

    1,182,005        1,170,185   

Amsurg Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan B, 3.750%, 07/16/21

    597,000        594,761   

Ardent Medical Services, Inc.
Term Loan, 6.750%, 07/02/18

    3,677,223        3,685,269   

ATI Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.250%, 12/20/19

    416,838        416,578   

CareCore National LLC
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 03/05/21

    448,869        443,820   

Community Health Systems, Inc.
Term Loan D, 4.250%, 01/27/21

    7,988,828        7,983,283   

Term Loan E, 3.486%, 01/25/17

    2,013,006        2,004,559   

CPI Buyer LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.500%, 08/18/21

    1,022,438        1,007,101   

DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 06/24/21

    3,184,000        3,158,413   

Emdeon Business Services LLC
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 11/02/18

    2,396,326        2,359,381   

Envision Healthcare Corp.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 05/25/18

    6,826,679        6,764,815   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Healthcare-Services—(Continued)

   

Gentiva Health Services, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.500%, 10/18/19

    2,427,994      $ 2,431,029   

HCA, Inc.
Extended Term Loan A2, 2.669%, 05/02/16

    812,500        809,656   

Extended Term Loan B4, 3.005%, 05/01/18

    4,993,336        4,961,349   

Iasis Healthcare LLC
Term Loan B2, 4.500%, 05/03/18

    1,514,063        1,502,708   

IMS Health, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 03/17/21

    3,173,600        3,111,451   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 04/09/21

    1,616,875        1,572,411   

LHP Hospital Group, Inc.
Term Loan, 9.000%, 07/03/18

    841,826        812,362   

Millennium Laboratories, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 04/16/21

    3,184,000        3,173,056   

MMM Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 9.750%, 12/12/17

    1,294,138        1,255,314   

MSO of Puerto Rico, Inc.
Term Loan, 9.750%, 12/12/17

    940,853        931,445   

National Mentor Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 01/31/21

    570,688        558,204   

Onex Carestream Finance L.P.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 06/07/19

    2,557,064        2,545,877   

Opal Acquisition, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 11/27/20

    1,757,250        1,742,424   

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 06/30/21

    3,034,750        2,991,125   

Radnet Management, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.270%, 10/10/18

    1,713,309        1,704,208   

Regionalcare Hospital Partners, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.000%, 04/19/19

    797,750        795,756   

Select Medical Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/01/18

    1,650,000        1,608,750   

Steward Health Care System LLC
Term Loan B, 6.750%, 04/12/20

    1,329,750        1,318,514   

U.S. Renal Care, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/03/19

    2,103,159        2,074,240   
   

 

 

 
      65,488,044   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.0%

   

ARG IH Corp.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 11/15/20

    272,250        271,399   
   

 

 

 

Home Furnishings—0.2%

   

Tempur-Pedic International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 03/18/20

    2,006,315        1,981,237   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—0.8%

   

1011778 B.C. Unlimited Liability Co.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 12/12/21

    6,525,000        6,527,910   

CEC Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 02/14/21

    794,000        775,474   
   

 

 

 
      7,303,384   
   

 

 

 

Household Products/Wares—0.8%

   

Libbey Glass, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 04/09/21

    447,750      442,153   

Polarpak, Inc.
1st Lien Canadian Borrower, 4.500%, 06/05/20

    233,565        229,769   

Prestige Brands, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.125%, 01/31/19

    178,125        178,051   

Term Loan B2, 4.500%, 09/03/21

    627,431        627,823   

Spectrum Brands, Inc.
Term Loan C, 3.500%, 09/04/19

    1,012,187        1,002,825   

Spin Holdco, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 11/14/19

    3,136,939        3,093,806   

Sun Products Corp. (The)
Term Loan, 5.500%, 03/23/20

    2,102,007        1,965,376   

WNA Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien U.S. Borrower, 4.500%, 06/07/20

    121,834        119,854   
   

 

 

 
      7,659,657   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—0.2%

   

IG Investment Holdings LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 10/31/19

    1,402,062        1,399,433   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—2.6%

   

Alliant Holdings I, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 12/20/19

    2,865,757        2,829,041   

AmWINS Group LLC
Term Loan, 5.000%, 09/06/19

    1,054,816        1,052,179   

Asurion LLC
2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.500%, 03/03/21

    1,125,000        1,122,188   

Term Loan B1, 5.000%, 05/24/19

    8,677,571        8,572,720   

Term Loan B2, 4.250%, 07/08/20

    935,750        910,017   

CGSC of Delaware Holding Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 04/16/20

    467,875        432,784   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 09/28/18

    1,839,397        1,798,010   

Cunningham Lindsey U.S., Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 12/10/19

    1,869,958        1,829,053   

Hub International, Ltd.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 10/02/20

    2,839,170        2,765,352   

USI, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 12/27/19

    2,306,622        2,267,697   
   

 

 

 
      23,579,041   
   

 

 

 

Internet—2.0%

   

Ascend Learning LLC
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 07/31/19

    1,389,500        1,382,552   

Getty Images, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 10/18/19

    6,600,399        6,116,372   

Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 05/13/21

    5,717,317        5,687,541   

RP Crown Parent LLC
Term Loan, 6.000%, 12/21/18

    3,638,918        3,386,468   

Sabre, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 02/19/19

    1,151,500        1,136,387   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Internet—(Continued)

   

SurveyMonkey.com LLC
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 02/05/19

    530,030      $ 527,698   
   

 

 

 
      18,237,018   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.5%

   

Answers Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.250%, 10/03/21

    1,125,000        1,080,000   

Dealertrack Technologies, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 02/28/21

    524,712        515,687   

Extreme Reach, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.750%, 02/07/20

    770,688        767,797   

Sutherland Global Services, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 04/23/21

    869,835        865,486   

Travelport Finance (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 09/02/21

    1,200,000        1,200,300   
   

 

 

 
      4,429,270   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—1.0%

   

Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 01/30/19

    3,149,143        3,094,033   

ClubCorp Club Operations, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.500%, 07/24/20

    425,000        419,422   

Equinox Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 01/31/20

    2,989,528        2,970,844   

SRAM LLC
Term Loan B, 4.010%, 04/10/20

    1,719,286        1,666,990   

Town Sports International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 11/16/20

    1,233,136        890,941   
   

 

 

 
      9,042,230   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—1.5%

   

Boyd Gaming Corp.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 08/14/20

    443,729        437,073   

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co.
Extended Term Loan B6, 6.985%, 03/01/17

    1,358,460        1,200,539   

CityCenter Holdings LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 10/16/20

    818,338        813,480   

Four Seasons Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 3.500%, 06/27/20

    691,250        679,585   

Golden Nugget, Inc.
Delayed Draw Term Loan, 5.500%, 11/21/19

    148,500        147,479   

Term Loan B, 5.500%, 11/21/19

    346,500        344,118   

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC
Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 10/26/20

    5,279,605        5,225,489   

La Quinta Intermediate Holdings LLC
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 04/14/21

    1,150,771        1,138,688   

MGM Resorts International
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 12/20/19

    2,450,000        2,396,406   

Playa Resorts Holding B.V.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 08/06/19

    469,063        462,027   

Sonifi Solutions, Inc.
Term Loan C, 6.750%, 03/28/18 (b)

    815,846        57,109   

Tropicana Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 11/27/20

    395,000        388,828   
   

 

 

 
      13,290,821   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—1.0%

   

Allison Transmission, Inc.
Term Loan B3, 3.750%, 08/23/19

    4,843,022      4,794,592   

Delachaux S.A.
Term Loan B2, 5.250%, 09/25/21

    575,000        573,563   

Doosan Infracore International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 05/28/21

    1,009,885        1,004,835   

Gates Global, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/05/21

    1,496,250        1,459,112   

NN, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 08/27/21

    665,357        664,941   

Paladin Brands Holding, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.750%, 08/16/19

    680,394        678,693   
   

 

 

 
      9,175,736   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Diversified—1.0%

   

Alliance Laundry Systems LLC
Term Loan, 4.250%, 12/10/18

    1,226,105        1,215,376   

CPM Acquisition Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.250%, 08/29/17

    446,728        446,728   

Gardner Denver, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/30/20

    2,130,006        2,001,874   

Interline Brands, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 03/17/21

    992,500        959,003   

Manitowoc Co., Inc. (The)
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 01/03/21

    294,875        291,926   

PRA Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 09/23/20

    2,816,925        2,785,235   

WTG Holdings III Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.750%, 01/15/21

    1,418,231        1,400,503   
   

 

 

 
      9,100,645   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.3%

   

Drillships Ocean Ventures, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 07/25/21

    1,047,375        849,683   

Stena International S.a.r.l.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 03/03/21

    1,687,250        1,493,216   
   

 

 

 
      2,342,899   
   

 

 

 

Media—4.5%

   

ALM Media Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.500%, 07/31/20

    422,344        421,288   

AMC Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 04/30/20

    2,333,438        2,306,213   

AP NMT Acquisition B.V.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.750%, 08/13/21

    448,875        442,142   

Atlantic Broadband Finance LLC
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 11/30/19

    725,539        711,935   

AVSC Holding Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 01/24/21

    446,625        444,950   

Block Communications, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.750%, 10/21/21

    224,438        223,876   

Bragg Communications, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 02/28/18

    389,000        388,271   

Cequel Communications LLC
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 02/14/19

    1,885,362        1,861,403   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Media—(Continued)

   

Charter Communications Operating LLC
Term Loan E, 3.000%, 07/01/20

    1,305,125      $ 1,281,353   

Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
Extended Term Loan E, 7.669%, 07/30/19

    425,533        409,043   

Term Loan B, 3.819%, 01/29/16

    11,163        11,048   

Term Loan D, 6.919%, 01/30/19

    1,323,104        1,249,920   

Crossmark Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 12/20/19

    1,447,839        1,420,088   

Crown Media Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 07/14/18

    618,389        612,979   

CSC Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B, 2.669%, 04/17/20

    1,911,245        1,874,453   

Cumulus Media Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 12/23/20

    4,395,366        4,260,758   

Entercom Radio LLC
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 11/23/18

    384,267        382,826   

Entravision Communications Corp.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 05/31/20

    1,996,500        1,936,605   

Gray Television, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/10/21

    244,833        241,589   

Information Resources, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 09/30/20

    1,234,375        1,232,832   

Kasima LLC
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 05/17/21

    866,176        846,688   

Media General, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/31/20

    1,447,674        1,433,498   

Mediacom Illinois LLC
Term Loan E, 3.140%, 10/23/17

    478,697        471,965   

Term Loan G, 3.750%, 06/30/21

    473,813        465,126   

MH Sub I LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 07/08/21

    395,382        392,416   

Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.000%, 07/08/21 (d)

    27,667        27,459   

Mission Broadcasting, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 10/01/20

    796,798        788,830   

Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 10/01/20

    903,582        894,546   

Numericable U.S. LLC
Term Loan B1, 4.500%, 05/21/20

    1,233,154        1,233,154   

Term Loan B2, 4.500%, 05/21/20

    1,066,846        1,066,846   

Penton Media, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.500%, 10/03/19

    592,500        589,538   

ProQuest LLC
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 10/24/21

    675,000        673,031   

Raycom TV Broadcasting LLC
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 08/04/21

    798,249        790,267   

Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.000%, 04/09/20

    466,699        455,032   

Springer Science+Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Term Loan B3, 4.750%, 08/14/20

    2,073,829        2,047,906   

Sterling Entertainment Enterprises LLC
Term Loan A, 3.170%, 12/28/17 (b)

    720,000        688,968   

TWCC Holding Corp.
2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.000%, 06/26/20

    700,000        668,500   

Media—(Continued)

   

Univision Communications, Inc.
Term Loan C4, 4.000%, 03/01/20

    4,748,190      4,653,226   

Zuffa LLC
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 02/25/20

    992,410        952,713   
   

 

 

 
      40,853,281   
   

 

 

 

Metal Fabricate/Hardware—1.4%

   

Ameriforge Group, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 12/19/19

    2,964,195        2,712,239   

JMC Steel Group, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 04/01/17

    4,897,219        4,805,396   

Rexnord LLC
1st Lien Term Loan B, 4.000%, 08/21/20

    4,517,813        4,430,845   

WireCo WorldGroup, Inc.
Term Loan, 6.000%, 02/15/17

    605,153        606,288   
   

 

 

 
      12,554,768   
   

 

 

 

Mining—1.4%

  

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty, Ltd.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/30/19

    7,072,203        6,460,755   

Neenah Foundry Co.
Term Loan, 6.750%, 04/26/17

    1,709,172        1,694,930   

Noranda Aluminum Acquisition Corp.
Term Loan B, 5.750%, 02/28/19

    972,500        933,600   

Novelis, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.750%, 03/10/17

    3,766,758        3,737,332   
   

 

 

 
      12,826,617   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.6%

  

Filtration Group Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 11/21/20

    297,000        296,629   

Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 06/30/21

    2,789,354        2,716,133   

RGIS Services LLC
Term Loan C, 5.500%, 10/18/17

    2,746,025        2,512,612   
   

 

 

 
      5,525,374   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.2%

  

Lonestar Generation LLC
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 02/20/21

    548,620        537,647   

PowerTeam Services LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 05/06/20

    262,667        256,428   

Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.250%, 05/06/20

    14,025        13,710   

TerraForm Power Operating LLC
Term Loan, 4.750%, 07/23/19

    1,218,875        1,219,257   
   

 

 

 
      2,027,042   
   

 

 

 

Office/Business Equipment—0.7%

  

Quintiles Transnational Corp.
Term Loan B3, 3.750%, 06/08/18

    6,103,597        6,042,561   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas—2.5%

  

Bronco Midstream Funding LLC
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 08/15/20

    2,547,883      $ 2,407,750   

Citgo Petroleum Corp.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 07/29/21

    972,563        970,131   

Crestwood Holdings LLC
Term Loan B1, 7.000%, 06/19/19

    1,807,385        1,707,979   

Emerald Expositions Holding, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 06/17/20

    983,721        968,965   

Fieldwood Energy LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 3.875%, 09/28/18

    1,062,187        1,009,742   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.375%, 09/30/20

    675,000        497,137   

MEG Energy Corp.
Term Loan, 3.750%, 03/31/20

    7,888,355        7,557,045   

Obsidian Natural Gas Trust
Term Loan, 7.000%, 11/02/15

    738,413        732,875   

Oxbow Carbon LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/19/19

    913,734        842,920   

Paragon Offshore Finance Co.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 07/18/21

    847,875        703,736   

Samson Investments Co.
2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 09/25/18

    825,000        652,437   

Sheridan Production Partners I LLC
Term Loan B2, 4.250%, 10/01/19

    1,913,370        1,674,199   

Term Loan B2 I-A, 4.250%, 10/01/19

    253,537        221,845   

Term Loan B2 I-M, 4.250%, 10/01/19

    154,862        135,504   

Southcross Energy Partners L.P.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 08/04/21

    497,500        470,138   

Southcross Holdings Borrower L.P.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 08/04/21

    398,000        356,210   

TPF II Power LLC
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 10/02/21

    1,350,000        1,346,062   
   

 

 

 
      22,254,675   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—1.5%

  

Berry Plastics Holding Corp.
Term Loan E, 3.750%, 01/06/21

    3,373,000        3,295,701   

Crown Americas LLC
Term Loan B, 0.000%, 10/22/21 (d)

    1,525,000        1,529,194   

Hilex Poly Co. LLC
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 12/05/21

    1,450,000        1,435,500   

Multi Packaging Solutions, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 09/30/20

    347,375        337,171   

Reynolds Group Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/01/18

    5,341,545        5,257,127   

Signode Industrial Group U.S., Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 05/01/21

    1,312,500        1,263,281   

TricorBraun, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.010%, 05/03/18

    578,125        571,380   
   

 

 

 
      13,689,354   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—2.7%

  

Akorn, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 04/16/21

    1,122,188        1,115,174   

Alkermes, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 09/18/19

    367,481        365,644   

Pharmaceuticals—(Continued)

  

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 7.250%, 11/12/20

    600,000      597,000   

Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
Term Loan, 5.001%, 11/01/19

    1,093,301        1,093,073   

Auris Luxembourg II S.A.
Term Loan B, 0.000%, 12/31/21 (c)

    750,000        749,063   

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.250%, 04/26/17

    524,787        524,349   

DPx Holdings B.V.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 03/11/21

    2,935,250        2,857,284   

Endo Luxembourg Finance Co. I S.a r.l.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 02/28/21

    421,813        409,685   

Impax Laboratories, Inc.
Term Loan B, 0.000%, 12/02/20 (c)

    800,000        800,000   

Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.
Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 09/30/19

    1,922,992        1,880,526   

Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 12/05/18

    1,813,000        1,805,748   

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 01/02/20

    2,933,279        2,906,698   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 02/13/19

    1,465,366        1,453,612   

Term Loan B, 3.500%, 12/11/19

    3,965,490        3,933,270   

Term Loan B, 3.500%, 08/05/20

    3,801,839        3,774,116   
   

 

 

 
      24,265,242   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—0.2%

  

Energy Transfer Equity L.P.
Term Loan, 3.250%, 12/02/19

    1,825,000        1,774,813   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.9%

  

MCS AMS Sub-Holdings LLC
Term Loan B, 7.000%, 10/15/19

    566,250        506,794   

RE/MAX International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 07/31/20

    1,659,393        1,639,148   

Realogy Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 03/05/20

    3,956,287        3,900,239   

RHP Hotel Properties L.P.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 01/15/21

    671,625        672,045   

Starwood Property Trust, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 04/17/20

    1,060,137        1,040,701   
   

 

 

 
      7,758,927   
   

 

 

 

Retail—6.3%

  

99 Cents Only Stores
Term Loan, 4.500%, 01/11/19

    2,404,920        2,386,883   

Albertson’s LLC
Term Loan B2, 4.750%, 03/21/19

    1,091,019        1,086,473   

Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp.
Term Loan B3, 4.250%, 08/13/21

    498,750        494,386   

David’s Bridal, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 10/11/19

    621,040        589,212   

Dunkin’ Brands, Inc.
Term Loan B4, 3.250%, 02/07/21

    3,025,914        2,960,857   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Retail—(Continued)

  

Evergreen AcqCo 1 L.P.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 07/09/19

    635,407      $ 626,671   

General Nutrition Centers, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.250%, 03/04/19

    3,348,210        3,241,486   

Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.750%, 07/26/19

    1,086,250        1,085,164   

Hudson’s Bay Co.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.750%, 11/04/20

    1,316,250        1,318,883   

J Crew Group, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 03/05/21

    3,134,250        2,954,031   

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 03/16/18

    2,719,446        2,651,460   

Landry’s, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 04/24/18

    2,230,146        2,219,693   

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The)
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 06/18/21

    1,496,250        1,490,639   

Michaels Stores, Inc.
Incremental Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 01/28/20

    997,500        985,031   

Term Loan B, 3.750%, 01/28/20

    2,462,500        2,420,945   

NBTY, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 10/01/17

    8,115,571        7,902,538   

Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. (The)
Term Loan, 4.250%, 10/25/20

    1,403,333        1,376,630   

New Albertson’s, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 06/27/21

    2,443,875        2,412,564   

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/02/19

    382,246        366,956   

Pantry, Inc. (The)
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 08/02/19

    415,163        414,903   

Party City Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 07/27/19

    1,323,135        1,296,672   

Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack (The)
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 10/11/18

    441,000        437,968   

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 11/24/17

    3,662,545        3,625,920   

Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 04/30/21

    522,375        519,763   

Pilot Travel Centers LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 10/01/21

    2,025,000        2,031,328   

Rite Aid Corp.
2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 08/21/20

    450,000        452,531   

Term Loan 7, 3.500%, 02/21/20

    3,693,961        3,687,035   

Serta Simmons Holdings LLC
Term Loan, 4.250%, 10/01/19

    4,842,959        4,790,747   

Toys “R” Us Property Co. I LLC
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 08/21/19

    1,584,000        1,517,999   
   

 

 

 
      57,345,368   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—1.5%

  

Avago Technologies Cayman, Ltd.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 05/06/21

    6,467,500        6,451,331   

Entegris, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 04/30/21

    466,622        457,582   

Semiconductors—(Continued)

  

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
Term Loan B4, 4.250%, 02/28/20

    2,379,774      2,326,229   

M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.500%, 05/07/21

    497,500        497,500   

Microsemi Corp.
Term Loan B1, 3.250%, 02/19/20

    1,213,898        1,193,565   

NXP B.V.
Term Loan D, 3.250%, 01/11/20

    2,098,438        2,073,082   

Spansion LLC
Term Loan, 3.750%, 12/19/19

    1,004,591        998,313   
   

 

 

 
      13,997,602   
   

 

 

 

Software—4.6%

  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 10/12/20

    2,966,250        2,964,761   

Applied Systems, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 01/25/21

    915,750        901,785   

Campaign Monitor Finance Pty, Ltd.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.250%, 03/18/21

    744,375        735,070   

CCC Information Services, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/20/19

    416,807        406,126   

Cinedigm Digital Funding I LLC
Term Loan, 3.750%, 02/28/18

    995,927        997,172   

First Data Corp.
Extended Term Loan, 3.667%, 03/23/18

    4,848,844        4,757,929   

Term Loan, 3.667%, 09/24/18

    1,850,000        1,815,892   

Term Loan B, 3.667%, 03/24/17

    500,000        492,250   

GXS Group, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 01/16/21

    1,014,750        1,008,725   

Hyland Software, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 02/19/21

    492,776        490,620   

Infor (U.S.), Inc.
Term Loan B3, 3.750%, 06/03/20

    433,060        420,791   

Term Loan B5, 3.750%, 06/03/20

    8,431,913        8,192,135   

ION Trading Technologies S.a.r.l.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 06/10/21

    1,213,235        1,201,103   

IPC Systems, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.000%, 11/08/20

    1,019,875        1,016,050   

Kronos, Inc.
Incremental Term Loan, 4.500%, 10/30/19

    4,628,113        4,604,972   

MA FinanceCo. LLC
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 10/07/21

    1,125,000        1,084,688   

Term Loan C, 4.500%, 10/07/19

    1,125,000        1,079,063   

Magic Newco LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 12/12/18

    2,208,048        2,199,768   

MedAssets, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 12/13/19

    358,000        356,317   

Renaissance Learning, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 04/09/21

    769,188        755,727   

Rocket Software, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.750%, 02/08/18

    407,293        406,020   

Sophia L.P.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 07/19/18

    1,174,133        1,160,924   

Sybil Software LLC
Term Loan, 4.750%, 03/20/20

    1,467,813        1,456,804   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (a)—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Software—(Continued)

  

Vertafore, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 10/03/19

    1,016,083      $ 1,008,039   

Wall Street Systems Delaware, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 04/30/21

    1,519,022        1,501,299   

Websense, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 06/25/20

    788,380        776,554   
   

 

 

 
      41,790,584   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—4.5%

  

Arris Group, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 04/17/20

    1,336,465        1,320,316   

Cellular South, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.250%, 05/22/20

    368,438        365,367   

CommScope, Inc.
Term Loan B4, 3.250%, 01/14/18

    1,234,375        1,226,145   

Crown Castle Operating Co.
Term Loan B2, 3.000%, 01/31/21

    3,448,706        3,395,683   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A.
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 06/30/19

    8,125,000        8,026,826   

MCC Iowa LLC
Term Loan H, 3.250%, 01/29/21

    935,750        902,999   

Term Loan J, 3.750%, 06/30/21

    845,750        829,539   

Sable International Finance, Ltd.
Term Loan, 0.000%, 11/06/16 (c)

    375,000        375,000   

Syniverse Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 04/23/19

    1,751,683        1,702,053   

Term Loan B, 4.000%, 04/23/19

    1,163,426        1,130,462   

Telesat Canada
Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 03/28/19

    3,632,364        3,577,878   

UPC Financing Partnership
Term Loan AH, 3.250%, 06/30/21

    4,028,489        3,948,927   

Virgin Media Bristol LLC
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 06/07/20

    5,975,000        5,885,375   

West Corp.
Term Loan B10, 3.250%, 06/30/18

    4,540,400        4,460,943   

Windstream Corp.
Term Loan B5, 3.500%, 08/08/19

    879,862        869,964   

Ziggo Financing Partnership
Term Loan B1, 3.500%, 01/15/22

    961,447        937,411   

Term Loan B2A, 3.500%, 01/15/22

    619,574        604,085   

Term Loan B3, 3.500%, 01/15/22

    1,018,979        993,504   
   

 

 

 
      40,552,477   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.1%

  

Solenis International L.P.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/31/21

    299,250        293,452   

STS Operating, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 02/12/21

    322,563        317,724   
   

 

 

 
      611,176   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.2%

  

Atlantic Aviation FBO, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 06/01/20

    641,435        626,201   

Transportation—(Continued)

  

Swift Transportation Co. LLC
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/09/21

    1,166,188      $ 1,153,942   
   

 

 

 
      1,780,143   
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services—0.2%

  

SBA Senior Finance II LLC
Term Loan B1, 3.250%, 03/24/21

    1,965,125        1,928,279   
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loans
(Cost $895,665,468)

      874,036,344   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—0.0%   

Aerospace/Defense—0.0%

  

Erickson Air-Crane, Inc.
6.000%, 11/02/20 (b) (e)
(Cost $57,794)

    71,875        46,941   
   

 

 

 
Common Stock—0.0%   

Commercial Services—0.0%

  

IAP Worldwide Services
LLC (b) (e) (f) (h)
(Cost $52,139)

    44        41,963   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investment—3.9%   

Repurchase Agreement—3.9%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $35,360,604 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $35,405,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 1.750% due 05/31/16 with a value of $36,068,844.

    35,360,604        35,360,604   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment
(Cost $35,360,604)

      35,360,604   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.7%
(Cost $931,136,005)

      909,485,852   

Unfunded Loan Commitments—(0.2)%
(Cost $(1,552,667))

      (1,552,667

Net Investments—100.5%
(Cost $929,583,338) (g)

      907,933,185   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(0.5)%

      (4,868,633
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 903,064,552   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.

(b) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.1% of net assets.
(c) This loan will settle after December 31, 2014, at which time the interest rate will be determined.
(d) Unfunded or partially unfunded loan commitments. The Portfolio may enter into certain credit agreements for which all or a portion may be unfunded. The Portfolio is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion.
(e) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.0% of net assets.
(f) Non-income producing security.
(g) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $929,756,350. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $876,032 and $(22,699,197), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(21,823,165) for federal income tax purposes.
(h) Security was acquired in connection with a restructuring of a senior loan and may be subject to restrictions on resale.
(LOC)— Letter of Credit.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Floating Rate Loans            

Advertising

   $ —         $ 3,215,581       $ —         $ 3,215,581   

Aerospace/Defense

     —           20,834,123         —           20,834,123   

Auto Components

     —           9,747,356         —           9,747,356   

Auto Manufacturers

     —           8,977,370         —           8,977,370   

Auto Parts & Equipment

     —           15,151,640         —           15,151,640   

Beverages

     —           1,472,108         —           1,472,108   

Biotechnology

     —           2,244,016         —           2,244,016   

Building Materials

     —           2,741,698         —           2,741,698   

Capital Markets

     —           7,377,262         —           7,377,262   

Chemicals

     —           41,796,219         —           41,796,219   

Coal

     —           8,623,433         —           8,623,433   

Commercial Services

     —           53,159,251         273,178         53,432,429   

Communications Equipment

     —           2,410,123         —           2,410,123   

Computers

     —           24,035,729         —           24,035,729   

Construction Materials

     —           2,186,756         —           2,186,756   

Cosmetics/Personal Care

     —           1,171,294         —           1,171,294   

Distribution/Wholesale

     —           1,682,065         —           1,682,065   

Distributors

     —           207,184         —           207,184   

Diversified Consumer Services

     —           291,434         —           291,434   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Diversified Financial Services

   $ —         $ 32,912,842       $ —         $ 32,912,842   

Electric

     —           21,257,617         —           21,257,617   

Electrical Components & Equipment

     —           7,025,517         —           7,025,517   

Electronics

     —           19,948,718         —           19,948,718   

Energy Equipment & Services

     —           5,153,660         —           5,153,660   

Engineering & Construction

     —           749,293         —           749,293   

Entertainment

     —           16,511,886         —           16,511,886   

Environmental Control

     —           4,229,296         —           4,229,296   

Food

     —           44,054,592         —           44,054,592   

Food Service

     —           590,660         —           590,660   

Hand/Machine Tools

     —           2,135,704         —           2,135,704   

Healthcare-Products

     —           30,989,642         —           30,989,642   

Healthcare-Services

     —           65,488,044         —           65,488,044   

Holding Companies-Diversified

     —           271,399         —           271,399   

Home Furnishings

     —           1,981,237         —           1,981,237   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     —           7,303,384         —           7,303,384   

Household Products/Wares

     —           7,659,657         —           7,659,657   

Industrial Conglomerates

     —           1,399,433         —           1,399,433   

Insurance

     —           23,579,041         —           23,579,041   

Internet

     —           18,237,018         —           18,237,018   

Internet Software & Services

     —           4,429,270         —           4,429,270   

Leisure Time

     —           9,042,230         —           9,042,230   

Lodging

     —           13,233,712         57,109         13,290,821   

Machinery

     —           9,175,736         —           9,175,736   

Machinery-Diversified

     —           9,100,645         —           9,100,645   

Marine

     —           2,342,899         —           2,342,899   

Media (Less Unfunded Loan Commitments of $27,667)

     —           40,136,646         688,968         40,825,614   

Metal Fabricate/Hardware

     —           12,554,768         —           12,554,768   

Mining

     —           12,826,617         —           12,826,617   

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

     —           5,525,374         —           5,525,374   

Multi-Utilities

     —           2,027,042         —           2,027,042   

Office/Business Equipment

     —           6,042,561         —           6,042,561   

Oil & Gas

     —           22,254,675         —           22,254,675   

Packaging & Containers (Less Unfunded Loan Commitments of $1,525,000)

     —           12,164,354         —           12,164,354   

Pharmaceuticals

     —           24,265,242         —           24,265,242   

Pipelines

     —           1,774,813         —           1,774,813   

Real Estate

     —           7,758,927         —           7,758,927   

Retail

     —           57,345,368         —           57,345,368   

Semiconductors

     —           13,997,602         —           13,997,602   

Software

     —           41,790,584         —           41,790,584   

Telecommunications

     —           40,552,477         —           40,552,477   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     —           611,176         —           611,176   

Transportation

     —           1,780,143         —           1,780,143   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     —           1,928,279         —           1,928,279   

Total Floating Rate Loans (Less Unfunded Loan Commitments)

     —           871,464,422         1,019,255         872,483,677   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

     —           —           46,941         46,941   

Total Common Stock*

     —           —           41,963         41,963   

Total Short-Term Investment*

     —           35,360,604         —           35,360,604   

Total Net Investments

   $ —         $ 906,825,026       $ 1,108,159       $ 907,933,185   
                                     

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

  Balance as of
December 31,
2013
    Accrued
Discounts/
(Premiums)
    Realized
Gain
    Change in
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Purchases     Sales     Balance as of
December 31,
2014
    Change in
Unrealized
Depreciation
from Investments
Still Held at
December 31,
2014
 
Floating Rate Loans                

Commercial Services

  $      $ 4,219      $ 321      $ (6,532   $ 276,886      $ (1,716 )(a)    $ 273,178      $ (6,532

Lodging

           35,664        1,490        (641,876     670,016        (8,185 )(a)      57,109        (641,876

Media

    718,463        3,219        196        (17,910            (15,000 )(a)      688,968        (17,910
Corporate Bonds & Notes                

Aerospace/Defense

    55,113        1,207               (9,379                   46,941        (9,379
Common Stocks                

Commercial Services

                         (10,176     52,139               41,963      $ (10,176
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $ 773,576      $ 44,309      $ 2,007      $ (685,873   $ 999,041      $ (24,901   $ 1,108,159      $ (685,873
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Sales include principal reductions

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)(b)

   $ 907,933,185   

Cash

     7,614,966   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     145,430   

Interest

     2,371,579   

Prepaid expenses

     2,360   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     918,067,520   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     14,012,839   

Fund shares redeemed

     260,740   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     462,616   

Distribution and service fees

     23,481   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     58,066   

Other expenses

     185,226   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     15,002,968   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 903,064,552   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 892,791,824   

Undistributed net investment income

     33,214,572   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (1,291,691

Unrealized depreciation on investments

     (21,650,153
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 903,064,552   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 793,463,537   

Class B

     109,601,015   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     76,978,598   

Class B

     10,700,414   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 10.31   

Class B

     10.24   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $929,583,338.
(b) Investments at value includes unfunded loan commitments of $1,552,667.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Interest

   $ 40,179,342   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     40,179,342   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     5,681,625   

Administration fees

     22,305   

Custodian and accounting fees

     350,718   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     296,395   

Audit and tax services

     115,154   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     49,036   

Insurance

     5,756   

Miscellaneous

     13,479   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     6,612,548   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     33,566,794   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss

  

Net realized loss on investments

     (1,237,749
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments

     (23,377,536
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (24,615,285
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 8,951,509   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 33,566,794      $ 35,468,649   

Net realized gain (loss)

     (1,237,749     4,120,552   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (23,377,536     (3,817,470
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     8,951,509        35,771,731   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (31,272,718     (32,615,338

Class B

     (4,260,389     (3,061,308

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (3,693,628     (3,689,518

Class B

     (529,606     (364,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (39,756,341     (39,730,605
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (54,958,948     161,483,079   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (85,763,780     157,524,205   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     988,828,332        831,304,127   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 903,064,552      $ 988,828,332   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 33,214,572      $ 35,326,393   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     3,069,597      $ 31,906,634        9,059,273      $ 96,332,060   

Reinvestments

     3,404,708        34,966,346        3,480,811        36,304,856   

Redemptions

     (11,413,749     (117,482,370     (1,675,722     (17,659,690
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (4,939,444   $ (50,609,390     10,864,362      $ 114,977,226   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     2,469,832      $ 25,823,648        6,655,673      $ 69,851,416   

Reinvestments

     468,689        4,789,995        329,716        3,425,749   

Redemptions

     (3,380,126     (34,963,201     (2,552,951     (26,771,312
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (441,605   $ (4,349,558     4,432,438      $ 46,505,853   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (54,958,948     $ 161,483,079   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.63       $ 10.69       $ 10.34       $ 10.34       $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (b)

     0.37         0.42         0.46         0.42         0.25   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.26      0.01         0.30         (0.18      0.09   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.11         0.43         0.76         0.24         0.34   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.38      (0.44      (0.38      (0.21      0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.05      (0.05      (0.03      (0.03      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.43      (0.49      (0.41      (0.24      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.31       $ 10.63       $ 10.69       $ 10.34       $ 10.34   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     1.01         4.13         7.51         2.33         3.40 (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.67         0.67         0.68         0.68         0.69 (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     3.59         3.95         4.42         4.10         3.71 (e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     30         40         42         40         31 (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 793.5       $ 871.0       $ 759.9       $ 706.2       $ 536.1   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.58       $ 10.64       $ 10.29       $ 10.32       $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (b)

     0.35         0.39         0.44         0.40         0.25   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.28      0.02         0.30         (0.19      0.07   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.07         0.41         0.74         0.21         0.32   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.36      (0.42      (0.36      (0.21      0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.05      (0.05      (0.03      (0.03      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.41      (0.47      (0.39      (0.24      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.24       $ 10.58       $ 10.64       $ 10.29       $ 10.32   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     0.74         3.84         7.33         2.01         3.20 (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.92         0.92         0.93         0.93         0.94 (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     3.34         3.67         4.18         3.86         3.73 (e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     30         40         42         40         31 (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 109.6       $ 117.8       $ 71.4       $ 56.4       $ 20.2   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 30, 2010.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Computed on an annualized basis.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946- Financial Services- Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to distribution re-designations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $35,360,604, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Unfunded Loan Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into certain credit agreements, all or a portion of which may be unfunded. The Portfolio is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion. These commitments, if any, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had open unfunded loan commitments of $1,552,667. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover these commitments.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 270,925,896       $ 0       $ 323,009,497   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
Metlife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$5,681,625      0.625   First $100 million
     0.600   Over $100 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Eaton Vance Management is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$36,723,835    $ 37,136,071       $ 3,032,506       $ 2,594,534       $ 39,756,341       $ 39,730,605   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards      Other
Accumulated
Capital Losses
    Total  
$33,272,638    $       $ (21,823,165   $       $ (1,118,679   $ 10,330,794   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the post-enactment long-term capital losses were $1,118,679.

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operation for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended and for the period from April 30, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and agent banks; when replies were not received from brokers or agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended and for the period from April 30, 2010 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Eaton Vance Management regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of one of its Performance Universes and its Lipper Index for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (April 30, 2010) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its other Performance Universe for the three-year period ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed the median of its other Performance Universe for the one-year and since-inception (April 30, 2010) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the S&P/LSTA Leveraged Loan Index, for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (April 30, 2010) periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance, including prevailing market conditions.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the median of the Expense Universe and Sub-advised Expense Universe, and were equal to the median of the Expense Group. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Managed by Franklin Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio returned 1.27% and 1.06%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Government/Credit 1-3 Year Index1, returned 0.77%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The U.S. economy continued to grow during the year, underpinned by manufacturing activity, consumer and business spending, federal defense spending and a narrower trade deficit helped by lower oil imports. Home sales experienced weakness resulting from reduced inventory, higher mortgage rates and tight credit requirements but began to recover in May as mortgage rates declined. Home prices stayed higher than a year earlier. Retail sales generally improved, supported by job growth and lower gasoline prices in the latter part of 2014. The unemployment rate declined, and inflation remained low.

In January 2014, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (the “Fed”) began reducing its bond purchases $10 billion a month and ended the buying in October. The Fed believed underlying economic strength could support ongoing progress in labor market conditions. The Fed also noted that although inflation might remain low in the near term, the likelihood of inflation running persistently below 2% had diminished. Toward year end, the Fed stated that it could be patient with regard to raising interest rates and that the interest rate might not rise for at least a couple of meetings, possibly implying at least the first two meetings of 2015.

The 10-year Treasury yield declined from 3.04% at the beginning of the period to 2.17% at year end, as investors shifted to less risky assets given the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, weak economic data in Europe and Japan, record-low bond yields and lower Treasury issuance.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio outperformed its benchmark index over the year, with spread sectors adding to relative returns. The Portfolio’s exposure to corporate credit (both high yield and investment grade), Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Securities and the municipal debt market were contributors during the period. Although our allocation to the Senior Secured Floating Rate Debt sector detracted from performance, our security selection within the sector benefited returns. Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (“CMBS”) also performed well, and CMBS positions contributed significantly to Portfolio performance. Currency exposure and non-Agency Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities were also strong contributors to performance. Intermediate and longer-term interest rates ended the period lower than they started and performance was mixed across fixed income sectors. These interest rate movements hurt relative results as the Portfolio’s yield curve positioning was a detractor.

We increased the Portfolio’s allocation to Asset-Backed Securities and Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) as we found what we considered to be attractive valuations in those sectors. In contrast, we reduced sector exposure to U.S. Treasuries and trimmed the Portfolio’s Municipal Bond allocation to take profits. We also reduced exposure to International Bonds.

In addition, the Portfolio employed derivatives as a tool in seeking efficient management of certain risks, including interest rate risk. During the period, the use of derivatives provided exposures that were beneficial through means that we believed to be advantageous to the Portfolio.

At year end, we continued to view the environment for corporate debt as largely supportive. The corporate default rate remained close to historical lows and liquidity levels appear generally adequate, in our view. As a result, we tended to view pullbacks as potential buying opportunities. Accordingly, at period end, the Portfolio’s heaviest allocation positioning was in Investment-Grade Corporate debt securities, followed by U.S. Treasuries and MBS.

Roger A. Bayston

Kent Burns

Christopher J. Molumphy

Portfolio Managers

Franklin Advisers, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. GOVERNMENT/CREDIT 1-3 YEAR BOND INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio            

Class A

       1.27           1.63   

Class B

       1.06           1.40   
Barclays U.S. Government/Credit 1-3 Year Bond Index        0.77           0.98   

1 The Barclays U.S. Government/Credit 1-3 Year Bond Index measures performance of U.S. Dollar-denominated U.S. Treasuries, government-related, and investment grade U.S. corporate securities that have maturities ranging from one to three years.

2 Inception date of the Class A and B shares is 4/29/2011. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes      35.5   
Asset-Backed Securities      16.9   
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      13.2   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      11.7   
Floating Rate Loans      6.0   
Foreign Government      3.5   
Municipals      1.5   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.51    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,002.00         $ 2.57   
   Hypothetical*      0.51    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.64         $ 2.60   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.76    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,001.00         $ 3.83   
   Hypothetical*      0.76    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.37         $ 3.87   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

**Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a)The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—35.5% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Aerospace/Defense—0.1%

  

Boeing Co. (The)
0.950%, 05/15/18

    1,500,000      $ 1,466,709   
   

 

 

 

Agriculture—0.6%

  

Altria Group, Inc.
2.625%, 01/14/20 (a)

    3,900,000        3,911,322   

Japan Tobacco, Inc.
2.100%, 07/23/18 (144A)

    4,000,000        4,036,092   

Reynolds American, Inc.
1.050%, 10/30/15 (a)

    1,000,000        1,001,089   
   

 

 

 
      8,948,503   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.4%

  

Hyundai Capital America
1.450%, 02/06/17 (144A)

    7,000,000        6,973,694   

4.000%, 06/08/17 (144A)

    300,000        313,439   
   

 

 

 
      7,287,133   
   

 

 

 

Banks—10.9%

  

ANZ New Zealand International, Ltd.
1.400%, 04/27/17 (144A)

    7,500,000        7,485,060   

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A.
2.875%, 04/16/21 (EUR)

    4,100,000        5,396,621   

Banco Comercial Portugues S.A.
4.750%, 06/22/17 (EUR)

    1,800,000        2,375,650   

Banco Popolare SC
3.625%, 03/31/17 (EUR)

    1,000,000        1,290,718   

4.750%, 03/31/16 (EUR)

    3,300,000        4,200,279   

Banco Santander Totta S.A.
1.500%, 04/03/17 (EUR)

    3,000,000        3,710,355   

Bank of America Corp.
1.271%, 01/15/19 (b)

    6,600,000        6,693,766   

2.600%, 01/15/19

    2,500,000        2,519,440   

2.650%, 04/01/19 (a)

    4,000,000        4,029,340   

Bankinter S.A.
1.750%, 06/10/19 (EUR)

    3,800,000        4,751,917   

BB&T Corp.
0.892%, 02/01/19 (b)

    8,000,000        8,003,096   

2.050%, 06/19/18

    1,000,000        1,006,589   

BNP Paribas S.A.
2.700%, 08/20/18 (a)

    2,700,000        2,759,441   

CIT Group, Inc.
3.875%, 02/19/19

    3,000,000        2,992,500   

4.250%, 08/15/17 (a)

    700,000        714,000   

5.000%, 05/15/17

    400,000        415,000   

5.250%, 03/15/18

    500,000        521,250   

Citigroup, Inc.
0.506%, 06/09/16 (b)

    6,400,000        6,338,778   

1.003%, 04/08/19 (b)

    1,600,000        1,606,002   

Credit Suisse
0.724%, 05/26/17 (b)

    3,900,000        3,895,234   

Depfa ACS Bank
1.650%, 12/20/16 (JPY)

    250,000,000        2,117,367   

2.125%, 10/13/17 (CHF)

    2,000,000        2,112,959   

Fifth Third Bank
0.742%, 11/18/16 (b)

    7,300,000        7,315,454   

Banks—(Continued)

  

HSBC Bank Brasil S.A. - Banco Multiplo
4.000%, 05/11/16 (144A)

    4,200,000      4,265,100   

Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, Ltd.
3.231%, 11/13/19

    4,000,000        4,016,832   

ING Bank NV
0.945%, 10/01/19 (144A) (b)

    6,300,000        6,308,757   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.
0.229%, 05/18/17 (EUR) (b)

    1,100,000        1,313,712   

1.588%, 07/29/15 (EUR) (b)

    3,700,000        4,502,885   

2.375%, 01/13/17 (a)

    1,000,000        1,008,753   

3.875%, 01/16/18 (a)

    3,900,000        4,060,501   

3.875%, 01/15/19

    600,000        621,236   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
1.134%, 01/25/18 (b)

    8,000,000        8,062,824   

2.200%, 10/22/19

    7,000,000        6,939,639   

Morgan Stanley
1.514%, 04/25/18 (b)

    6,500,000        6,603,434   

MUFG Union Bank N.A.
1.005%, 09/26/16 (b)

    2,000,000        2,010,256   

PNC Funding Corp.
2.700%, 09/19/16

    1,300,000        1,335,045   

Regions Financial Corp.
2.000%, 05/15/18

    3,200,000        3,168,605   

Royal Bank of Canada
0.605%, 03/08/16 (b)

    3,000,000        3,005,190   

Royal Bank of Scotland plc (The)
6.934%, 04/09/18 (EUR)

    1,800,000        2,507,847   

Svenska Handelsbanken AB
0.733%, 06/17/19 (b)

    4,500,000        4,503,712   

U.S. Bank N.A.
3.778%, 04/29/20 (b)

    1,000,000        1,008,976   

UniCredit S.p.A.
1.030%, 04/10/17 (EUR) (b)

    2,300,000        2,793,942   

1.634%, 07/24/15 (EUR) (b)

    3,000,000        3,650,367   

Unione di Banche Italiane SCPA
2.875%, 02/18/19 (EUR)

    3,600,000        4,638,544   

Wachovia Corp.
0.601%, 10/15/16 (b)

    8,500,000        8,465,651   

Woori Bank
4.750%, 04/30/24 (144A)

    3,900,000        4,028,595   
   

 

 

 
      171,071,219   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.7%

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV
2.875%, 09/25/24 (EUR)

    300,000        415,329   

Coca-Cola Femsa S.A.B. de C.V.
2.375%, 11/26/18

    4,000,000        4,072,840   

Constellation Brands, Inc.
3.875%, 11/15/19 (a)

    1,700,000        1,712,750   

7.250%, 09/01/16

    2,000,000        2,160,000   

7.250%, 05/15/17

    2,000,000        2,210,000   

Pernod Ricard S.A.
2.125%, 09/27/24 (EUR)

    300,000        379,914   
   

 

 

 
      10,950,833   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Biotechnology—0.6%

  

Amgen, Inc.
0.833%, 05/22/19 (a) (b)

    6,200,000      $ 6,199,795   

Celgene Corp.
2.300%, 08/15/18

    3,000,000        3,024,780   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.
3.050%, 12/01/16

    1,000,000        1,037,650   
   

 

 

 
      10,262,225   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.1%

  

Cemex S.A.B. de C.V.
9.000%, 01/11/18 (144A)

    1,200,000        1,236,000   
   

 

 

 

Coal—0.2%

  

Peabody Energy Corp.
7.375%, 11/01/16

    2,500,000        2,568,750   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.7%

  

Apple, Inc.
0.482%, 05/03/18 (b)

    9,000,000        9,006,039   

Dell, Inc.
3.100%, 04/01/16

    1,500,000        1,507,500   
   

 

 

 
      10,513,539   
   

 

 

 

Cosmetics/Personal Care—0.1%

  

Colgate-Palmolive Co.
0.900%, 05/01/18

    2,000,000        1,954,234   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—2.2%

  

American Express Credit Corp.
1.550%, 09/22/17 (a)

    3,400,000        3,406,650   

Capital One Bank USA N.A.
2.300%, 06/05/19

    5,900,000        5,854,275   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC

   

0.755%, 09/08/17 (b)

    3,000,000        2,979,342   

2.375%, 01/16/18 (a)

    2,000,000        2,011,590   

7.000%, 04/15/15 (a)

    12,000,000        12,206,484   

General Motors Financial Co., Inc.
2.625%, 07/10/17 (a)

    3,000,000        3,013,005   

Navient Corp.
5.500%, 01/15/19

    3,000,000        3,067,500   

8.450%, 06/15/18

    500,000        557,500   

Seven & Seven, Ltd.
1.395%, 09/11/19 (144A) (b)

    1,600,000        1,598,530   
   

 

 

 
      34,694,876   
   

 

 

 

Electric—1.3%

  

DPL, Inc.
6.500%, 10/15/16

    1,131,000        1,193,205   

Duke Energy Corp.
2.100%, 06/15/18

    1,100,000        1,110,048   

GDF Suez
1.625%, 10/10/17 (144A)

    1,000,000        998,780   

Georgia Power Co.
0.625%, 11/15/15

    1,000,000        1,001,101   

Electric—(Continued)

  

Korea Western Power Co., Ltd.
3.125%, 05/10/17 (144A)

    3,100,000      3,188,567   

PPL Energy Supply LLC
6.200%, 05/15/16

    6,000,000        6,235,224   

Southern Co. (The)
2.450%, 09/01/18

    3,000,000        3,061,578   

State Grid Overseas Investment 2013, Ltd.
1.750%, 05/22/18 (144A)

    2,000,000        1,961,480   

State Grid Overseas Investment 2014, Ltd.
2.750%, 05/07/19 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,104,621   

Virginia Electric & Power Co.
1.200%, 01/15/18

    900,000        888,773   
   

 

 

 
      20,743,377   
   

 

 

 

Food—1.2%

  

Casino Guichard Perrachon S.A.
3.311%, 01/25/23 (EUR)

    1,100,000        1,492,251   

Dean Foods Co.
7.000%, 06/01/16 (a)

    1,771,000        1,877,260   

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.
1.625%, 06/04/15

    3,000,000        3,012,783   

2.250%, 06/05/17 (a)

    3,000,000        3,049,485   

Mondelez International, Inc.
0.752%, 02/01/19 (b)

    2,000,000        1,977,684   

Sysco Corp.
1.450%, 10/02/17 (a)

    5,600,000        5,593,840   

Tyson Foods, Inc.
2.650%, 08/15/19

    2,700,000        2,724,597   
   

 

 

 
      19,727,900   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.3%

  

Becton Dickinson and Co.
2.675%, 12/15/19 (a)

    4,000,000        4,052,604   

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
2.875%, 10/15/18

    1,400,000        1,419,230   
   

 

 

 
      5,471,834   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.2%

  

Aetna, Inc.
1.500%, 11/15/17

    1,000,000        992,199   

HCA, Inc.
4.250%, 10/15/19

    800,000        812,000   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings
2.200%, 08/23/17 (a)

    1,000,000        1,008,729   
   

 

 

 
      2,812,928   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.2%

  

Hutchison Whampoa International, Ltd.
1.625%, 10/31/17 (144A) (a)

    3,200,000        3,173,632   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—2.2%

  

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
5.750%, 06/15/19

    14,000,000        13,440,000   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Home Builders—(Continued)

  

Centex Corp.
5.250%, 06/15/15

    3,000,000      $ 3,045,000   

6.500%, 05/01/16

    6,000,000        6,385,200   

DR Horton, Inc.
4.750%, 05/15/17

    2,000,000        2,090,000   

5.625%, 01/15/16

    3,425,000        3,562,000   

Toll Brothers Finance Corp.
5.150%, 05/15/15

    6,000,000        6,060,000   
   

 

 

 
      34,582,200   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—2.1%

  

Jackson National Life Global Funding
2.300%, 04/16/19 (144A) (a)

    6,000,000        5,991,222   

New York Life Global Funding
2.100%, 01/02/19 (144A)

    4,000,000        4,014,324   

2.150%, 06/18/19 (144A) (a)

    5,000,000        4,990,240   

Pricoa Global Funding
I 1.600%, 05/29/18 (144A)

    3,500,000        3,451,956   

Prudential Covered Trust
2.997%, 09/30/15 (144A)

    7,470,000        7,574,924   

Prudential Financial, Inc.
1.012%, 08/15/18 (b)

    3,000,000        3,018,126   

TIAA Asset Management Finance Co. LLC
2.950%, 11/01/19 (144A)

    3,900,000        3,907,546   
   

 

 

 
      32,948,338   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.2%

  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd.
2.500%, 11/28/19 (144A)

    4,000,000        3,946,068   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.4%

  

ArcelorMittal
5.000%, 02/25/17 (a)

    2,500,000        2,600,000   

Glencore Funding LLC
3.125%, 04/29/19 (144A) (a)

    3,500,000        3,508,400   
   

 

 

 
      6,108,400   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—0.4%

  

Carnival Corp.
3.950%, 10/15/20

    5,800,000        6,077,176   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Diversified—0.1%

  

John Deere Capital Corp.
1.300%, 03/12/18 (a)

    1,100,000        1,088,390   
   

 

 

 

Media—1.0%

  

DIRECTV Holdings LLC / DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc.
2.400%, 03/15/17 (a)

    2,700,000        2,750,946   

DISH DBS Corp.
7.125%, 02/01/16

    2,500,000        2,628,125   

NBCUniversal Enterprise, Inc.
0.916%, 04/15/18 (144A) (b)

    3,000,000        3,024,960   

Time Warner, Inc.
2.100%, 06/01/19 (a)

    4,000,000        3,940,820   

Media—(Continued)

  

Viacom, Inc.
2.200%, 04/01/19

    2,100,000      2,070,098   

2.750%, 12/15/19

    1,800,000        1,803,570   
   

 

 

 
      16,218,519   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.6%

  

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty, Ltd.
6.000%, 04/01/17 (144A) (a)

    900,000        860,625   

6.875%, 02/01/18 (144A) (a)

    222,222        201,667   

8.250%, 11/01/19 (144A) (a)

    1,000,000        910,000   

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
2.300%, 11/14/17 (a)

    3,900,000        3,904,680   

Glencore Finance Canada, Ltd.
2.050%, 10/23/15 (144A) (a)

    3,000,000        3,019,521   
   

 

 

 
      8,896,493   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—3.3%

  

BG Energy Capital plc
2.875%, 10/15/16 (144A)

    4,500,000        4,612,536   

California Resources Corp.
5.500%, 09/15/21 (144A) (a)

    1,600,000        1,368,000   

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.
1.750%, 01/15/18

    2,700,000        2,684,116   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.
3.481%, 04/15/19 (a) (b)

    2,500,000        2,450,000   

6.500%, 08/15/17 (a)

    500,000        532,500   

Chevron Corp.
1.104%, 12/05/17

    6,000,000        5,962,908   

Clayton Williams Energy, Inc.
7.750%, 04/01/19 (a)

    1,000,000        850,000   

CNOOC Nexen Finance 2014 ULC
1.625%, 04/30/17

    7,100,000        7,065,331   

CNPC General Capital, Ltd.
1.133%, 05/14/17 (144A) (b)

    5,800,000        5,809,216   

1.950%, 04/16/18 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,472,490   

CNPC HK Overseas Capital, Ltd.
3.125%, 04/28/16 (144A)

    500,000        509,675   

Linn Energy LLC / Linn Energy Finance Corp.
6.250%, 11/01/19 (a)

    1,500,000        1,267,500   

Lukoil International Finance B.V.
3.416%, 04/24/18 (144A)

    2,300,000        1,955,000   

Penn Virginia Corp.
8.500%, 05/01/20

    1,000,000        800,000   

Petrobras Global Finance B.V.
3.123%, 03/17/20 (a) (b)

    4,100,000        3,702,300   

Sanchez Energy Corp.
7.750%, 06/15/21

    300,000        279,000   

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2013, Ltd.
2.500%, 10/17/18 (144A)

    2,200,000        2,197,105   

Sinopec Group Overseas Development 2014, Ltd.
1.750%, 04/10/17 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,488,075   

Statoil ASA
0.692%, 11/08/18 (b)

    5,600,000        5,608,411   
   

 

 

 
      51,614,163   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas Services—0.1%

  

Petrofac, Ltd.
3.400%, 10/10/18 (144A)

    1,200,000      $ 1,183,838   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—0.1%

  

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc. / Reynolds Group Issuer LLC
8.500%, 05/15/18

    2,000,000        2,040,000   

9.000%, 04/15/19 (a)

    500,000        517,500   
   

 

 

 
      2,557,500   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.6%

  

Bayer U.S. Finance LLC
2.375%, 10/08/19 (144A)

    6,300,000        6,324,998   

Zoetis, Inc.
1.150%, 02/01/16

    1,800,000        1,798,393   

1.875%, 02/01/18

    1,200,000        1,189,202   
   

 

 

 
      9,312,593   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—0.7%

   

EnLink Midstream Partners L.P.
2.700%, 04/01/19

    1,800,000        1,772,534   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC
2.550%, 10/15/19 (a)

    2,600,000        2,573,823   

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P.
2.650%, 02/01/19

    600,000        591,188   

Kinder Morgan Finance Co. LLC
5.700%, 01/05/16

    500,000        519,060   

6.000%, 01/15/18 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,167,600   

Kinder Morgan, Inc.
3.050%, 12/01/19 (a)

    3,200,000        3,174,560   
   

 

 

 
      10,798,765   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.6%

  

American Tower Corp.
3.400%, 02/15/19

    6,100,000        6,208,696   

Boston Properties L.P.
3.700%, 11/15/18

    3,900,000        4,112,281   

HCP, Inc.
3.750%, 02/01/19

    4,000,000        4,198,212   

Hospitality Properties Trust
5.625%, 03/15/17

    5,000,000        5,355,290   

Prologis L.P.
2.750%, 02/15/19 (a)

    6,000,000        6,085,650   
   

 

 

 
      25,960,129   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.4%

  

CVS Health Corp.
1.200%, 12/05/16 (a)

    1,000,000        1,002,764   

Edcon Pty, Ltd.
9.500%, 03/01/18 (144A) (EUR)

    1,000,000        966,249   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
1.750%, 11/17/17 (a)

    4,000,000        4,009,904   
   

 

 

 
      5,978,917   
   

 

 

 

Savings & Loans—0.3%

  

Yorkshire Building Society
2.310%, 03/23/16 (GBP) (b)

    3,000,000      4,761,917   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.3%

  

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
2.500%, 11/15/18

    4,200,000        4,190,546   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.4%

  

Oracle Corp.
0.811%, 01/15/19 (b)

    6,000,000        6,042,924   
   

 

 

 

Sovereign—0.1%

  

Export-Import Bank of Korea
0.980%, 01/14/17 (b)

    1,000,000        1,002,803   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.6%

  

Embarq Corp.
7.082%, 06/01/16

    2,071,000        2,231,743   

Sprint Communications, Inc.
9.000%, 11/15/18 (144A)

    3,000,000        3,412,200   

Telefonica Emisiones S.A.U.
3.192%, 04/27/18

    2,300,000        2,365,179   

Verizon Communications, Inc.
2.625%, 02/21/20 (144A)

    1,395,000        1,379,051   
   

 

 

 
      9,388,173   
   

 

 

 

Trucking & Leasing—0.2%

  

Aviation Capital Group Corp.
3.875%, 09/27/16 (144A)

    3,300,000        3,383,084   
   

 

 

 

Water—0.0%

  

Veolia Environnement S.A.
4.625%, 03/30/27 (EUR)

    200,000        316,772   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $552,609,181)

      559,241,400   
   

 

 

 
Asset-Backed Securities—16.9%   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—0.4%

  

Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust
0.510%, 04/15/17

    3,519,464        3,519,112   

1.150%, 06/15/17

    2,750,000        2,758,511   

Mercedes-Benz Auto Lease Trust
0.720%, 12/17/18

    380,000        380,150   
   

 

 

 
      6,657,773   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Credit Card—9.9%

  

American Express Credit Account Master Trust
0.261%, 10/16/17 (b)

    800,000        799,784   

0.311%, 03/15/18 (b)

    1,820,000        1,819,075   

0.431%, 01/15/20 (b)

    8,760,000        8,754,796   

1.361%, 02/15/18 (b)

    6,460,000        6,494,425   

BA Credit Card Trust
0.431%, 09/16/19 (b)

    7,010,000        6,997,158   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Credit Card—(Continued)

  

Capital One Multi-Asset Execution Trust
0.211%, 11/15/19 (b)

    6,842,000      $ 6,809,685   

0.241%, 12/16/19 (b)

    8,400,000        8,351,473   

0.341%, 02/15/19 (b)

    2,900,000        2,900,099   

5.050%, 12/17/18

    5,240,000        5,484,462   

Chase Issuance Trust
0.211%, 04/15/19

    3,035,000        3,018,059   

0.291%, 08/15/17 (b)

    7,730,000        7,725,455   

0.311%, 10/16/17 (b)

    4,070,000        4,067,538   

0.361%, 05/15/18 (b)

    8,710,000        8,706,368   

0.411%, 04/15/19 (b)

    5,700,000        5,663,873   

0.441%, 04/15/20 (b)

    4,580,000        4,564,913   

0.531%, 04/15/21 (b)

    5,340,000        5,322,308   

0.540%, 10/16/17

    1,211,000        1,210,402   

0.621%, 04/15/19 (b)

    2,600,000        2,584,780   

0.790%, 06/15/17

    460,000        460,610   

Citibank Credit Card Issuance Trust
0.267%, 04/24/17 (b)

    8,410,000        8,404,416   

0.358%, 05/09/18 (b)

    1,600,000        1,600,000   

0.397%, 02/07/18 (b)

    7,010,000        7,009,215   

0.462%, 11/07/18 (b)

    4,600,000        4,595,041   

0.550%, 10/10/17

    830,000        829,764   

1.365%, 05/22/17 (b)

    4,290,000        4,306,667   

4.150%, 07/07/17

    2,350,000        2,394,328   

5.100%, 11/20/17

    5,300,000        5,506,101   

5.300%, 03/15/18

    1,760,000        1,855,035   

Discover Card Execution Note Trust
0.361%, 01/16/18 (b)

    8,760,000        8,758,572   

0.591%, 07/15/21 (b)

    5,610,000        5,622,140   

0.611%, 04/15/21 (b)

    4,020,000        4,031,312   

0.741%, 03/15/18 (b)

    4,170,000        4,178,649   

Discover Card Master Trust
0.860%, 11/15/17

    4,210,000        4,216,311   
   

 

 

 
      155,042,814   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Home Equity—0.6%

  

Argent Securities, Inc.
0.530%, 10/25/35 (b)

    1,270,000        1,176,241   

Bayview Financial Acquisition Trust
0.800%, 08/28/44 (b)

    1,082,097        1,081,266   

GSAA Home Equity Trust
1.100%, 02/25/35 (b)

    2,622,000        2,456,347   

Home Loan Trust
5.480%, 06/25/34 (c)

    593,387        613,123   

MASTR Asset Backed Securities Trust
1.265%, 09/25/34 (b)

    1,400,000        1,387,144   

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, Inc. Trust
1.370%, 05/25/33 (b)

    401,199        376,150   

NovaStar Mortgage Funding Trust
1.820%, 03/25/35 (b)

    800,000        786,425   

RAAC Trust
0.870%, 03/25/34 (b)

    644,304        614,236   

Wells Fargo Home Equity Trust
0.540%, 04/25/34 (b)

    1,570,000        1,489,049   
   

 

 

 
      9,979,981   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Manufactured Housing—0.1%

  

ABSC Manufactured Housing Contract Resecuritization Trust
5.019%, 04/16/30 (144A)

    1,230,116      1,242,018   

Conseco Financial Corp.
6.740%, 02/01/31

    43,068        43,062   

CountryPlace Manufactured Housing Contract Trust
4.800%, 12/15/35 (144A) (b)

    112,479        114,825   

Vanderbilt Acquisition Loan Trust
7.330%, 05/07/32 (b)

    260,124        280,809   
   

 

 

 
      1,680,714   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Other—5.9%

  

Aames Mortgage Investment Trust
0.860%, 10/25/35 (b)

    422,368        422,197   

American Homes 4 Rent
1.250%, 06/17/31 (144A) (b)

    2,299,292        2,269,164   

American Residential Properties Trust
1.912%, 09/17/31 (144A) (b)

    7,900,000        7,890,133   

Ameriquest Mortgage Securities, Inc.
0.595%, 08/25/34 (b)

    1,100,669        1,098,389   

0.980%, 06/25/34 (b)

    1,797,700        1,754,454   

Anthracite CDO III, Ltd.
0.714%, 03/23/39 (144A) (b)

    134,168        133,913   

Anthracite, Ltd.
0.522%, 07/26/45

    192,366        191,927   

Apidos CLO XIV
4.850%, 04/15/25 (144A)

    1,710,000        1,640,492   

Arbor Realty Mortgage Securities LLC
0.681%, 02/21/40 (144A) (b)

    195,500        193,863   

ARCap 2004-1 Resecuritization Trust
4.730%, 04/21/24 (144A)

    1,147,372        1,169,298   

Ares CLO, Ltd.
0.500%, 10/11/21 (144A) (b)

    2,287,195        2,222,620   

0.599%, 04/16/21 (144A) (b)

    3,340,000        3,236,123   

Atrium XI
3.435%, 10/23/25 (144A) (b)

    3,650,000        3,568,740   

Babson CLO, Inc.
0.456%, 01/18/21 (144A) (b)

    2,923,990        2,920,005   

Catamaran CLO, Ltd.
3.270%, 10/18/26 (144A) (b)

    2,355,800        2,250,703   

Cent CDO XI, Ltd.
1.033%, 04/25/19 (144A) (b)

    1,150,000        1,113,545   

Cent CLO 22, Ltd.
3.433%, 11/07/26 (144A) (b)

    2,650,000        2,616,639   

Centerline REIT, Inc.
4.760%, 09/21/45 (144A) (b)

    4,728,505        4,834,897   

Chase Funding Trust
5.351%, 02/26/35 (b)

    62,715        62,677   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.
0.320%, 10/25/36 (b)

    208,274        207,858   

Colony American Homes
1.400%, 05/17/31 (144A) (b)

    3,614,254        3,590,968   

ColumbusNova CLO IV, Ltd.
1.481%, 10/15/21 (144A) (b)

    680,000        670,755   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

  

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates
0.680%, 06/25/35 (b)

    612,646      $ 610,820   

0.920%, 03/25/34 (b)

    576,386        549,671   

1.220%, 12/25/34 (b)

    762,902        758,501   

CREST 2004-1, Ltd.
0.723%, 01/28/40 (144A) (b)

    2,649,195        2,631,631   

CT CDO III, Ltd.
5.471%, 06/25/35 (144A)

    2,470,000        2,466,468   

CT CDO IV, Ltd.
0.475%, 10/20/43 (144A) (b)

    3,295,884        3,265,627   

Eaton Vance CLO, Ltd.
2.285%, 07/15/26 (144A) (b)

    778,900        762,655   

3.235%, 07/15/26 (144A) (b)

    668,600        649,481   

Emerson Park CLO, Ltd.
5.640%, 07/15/25 (144A)

    570,000        578,099   

Fairfield Street Solar, Ltd.
0.586%, 11/28/39 (144A) (b)

    1,357,884        1,283,608   

GSAMP Trust
1.175%, 06/25/35 (b)

    1,304,051        1,271,050   

Highbridge Loan Management, Ltd.
5.800%, 10/20/24 (144A)

    510,000        517,185   

Invitation Homes Trust
1.762%, 09/17/31 (144A) (b)

    2,950,000        2,912,482   

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust
0.305%, 05/25/36 (b)

    276,794        272,808   

Landmark IX CDO, Ltd.
0.931%, 04/15/21 (144A) (b)

    940,000        909,777   

Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust
0.640%, 08/25/35 (b)

    1,448,471        1,436,095   

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, Inc. Trust
0.905%, 01/25/35 (b)

    730,696        710,995   

N-Star REL CDO VI, Ltd.
0.573%, 06/16/41 (144A) (b)

    2,036,275        1,978,160   

Newcastle CDO V, Ltd.
0.595%, 12/24/39 (144A) (b)

    981,473        946,591   

Ownit Mortgage Loan Trust
1.100%, 03/25/36 (b)

    2,338,999        2,298,441   

Park Place Securities, Inc.
0.620%, 09/25/35 (b)

    675,000        670,049   

1.107%, 10/25/34 (b)

    294,178        293,089   

1.115%, 02/25/35 (b)

    1,993,763        1,990,667   

Silver Bay Realty Trust
1.165%, 09/17/31 (144A) (b)

    936,085        921,832   

1.615%, 09/17/31 (144A) (b)

    420,000        412,745   

Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust
1.210%, 12/25/34 (b)

    2,789,561        2,740,861   

Structured Asset Securities Corp.
0.470%, 02/25/36 (b)

    1,410,971        1,385,905   

SWAY Residential Trust
1.457%, 01/17/20 (144A) (b)

    3,150,000        3,140,961   

Trade MAPS 1, Ltd.
0.862%, 12/10/18 (144A) (b)

    5,500,000        5,507,123   

West CLO, Ltd.
2.333%, 07/18/26 (144A) (b)

    1,230,000        1,206,855   

3.083%, 07/18/26 (144A) (b)

    3,240,000        3,068,257   
   

 

 

 
      92,207,849   
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $265,199,671)

      265,569,131   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—13.2%   
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—4.2%

  

Fannie Mae 15 Yr. Pool
4.000%, 04/01/26

    3,052,969      3,269,506   

4.000%, 05/01/26

    3,052,923        3,262,759   

4.500%, 09/01/24

    1,480,227        1,598,003   

4.500%, 03/01/25

    2,923,590        3,159,485   

Fannie Mae ARM Pool
1.175%, 03/01/30 (b)

    36,608        37,134   

1.391%, 02/01/44 (b)

    131,200        136,736   

1.611%, 03/01/28 (b)

    18,120        18,810   

1.633%, 11/01/33 (b)

    5,617        5,925   

1.648%, 11/01/33 (b)

    13,754        14,352   

1.781%, 03/01/35 (b)

    70,491        74,391   

1.787%, 11/01/34 (b)

    16,776        17,660   

1.790%, 06/01/32 (b)

    11,349        11,392   

1.790%, 09/01/32 (b)

    16,513        16,978   

1.797%, 12/01/32 (b)

    661,879        702,898   

1.800%, 11/01/32 (b)

    18,130        18,904   

1.809%, 02/01/36 (b)

    120,271        128,223   

1.811%, 03/01/33 (b)

    22,890        23,918   

1.901%, 12/01/34 (b)

    91,160        97,475   

1.915%, 11/01/17 (b)

    15,561        15,677   

1.945%, 11/01/35 (b)

    216,418        228,202   

1.960%, 03/01/36 (b)

    419,698        448,416   

1.965%, 12/01/34 (b)

    128,725        133,122   

1.985%, 09/01/31 (b)

    31,093        31,853   

1.995%, 11/01/32 (b)

    99,431        104,892   

2.000%, 05/01/19 (b)

    58,950        59,487   

2.010%, 06/01/32 (b)

    5,979        6,015   

2.019%, 03/01/37 (b)

    30,125        31,898   

2.021%, 04/01/36 (b)

    90,628        96,032   

2.051%, 08/01/29 (b)

    10,044        10,624   

2.052%, 07/01/33 (b)

    45,108        47,460   

2.058%, 07/01/33 (b)

    91,018        96,977   

2.075%, 05/01/19 (b)

    2,009        2,016   

2.086%, 02/01/25 (b)

    183,883        195,555   

2.097%, 08/01/37 (b)

    45,857        49,137   

2.105%, 12/01/32 (b)

    33,610        35,609   

2.112%, 01/01/36 (b)

    135,875        145,210   

2.116%, 05/01/33 (b)

    30,959        33,136   

2.123%, 10/01/32 (b)

    40,157        42,577   

2.124%, 12/01/32 (b)

    60,882        64,495   

2.128%, 06/01/28 (b)

    2,804        2,943   

2.135%, 06/01/25 (b)

    111,282        114,436   

2.145%, 09/01/39 (b)

    53,336        57,266   

2.155%, 02/01/33 (b)

    41,921        42,502   

2.158%, 10/01/35 (b)

    31,038        31,341   

2.160%, 07/01/35 (b)

    149,109        157,367   

2.169%, 05/01/34 (b)

    54,437        58,217   

2.170%, 10/01/33 (b)

    25,781        26,457   

2.175%, 07/01/36 (b)

    107,051        110,743   

2.180%, 01/01/20 (b)

    124,034        127,595   

2.190%, 12/01/25 (b)

    14,128        14,330   

2.193%, 07/01/33 (b)

    81,439        85,357   

2.207%, 09/01/33 (b)

    14,309        15,191   

2.210%, 02/01/36 (b)

    48,462        51,110   

2.213%, 03/01/33 (b)

    62,468        67,298   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae ARM Pool
2.220%, 08/01/35 (b)

    967,025      $ 1,040,047   

2.223%, 04/01/27 (b)

    12,904        13,611   

2.230%, 08/01/34 (b)

    30,514        32,437   

2.252%, 04/01/34 (b)

    229,222        244,375   

2.267%, 11/01/36 (b)

    4,622,570        4,918,571   

2.275%, 04/01/34 (b)

    35,148        35,935   

2.277%, 12/01/33 (b)

    124,290        132,422   

2.296%, 07/01/25 (b)

    3,006        3,121   

2.298%, 10/01/36 (b)

    17,246        18,385   

2.306%, 08/01/33 (b)

    131,012        137,596   

2.306%, 11/01/36 (b)

    7,177        7,746   

2.311%, 09/01/37 (b)

    6,897        7,415   

2.313%, 03/01/30 (b)

    1,728        1,840   

2.315%, 11/01/35 (b)

    33,659        36,072   

2.323%, 06/01/33 (b)

    48,477        49,902   

2.329%, 11/01/35 (b)

    5,520,275        5,872,259   

2.333%, 09/01/32 (b)

    158,102        159,372   

2.336%, 09/01/35 (b)

    7,684,913        8,188,139   

2.338%, 02/01/32 (b)

    86,171        87,517   

2.339%, 10/01/33 (b)

    47,677        50,261   

2.345%, 02/01/36 (b)

    32,589        34,607   

2.348%, 07/01/35 (b)

    90,542        97,448   

2.351%, 01/01/32 (b)

    15,930        17,097   

2.353%, 09/01/36 (b)

    2,083        2,240   

2.357%, 03/01/38 (b)

    52,495        55,281   

2.359%, 07/01/33 (b)

    89,274        92,876   

2.363%, 06/01/32 (b)

    4,053        4,075   

2.365%, 01/01/33 (b)

    185,310        189,859   

2.375%, 02/01/34 (b)

    88,119        89,976   

2.375%, 03/01/36 (b)

    32,309        34,269   

2.375%, 09/01/37 (b)

    87,938        94,364   

2.380%, 03/01/34 (b)

    105,658        108,293   

2.395%, 01/01/29 (b)

    18,160        18,713   

2.395%, 08/01/30 (b)

    28,123        29,135   

2.395%, 09/01/30 (b)

    104,628        109,128   

2.395%, 01/01/32 (b)

    14,912        14,993   

2.400%, 06/01/35 (b)

    54,044        55,395   

2.403%, 06/01/30 (b)

    23,431        24,068   

2.403%, 12/01/35 (b)

    219,873        226,388   

2.405%, 07/01/32 (b)

    3,954        3,976   

2.410%, 02/01/35 (b)

    80,240        84,624   

2.415%, 08/01/32 (b)

    85,492        89,377   

2.419%, 11/01/35 (b)

    2,989,392        3,213,758   

2.425%, 09/01/32 (b)

    8,735        8,920   

2.425%, 06/01/34 (b)

    42,657        43,719   

2.435%, 04/01/35 (b)

    1,177,357        1,274,083   

2.440%, 06/01/34 (b)

    115,588        116,372   

2.457%, 08/01/32 (b)

    64,706        66,026   

2.481%, 09/01/33 (b)

    108,386        115,434   

2.485%, 11/01/34 (b)

    6,636,774        7,099,078   

2.489%, 07/01/28 (b)

    13,214        13,885   

2.490%, 06/01/26 (b)

    4,833        4,908   

2.495%, 03/01/37 (b)

    19,016        20,312   

2.498%, 08/01/33 (b)

    113,962        122,831   

2.500%, 09/01/33 (b)

    16,691        17,519   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae ARM Pool

   

2.503%, 04/01/36 (b)

    8,017      8,599   

2.526%, 08/01/35 (b)

    59,575        61,659   

2.625%, 10/01/33 (b)

    59,418        60,910   

2.625%, 05/01/34 (b)

    141,245        149,341   

2.650%, 05/01/32 (b)

    13,144        13,233   

2.650%, 08/01/32 (b)

    32,133        32,942   

2.700%, 02/01/25 (b)

    11,898        11,975   

2.919%, 02/01/33 (b)

    154,066        158,112   

3.629%, 05/01/34 (b)

    128,094        131,404   

3.770%, 04/01/40 (b)

    12,935        13,663   

5.175%, 09/01/35 (b)

    33,044        35,074   

5.706%, 03/01/36 (b)

    66,636        71,861   

5.783%, 03/01/36 (b)

    49,368        52,667   

Freddie Mac ARM Non-Gold Pool

   

1.635%, 09/01/37 (b)

    46,316        48,166   

1.838%, 05/01/37 (b)

    16,288        17,083   

1.875%, 09/01/22 (b)

    18,786        18,803   

1.939%, 04/01/18 (b)

    2,830        2,856   

1.945%, 02/01/37 (b)

    89,415        94,138   

1.945%, 04/01/37 (b)

    35,217        37,163   

2.185%, 05/01/28 (b)

    68,159        70,753   

2.237%, 02/01/26 (b)

    26,611        27,526   

2.265%, 07/01/34 (b)

    107,136        109,785   

2.270%, 09/01/30 (b)

    2,963        3,131   

2.282%, 09/01/27 (b)

    6,194        6,613   

2.284%, 11/01/32 (b)

    37,150        39,483   

2.292%, 10/01/22 (b)

    2,900        3,039   

2.318%, 05/01/25 (b)

    26,258        27,616   

2.327%, 09/01/37 (b)

    509,539        543,403   

2.344%, 01/01/35 (b)

    139,259        148,396   

2.351%, 05/01/31 (b)

    41,089        43,111   

2.352%, 03/01/34 (b)

    23,318        24,838   

2.355%, 12/01/33 (b)

    1,078        1,125   

2.356%, 05/01/38 (b)

    75,360        80,537   

2.375%, 03/01/19 (b)

    4,069        4,088   

2.375%, 05/01/34 (b)

    224,909        238,493   

2.375%, 07/01/36 (b)

    47,138        50,454   

2.375%, 02/01/37 (b)

    28,133        30,137   

2.380%, 03/01/35 (b)

    915,289        975,448   

2.384%, 07/01/31 (b)

    20,542        21,321   

2.385%, 08/01/18 (b)

    16,978        17,019   

2.390%, 11/01/24 (b)

    124,023        127,558   

2.393%, 10/01/32 (b)

    54,035        56,472   

2.397%, 01/01/35 (b)

    1,284,195        1,368,981   

2.401%, 09/01/30 (b)

    77,709        81,048   

2.402%, 07/01/35 (b)

    314,382        337,029   

2.409%, 06/01/37 (b)

    432,644        464,180   

2.444%, 07/01/38 (b)

    87,331        92,103   

2.475%, 04/01/34 (b)

    1,045,863        1,122,892   

2.490%, 09/01/30 (b)

    16,026        16,829   

2.493%, 07/01/36 (b)

    135,575        142,121   

2.495%, 05/01/37 (b)

    21,650        23,100   

2.495%, 07/01/37 (b)

    576,652        617,915   

2.514%, 06/01/37 (b)

    5,953,990        6,385,469   

2.562%, 04/01/38 (b)

    71,443        76,848   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Freddie Mac ARM Non-Gold Pool

   

2.564%, 04/01/30 (b)

    81,562      $ 86,055   

2.567%, 04/01/37 (b)

    47,084        50,616   

2.580%, 10/01/37 (b)

    28,906        30,798   

2.656%, 05/01/31 (b)

    21,090        21,971   

2.895%, 06/01/25 (b)

    15,840        16,188   

2.903%, 04/01/35 (b)

    85,497        88,982   

4.173%, 03/01/38 (b)

    285,109        301,397   

5.121%, 04/01/35 (b)

    70,757        74,149   

5.498%, 08/01/24 (b)

    5,964        6,361   

5.536%, 05/01/37 (b)

    68,427        72,479   

5.927%, 01/01/37 (b)

    48,938        51,972   
   

 

 

 
      65,264,620   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—9.0%

   

U.S. Treasury Bond
11.250%, 02/15/15

    4,000,000        4,052,188   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes
0.125%, 04/15/16

    3,227,280        3,217,446   

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.250%, 07/15/15

    3,000,000        3,001,875   

1.750%, 07/31/15

    11,000,000        11,100,980   

1.875%, 06/30/15 (a)

    32,800,000        33,081,883   

4.125%, 05/15/15 (a)

    25,000,000        25,369,150   

4.250%, 08/15/15

    33,000,000        33,826,287   

4.500%, 11/15/15

    27,000,000        27,989,307   
   

 

 

 
      141,639,116   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $215,110,502)

      206,903,736   
   

 

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities—11.7%   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—3.6%

  

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust
2.499%, 02/25/35 (b)

    3,129,016        3,063,413   

American Home Mortgage Investment Trust
1.833%, 10/25/34 (b)

    2,119,736        2,084,684   

Banc of America Mortgage 2003-E Trust
2.733%, 06/25/33 (b)

    1,154,939        1,161,083   

CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
2.060%, 07/25/34 (b)

    1,314,882        1,301,972   

2.461%, 05/25/34 (b)

    2,274,351        2,266,127   

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.
2.498%, 04/25/34 (b)

    2,178,607        2,220,872   

5.000%, 09/25/19

    672,010        699,628   

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust
2.069%, 12/25/34 (b)

    2,181,874        2,129,096   

Granite Master Issuer plc
0.246%, 12/20/54 (b)

    249,757        247,709   

Impac Secured Assets CMN Owner Trust
0.680%, 02/25/35 (b)

    1,120,000        1,046,867   

Kildare Securities, Ltd.
0.358%, 12/10/43 (144A) (b)

    1,169,673        1,164,840   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust
0.330%, 01/25/47 (b)

    1,186,520      1,168,726   

0.370%, 05/25/47 (b)

    730,329        708,476   

MASTR Alternative Loan Trust
5.000%, 02/25/18

    673,417        689,988   

5.000%, 08/25/18

    797,323        822,995   

5.500%, 12/25/18

    626,535        644,895   

5.500%, 04/25/19

    934,390        970,242   

5.554%, 11/25/19 (b)

    881,861        917,336   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust
0.910%, 03/25/28 (b)

    1,031,099        1,010,158   

1.007%, 01/25/29 (b)

    1,273,643        1,187,867   

2.127%, 04/25/35 (b)

    840,451        814,875   

2.327%, 10/25/36 (b)

    1,751,720        1,717,302   

New York Mortgage Trust
0.620%, 02/25/36 (b)

    741,894        679,838   

Sequoia Mortgage Trust
0.485%, 11/20/34 (b)

    686,252        651,310   

0.785%, 07/20/33 (b)

    188,127        176,311   

0.987%, 07/20/33 (b)

    330,402        309,654   

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust
0.610%, 08/25/35 (b)

    1,741,439        1,623,197   

2.415%, 09/25/34 (b)

    3,919,436        3,937,246   

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust
0.864%, 02/19/35 (b)

    1,141,113        1,070,123   

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments Trust
0.894%, 12/19/33 (b)

    513,990        493,866   

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust
0.810%, 09/25/43 (b)

    785,032        749,871   

2.155%, 09/25/37 (b)

    776,785        761,171   

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust
0.400%, 04/25/45 (b)

    3,029,288        2,816,572   

0.460%, 07/25/45 (b)

    1,710,556        1,597,453   

0.460%, 10/25/45 (b)

    4,781,065        4,381,010   

0.500%, 01/25/45 (b)

    3,241,055        3,028,034   

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust
2.597%, 07/25/34 (b)

    1,142,827        1,140,443   

2.611%, 02/25/35 (b)

    2,000,950        2,010,560   

2.614%, 06/25/35 (b)

    1,351,106        1,339,191   

2.630%, 10/25/34 (b)

    2,049,820        2,072,708   
   

 

 

 
      56,877,709   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—8.1%

  

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.460%, 09/10/45 (b)

    5,250,000        5,411,269   

5.695%, 07/10/46 (b)

    5,224,000        5,397,108   

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
5.129%, 10/12/42 (b)

    800,000        801,324   

5.435%, 03/11/39 (b)

    5,211,000        5,365,600   

5.540%, 09/11/41

    2,752,746        2,894,860   

5.611%, 09/11/41 (b)

    5,220,000        5,356,273   

5.707%, 06/11/40 (b)

    4,580,000        4,976,192   

5.743%, 09/11/38 (b)

    1,194,000        1,228,532   

CD Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.226%, 07/15/44 (b)

    2,530,000        2,539,837   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.482%, 10/15/49

    2,000,000      $ 1,954,794   

5.710%, 12/10/49 (b)

    5,000,000        5,337,315   

Colony Multifamily Mortgage Trust
2.543%, 04/20/50 (144A)

    7,862,001        7,824,868   

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust
5.796%, 12/10/49 (b)

    3,142,383        3,400,596   

Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.819%, 07/10/38 (b)

    3,081,720        3,221,300   

G-FORCE LLC
0.470%, 12/25/39 (144A) (b)

    2,047,801        1,927,493   

5.090%, 08/22/36 (144A)

    999,998        1,016,988   

Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corp.
5.475%, 03/10/39

    4,000,000        4,191,052   

5.819%, 07/10/38 (b)

    5,015,000        5,166,020   

Hilton USA Trust
1.157%, 11/05/30 (144A) (b)

    1,970,930        1,971,031   

JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
5.115%, 07/15/41

    149,777        149,922   

5.391%, 12/15/44 (b)

    1,000,000        1,010,992   

5.464%, 12/12/43

    5,000,000        5,167,140   

5.865%, 04/15/45 (b)

    3,120,000        3,141,309   

LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust
4.739%, 07/15/30

    1,538,203        1,547,196   

4.847%, 10/15/36 (144A) (b)

    650,000        669,666   

5.276%, 02/15/41 (b)

    1,230,000        1,243,117   

5.853%, 06/15/38 (b)

    2,000,000        2,083,840   

Mach One 2004-1A ULC
6.197%, 05/28/40 (144A) (b)

    716,685        716,542   

6.237%, 05/28/40 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        1,005,000   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust
5.288%, 11/12/37 (b)

    1,483,000        1,523,249   

ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.409%, 07/12/46 (b)

    2,792,195        2,961,106   

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust
5.412%, 03/12/44 (b)

    2,600,887        2,666,169   

5.492%, 03/12/44 (b)

    3,100,000        3,182,779   

Resource Capital Corp., Ltd.
1.212%, 04/15/32 (144A) (b)

    2,380,000        2,377,394   

Seawall 2006 1, Ltd.
1.407%, 04/15/46

    894,773        888,241   

Talisman-6 Finance plc
0.262%, 10/22/16 (EUR) (b)

    2,552,383        3,011,299   

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust
0.301%, 06/15/20 (144A) (b)

    5,210,000        5,119,763   

5.287%, 03/15/42 (b)

    1,000,000        1,003,633   

5.466%, 01/15/45 (b)

    1,842,289        1,917,873   

5.515%, 01/15/45 (b)

    5,300,000        5,499,513   

5.723%, 05/15/43 (b)

    6,400,000        6,577,867   

5.795%, 07/15/45 (b)

    2,400,000        2,555,119   

5.828%, 10/15/35 (144A) (b)

    1,200,000        1,265,258   
   

 

 

 
      127,266,439   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $183,220,413)

      184,144,148   
   

 

 

 
Floating Rate Loans (g)—6.0%   
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Aerospace/Defense—0.3%

   

FGI Operating Co. LLC
Term Loan, 5.500%, 04/19/19

    3,099,360      3,037,372   

Henniges Automotive Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 06/12/21

    936,188        936,188   

Transdigm, Inc.
Term Loan C, 3.750%, 02/28/20

    405,494        399,243   

Term Loan D, 3.750%, 06/04/21

    237,550        233,631   
   

 

 

 
      4,606,434   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.1%

  

Crowne Group LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.000%, 09/29/20

    1,260,042        1,241,141   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.0%

  

UCI International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 07/26/17

    443,870        442,390   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.0%

  

Guggenheim Partners LLC
Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/22/20

    301,175        299,105   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.5%

  

Arysta LifeScience SPC LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 05/29/20

    2,755,454        2,743,972   

AZ Chem U.S., Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 06/12/21

    1,199,200        1,184,960   

Ineos U.S. Finance LLC
Term Loan, 0.000%, 05/04/18 (d)

    225,262        219,268   

MacDermid, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.000%, 06/07/20

    1,716,050        1,686,556   

OCI Beaumont LLC
Term Loan B3, 5.000%, 08/20/19

    665,381        659,975   

Tronox Pigments (Netherlands) B.V.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 03/19/20

    352,687        347,838   

Univar, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 06/30/17

    339,127        329,014   
   

 

 

 
      7,171,583   
   

 

 

 

Coal—0.1%

  

Bowie Resource Holdings LLC 2nd Lien Delayed Draw
Term Loan, 11.750%, 02/16/21

    371,429        365,857   

Peabody Energy Corp.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 09/24/20

    930,383        845,098   
   

 

 

 
      1,210,955   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.4%

  

Interactive Data Corp.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 05/02/21

    2,732,615        2,719,635   

Moneygram International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 03/27/20

    3,869,069        3,588,561   

Truven Health Analytics, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 06/06/19

    839,779        817,736   
   

 

 

 
      7,125,932   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (g)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Computers—0.2%

  

Dell, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 04/29/20

    1,305,409      $ 1,303,661   

Sungard Availability Services Capital, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 03/31/19

    2,207,123        1,923,876   
   

 

 

 
      3,227,537   
   

 

 

 

Distribution/Wholesale—0.1%

  

Autoparts Holdings, Ltd.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.500%, 07/29/17

    1,009,182        1,006,154   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.1%

  

Doncasters Finance U.S. LLC
Term Loan, 4.500%, 04/09/20

    207,419        206,512   

TransUnion LLC
Term Loan, 4.000%, 04/09/21

    2,048,322        2,023,998   
   

 

 

 
      2,230,510   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.1%

  

Sensus USA, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 05/09/17

    985,487        965,778   
   

 

 

 

Entertainment—0.0%

  

Diamond Resorts Corp.
Term Loan, 5.500%, 05/09/21

    436,976        434,791   

Varsity Brands, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 0.000%, 12/11/21 (d)

    251,232        250,918   
   

 

 

 
      685,709   
   

 

 

 

Food—0.1%

  

Big Heart Pet Brands
Term Loan, 3.500%, 03/08/20

    1,264,454        1,217,037   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.4%

  

Appvion, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.753%, 06/28/19

    784,885        776,546   

Caraustar Industries, Inc.
Term Loan B, 0.000%, 05/08/19 (d)

    2,100,000        2,068,500   

Term Loan B, 7.500%, 05/01/19

    1,135,902        1,129,512   

Exopack Holdings S.A.
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 05/08/19

    2,788,126        2,782,318   
   

 

 

 
      6,756,876   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.0%

  

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 11/03/20

    57,100        55,744   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.8%

  

24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.750%, 05/28/21

    1,966,383        1,898,789   

Community Health Systems, Inc.
Term Loan D, 4.250%, 01/27/21

    2,978,393        2,976,326   

Cyanco Intermediate Corp.
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 05/01/20

    2,847,942        2,762,504   

Healthcare-Services—(Continued)

  

Fitness International LLC
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 07/01/20

    2,375,116      2,291,986   

Millennium Laboratories, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 04/16/21

    870,233        867,242   

U.S. Renal Care, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 07/03/19

    1,428,954        1,409,306   
   

 

 

 
      12,206,153   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—0.1%

  

Cannery Casino Resorts LLC
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 10/02/18

    2,113,066        1,980,118   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—0.2%

  

OSG Bulk Ships, Inc
Term Loan, 5.250%, 08/05/19

    961,464        939,831   

OSG International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.750%, 08/05/19

    1,509,344        1,471,611   
   

 

 

 
      2,411,442   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.1%

  

Connolly Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 05/14/21

    1,445,369        1,439,949   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.2%

  

Onsite U.S. Finco LLC
Term Loan, 5.500%, 07/30/21

    1,685,265        1,668,412   

Travelport Finance (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l.
Term Loan B, 6.000%, 09/02/21

    2,270,395        2,270,963   
   

 

 

 
      3,939,375   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—0.0%

  

Worldpay U.S., Inc.
Term Loan B2A, 0.000%, 11/30/19 (d)

    324,332        324,940   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—0.0%

  

ClubCorp Club Operations, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.500%, 07/24/20

    104,402        103,032   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.2%

  

UTEX Industries, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 05/22/21

    2,802,408        2,606,240   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.0%

  

Drillships Ocean Ventures, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 07/25/21

    416,556        337,931   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.4%

  

Cumulus Media Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 12/23/20

    284,594        275,878   

Radio One, Inc.
Term Loan B, 7.500%, 03/31/16

    1,313,435        1,303,584   

William Morris Endeavor Entertainment LLC
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.250%, 05/06/21

    4,737,471        4,583,503   
   

 

 

 
      6,162,965   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (b)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Metal Fabricate/Hardware—0.0%

  

WireCo WorldGroup, Inc.
Term Loan, 0.000%, 02/15/17 (d)

    39,518      $ 39,592   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.1%

  

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty, Ltd.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/30/19

    2,120,992        1,937,615   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.1%

  

Alfred Fueling Systems, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.750%, 06/20/21

    354,718        348,510   

Citgo Petroleum Corp.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 07/29/21

    181,150        180,697   

Oxbow Carbon LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/19/19

    436,413        402,590   
   

 

 

 
      931,797   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—0.3%

  

Reynolds Group Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/01/18

    3,425,799        3,371,658   

Signode Industrial Group U.S., Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 05/01/21

    752,500        724,281   

TGI Friday’s, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 6.124%, 07/15/20

    37,946        37,851   
   

 

 

 
      4,133,790   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.0%

  

Realogy Corp.
Term Loan B, 0.000%, 03/05/20 (d)

    70,562        69,562   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.7%

  

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.500%, 09/26/19

    2,682,592        2,641,234   

Evergreen Acqco 1 L.P.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 07/09/19

    3,807,140        3,754,792   

Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.750%, 07/26/19

    2,288,649        2,286,361   

J.C. Penney Corp., Inc.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 06/20/19

    387        389   

Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. (The)
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 06/18/21

    892,491        889,144   

Party City Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 07/27/19

    792,257        776,412   
   

 

 

 
      10,348,332   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.0%

  

M/A-COM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.500%, 05/07/21

    393,323        393,323   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.3%

  

BMC Software Finance, Inc.
Revolver, 0.500%, 09/10/18 (e)

    1,825,218        1,688,326   

Term Loan, 5.000%, 09/10/20

    3,966,470        3,856,155   
   

 

 

 
      5,544,481   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.0%

  

Presidio, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 03/31/17

    529,847      530,178   
   

 

 

 

Trucking & Leasing—0.1%

  

Global TIP Finance B.V.
Term Loan C, 7.000%, 10/23/20

    879,728        875,330   
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loans
(Cost $96,627,440)

      94,559,030   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—3.5%   

Banks—0.5%

  

Export-Import Bank of China (The)
2.500%, 07/31/19 (144A)

    6,000,000        5,998,098   

Korea Monetary Stabilization Bond
2.470%, 04/02/15 (KRW)

    1,800,000,000        1,639,217   
   

 

 

 
      7,637,315   
   

 

 

 

Sovereign—3.0%

  

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional
6.000%, 08/15/18 (BRL)

    600,000        563,228   

Hungary Government Bonds
5.500%, 12/22/16 (HUF)

    448,490,000        1,830,747   

5.500%, 12/20/18 (HUF)

    307,110,000        1,285,023   

6.750%, 11/24/17 (HUF)

    3,690,000        15,757   

7.750%, 08/24/15 (HUF)

    3,800,000        15,109   

8.000%, 02/12/15 (HUF)

    12,120,000        46,605   

Korea Treasury Bonds
2.750%, 12/10/15 (KRW)

    1,273,840,000        1,166,041   

2.750%, 06/10/16 (KRW)

    1,600,000,000        1,468,763   

3.000%, 12/10/16 (KRW)

    11,490,000,000        10,629,152   

3.250%, 06/10/15 (KRW)

    186,850,000        170,839   

Malaysia Government Bonds
3.172%, 07/15/16 (MYR)

    7,600,000        2,160,237   

3.197%, 10/15/15 (MYR)

    4,010,000        1,143,408   

3.741%, 02/27/15 (MYR)

    6,115,000        1,749,761   

3.835%, 08/12/15 (MYR)

    16,155,000        4,631,012   

4.720%, 09/30/15 (MYR)

    2,530,000        729,484   

Mexican Bonos
6.000%, 06/18/15 (MXN)

    101,000        6,936   

6.250%, 06/16/16 (MXN)

    17,287,000        1,215,497   

7.250%, 12/15/16 (MXN)

    83,849,000        6,062,066   

8.000%, 12/17/15 (MXN)

    50,714,000        3,589,236   

Philippine Government Bond
7.000%, 01/27/16 (PHP)

    80,000,000        1,871,284   

Poland Government Bonds
Zero Coupon, 07/25/15 (PLN)

    820,000        229,460   

2.690%, 01/25/17 (PLN) (b)

    5,746,000        1,622,518   

2.690%, 01/25/21 (PLN) (b)

    5,829,000        1,620,785   

5.000%, 04/25/16 (PLN)

    8,225,000        2,417,867   

5.500%, 04/25/15 (PLN)

    561,000        160,331   

6.250%, 10/24/15 (PLN)

    1,551,000        453,444   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal/
Notional
Amount*
    Value  

Sovereign—(Continued)

  

Republic of Serbia
5.250%, 11/21/17 (144A)

    1,200,000      $ 1,232,400   
   

 

 

 
      48,086,990   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $60,220,356)

      55,724,305   
   

 

 

 
Municipals—1.5%   

Acalanes Union High School District, General Obligation Unlimited
1.427%, 08/01/18

    1,000,000        985,280   

City of Cleveland, Ohio, Public Improvements, General Obligation, Ltd.
2.250%, 12/01/15

    1,295,000        1,317,624   

New York State Urban Development Corp., Revenue, Refunding
5.000%, 01/01/15

    2,000,000        2,000,000   

Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp.
Zero Coupon, 08/01/45

    3,655,000        523,359   

Zero Coupon, 08/01/46

    500,000        67,185   

Reading School District, Refunding, General Obligation Unlimited
5.000%, 04/01/15

    2,500,000        2,522,750   

State Board of Administration Finance Corp.
2.107%, 07/01/18

    2,000,000        2,013,840   

State of Arkansas
3.250%, 06/15/22

    985,000        1,066,499   

State of California
0.655%, 07/01/41 (b)

    5,615,000        5,624,602   

0.656%, 07/01/41 (b)

    260,000        260,445   

State of Illinois, Refunding, General Obligation Unlimited
5.000%, 01/01/16

    2,500,000        2,607,725   

State of Minnesota
2.500%, 08/01/18

    1,250,000        1,287,112   

State of Rhode Island
5.000%, 08/01/19

    2,250,000        2,605,140   
   

 

 

 

Total Municipals
(Cost $23,279,638)

      22,881,561   
   

 

 

 
Purchased Options—0.0%   

Put Options—0.0%

  

Markit CDX North America High Yield Index, Series 23, Exercise Price $103.50,
Expires 03/18/15 (Counterparty - Credit Suisse International)

    11,500,000        121,570   

Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index, Series 23, Exercise Rate 0.650%,
Expires 03/18/15 (Counterparty - Credit Suisse International)

    24,000,000        94,711   
   

 

 

 

Total Purchased Options
(Cost $417,700)

      216,281   
   

 

 

 
Common Stock—0.0%   
Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Paper & Forest Products—0.0%

  

NewPage Holding, Inc.
(Cost $277,205)

    1,200      109,800   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—14.6%   

Discount Note—0.6%

  

Federal Home Loan Bank
0.010%, 01/02/15 (f)

    8,835,000        8,835,000   
   

 

 

 

Mutual Fund—4.8%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending
MET Portfolio (h)

    75,775,580        75,775,580   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—7.4%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills
0.013%, 03/05/15 (f)

    7,000,000        6,999,790   

0.016%, 01/02/15 (f)

    50,000,000        50,000,000   

0.019%, 01/15/15 (f)

    25,000,000        24,999,775   

0.019%, 02/05/15 (f)

    25,000,000        24,999,400   

0.024%, 03/12/15 (a) (f)

    10,000,000        9,999,520   
   

 

 

 
      116,998,485   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—1.8%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $28,175,233 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $28,750,000 U.S. Treasury Notes ranging from 0.375% - 0.750%, maturity dates ranging from 03/31/16 - 03/31/18 with a value of $28,741,488.

    28,175,233        28,175,233   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $229,784,522)

      229,784,298   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—102.9%
(Cost $1,626,746,628)

      1,619,133,690   

Unfunded Loan
Commitments—(0.1)%
(Cost $(1,825,218))

      (1,825,218

Net Investments—102.8%
(Cost $1,624,921,410) (i)

      1,617,308,472   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(2.8)%

      (43,374,497
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,573,933,975   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal and notional amounts stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $73,707,863 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $75,775,580. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian.
(b) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(c) Security is a “step-up” bond where coupon increases or steps up at a predetermined date. Rate shown is current coupon rate.
(d) This loan will settle after December 31, 2014, at which time the interest rate will be determined.
(e) Unfunded or partially unfunded loan commitments. The Portfolio may enter into certain credit agreements for which all or a portion may be unfunded. The Portfolio is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion.
(f) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(g) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.
(h) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(i) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,642,650,659. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $12,908,896 and $(38,251,083), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(25,342,187) for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $238,430,496, which is 15.1% of net assets.
(ARM)— Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(CDO)— Collateralized Debt Obligation
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(CLO)— Collateralized Loan Obligation
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(HUF)— Hungarian Forint
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(KRW)— South Korea Won
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(MYR)— Malaysian Ringgit
(PHP)— Philippine Peso
(PLN)— Polish Zloty

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
CAD     131,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         118,535         $ (5,796
CAD     185,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         167,406           (8,194
CAD     211,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         190,930           (9,342
CAD     262,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         237,053           (11,574
CAD     259,000      

Citibank N.A.

       01/09/15           USD         231,271           (8,374
CAD     130,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         116,885           (5,007
CAD     132,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         119,457           (5,857
CAD     194,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         173,471           (6,514
CAD     260,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         234,023           (10,266
CAD     261,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         235,666           (11,048
CAD     165,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       02/09/15           USD         147,668           (5,764
CAD     132,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       02/09/15           USD         118,126           (4,603
CAD     144,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       02/09/15           USD         128,868           (5,025
CAD     1,042,200      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         950,046           (54,302
CHF     1,440,250      

Deutsche Bank AG

       04/16/15           USD         1,593,197           (141,663
CLP     387,880,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         671,537           (36,391
CLP     1,133,875,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/09/15           USD         1,965,121           (108,422
EUR     5,500,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         7,534,725           (879,165
EUR     2,211,174      

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/09/15           USD         3,076,738           (400,137
JPY     609,216,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         5,701,600           (615,347
SGD     631,300      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         500,436           (23,908
SGD     1,623,132      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         1,290,248           (66,351
SGD     2,637,300      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         2,103,781           (115,167
SGD     1,629,622      

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       03/09/15           USD         1,297,367           (68,576
SGD     3,496,264      

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       06/18/15           USD         2,706,977           (73,218

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     1,997,503      

Deutsche Bank AG

       06/18/15           USD         1,598,002         $ (14,205
CHF     1,440,250      

Deutsche Bank AG

       04/16/15           USD         1,621,355           169,821   
CLP     387,880,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         631,726           (3,420
CLP     1,133,875,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/09/15           USD         1,847,906           (8,794
EUR     183,001      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         251,884           30,435   
EUR     6,173,855      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         8,434,473           963,481   
EUR     3,539,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         4,798,884           516,334   
EUR     3,112,056      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         4,250,664           484,759   
EUR     2,174,938      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         2,941,822           309,925   
EUR     2,105,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         2,844,276           297,012   
EUR     1,439,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         1,949,269           207,933   
EUR     434,458      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         587,040           61,301   
EUR     87,929      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/09/15           USD         120,979           14,576   
EUR     3,060,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/09/15           USD         4,250,034           545,938   
EUR     2,752,764      

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/09/15           USD         3,796,502           464,312   
EUR     395,300      

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/09/15           USD         547,945           69,439   
EUR     178,275      

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/09/15           USD         247,606           31,806   
EUR     198,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/09/15           USD         276,230           36,553   
EUR     198,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/09/15           USD         275,305           35,628   
EUR     198,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/09/15           USD         274,731           35,054   
EUR     158,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/09/15           USD         219,688           28,431   
EUR     118,600      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/09/15           USD         164,561           20,997   
EUR     2,909,965      

Citibank N.A.

       03/09/15           USD         4,037,315           514,045   
EUR     3,500,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         4,797,800           560,139   
EUR     2,433,206      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         3,314,756           368,728   
EUR     1,824,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         2,520,768           312,341   
EUR     1,687,455      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         2,300,339           257,235   
EUR     1,070,160      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         1,458,735           163,028   
EUR     843,663      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         1,164,677           143,203   
EUR     755,100      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         1,028,295           114,050   
EUR     715,290      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         980,520           114,475   
EUR     626,821      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         853,605           94,675   
EUR     513,104      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         711,522           90,276   
EUR     400,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         552,240           67,936   
EUR     366,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         495,667           52,528   
EUR     346,239      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         479,991           60,779   
EUR     300,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         414,600           51,372   
EUR     203,152      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         281,609           35,641   
EUR     93,500      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         127,459           14,253   
EUR     35,796      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         48,781           5,441   
EUR     6,170,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

       03/09/15           USD         8,525,398           1,055,007   
EUR     2,350,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

       03/09/15           USD         3,247,113           401,826   
EUR     693,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

       03/09/15           USD         949,791           110,734   
EUR     31,978      

Barclays Bank plc

       05/07/15           USD         41,391           2,651   
EUR     21,514      

Barclays Bank plc

       05/07/15           USD         27,819           1,756   
EUR     17,272      

Barclays Bank plc

       05/07/15           USD         23,110           2,186   
EUR     46,169      

Citibank N.A.

       05/07/15           USD         61,844           5,913   
EUR     5,933      

Citibank N.A.

       05/07/15           USD         7,947           760   
EUR     6,294,833      

Deutsche Bank AG

       05/07/15           USD         8,577,969           952,157   
EUR     5,445,686      

Deutsche Bank AG

       05/07/15           USD         7,463,857           866,736   
EUR     5,330,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       05/07/15           USD         7,016,945           559,970   
EUR     1,905,310      

Deutsche Bank AG

       05/07/15           USD         2,597,128           288,959   
EUR     1,046,650      

Deutsche Bank AG

       05/07/15           USD         1,410,256           142,303   
EUR     1,000,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       05/07/15           USD         1,340,200           128,760   
EUR     923,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       05/07/15           USD         1,249,742           131,583   
EUR     1,618,079      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       05/07/15           USD         2,074,183           113,978   
EUR     3,200,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       06/18/15           USD         3,992,640           114,285   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
GBP     2,053,243      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         3,358,901         $ 158,814   
GBP     1,030,342      

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/09/15           USD         1,707,431           101,982   
JPY     42,660,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         417,703           61,541   
JPY     21,350,000      

Barclays Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         209,049           30,801   
JPY     85,250,000      

Citibank N.A.

       01/09/15           USD         834,500           122,760   
JPY     42,570,000      

Citibank N.A.

       01/09/15           USD         415,865           60,454   
JPY     3,025,280,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         29,064,079           3,806,469   
JPY     40,500,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         399,448           61,319   
JPY     14,279,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/09/15           USD         139,798           20,585   
JPY     42,760,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

       01/09/15           USD         417,639           60,643   
JPY     64,350,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       01/09/15           USD         637,148           99,899   
JPY     64,319,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/09/15           USD         637,043           100,053   
JPY     42,710,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/09/15           USD         417,489           60,910   
JPY     42,690,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/09/15           USD         418,038           61,625   
JPY     480,350,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         4,695,503           683,079   
JPY     436,983,750      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         4,277,863           627,683   
JPY     55,178,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         541,758           80,849   
JPY     29,200,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         285,575           41,663   
JPY     88,300,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       03/09/15           USD         863,823           126,242   
JPY     82,910,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/09/15           USD         810,614           118,056   
JPY     81,810,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/09/15           USD         800,067           116,697   
JPY     59,880,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/09/15           USD         585,603           85,418   
JPY     34,500,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/09/15           USD         337,897           49,715   
JPY     281,655,500      

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       03/09/15           USD         2,765,463           412,759   
JPY     265,900,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

       03/09/15           USD         2,618,750           397,653   
JPY     258,876,042      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       09/02/16           USD         2,538,000           339,196   
SGD     2,120,800      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           USD         1,599,276           121   

Cross Currency Contracts to Buy

 
EUR     3,167,289      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           SEK         29,334,800           70,949   
SEK     29,334,800      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/09/15           EUR         3,216,253           (130,232
                      

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 17,344,717   
                      

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Short

   Expiration
Date
   Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

   03/20/15      (40     USD         (5,661,462   $ (121,037

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

   03/20/15      (333     USD         (42,118,464     (104,895

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

   03/31/15      (430     USD         (51,242,758     102,992   

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures

   03/20/15      (8     USD         (1,273,799     (47,701
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Depreciation

  

  $ (170,641
            

 

 

 

Written Options

 

Credit Default
Swaptions

  Strike
Rate/Price
 

Counterparty

 

Reference
Obligation

  Buy/Sell
Protection
  Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Put - OTC - 5 Year Credit Default Swap

 

  0.850%

 

Credit Suisse International

  Markit CDX North
America Investment Grade Index, Series 23
  Sell     03/18/15        USD        (24,000,000   $ (70,320   $ (34,299   $ 36,021   

Put - OTC - 5 Year Credit Default Swap

 

$99.00

 

Credit Suisse International

  Markit CDX North America High Yield Index, Series 23   Sell     03/18/15        USD        (11,500,000     (117,300     (45,757     71,543   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (187,620   $ (80,056   $ 107,564   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Swap Agreements

 

Cross-Currency Swaps

 

Receive

 

Pay

  Maturity
Date(a)
    Counterparty   Notional
Amount of
Currency
Received
    Notional
Amount of
Currency
Delivered
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Floating rate equal to 3-Month USD-LIBOR based on the notional amount of currency delivered

  Fixed rate equal to 2.125% based on the notional amount of currency received     10/13/17      Citibank N.A.   $ 2,241,399        CHF        2,000,000      $ 232,085      $      $ 232,085   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) At the maturity date, the notional amount of the the currency received will be exchanged back for the notional amount of the currency delivered.

Total Return Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

  Floating
Rate Index
  Maturity
Date
    Counterparty  

Underlying
Reference
Instrument

  Notional
Amount
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Pay

  3-Month USD-LIBOR-BBA     03/20/15      JPMorgan Chase
Bank N.A.
  Markit IBOXX USD Liquid Leveraged Loan Total Return     USD        8,000,000      $ (48,140   $      $ (48,140

Pay

  3-Month
USD-LIBOR-BBA
    09/21/15      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit IBOXX USD Liquid Leveraged Loan Total Return     USD        10,300,000        27,738               27,738   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (20,402   $      $ (20,402
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate Issues—Buy Protection (a)   

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
(Pay) Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Bank of America Corp.
5.000%, due 01/15/15

    (1.000%)        09/20/17      Credit Suisse International     0.383%        USD        2,000,000      $ (33,371)      $ 4,498      $ (37,869)   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
9.125%, due 05/15/19

    (5.000%)        06/20/19      Credit Suisse International     3.818%        USD        2,000,000        (96,183)        (86,028)        (10,155)   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
9.125%, due 05/15/19

    (5.000%)        06/20/19      Credit Suisse International     3.818%        USD        5,000,000        (240,458)        (249,868)        9,410   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
9.125%, due 05/15/19

    (5.000%)        06/20/19      Credit Suisse International     3.818%        USD        5,000,000        (240,458)        (228,025)        (12,433)   

Centex Corp.
5.250%, due 06/15/15

    (5.000%)        06/20/15      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.066%        USD        3,000,000        (70,208)        (137,578)        67,370   

Centex Corp.
5.250%, due 06/15/15

    (5.000%)        06/20/16      Credit Suisse International     0.112%        USD        6,000,000        (434,612)        (737,831)        303,219   

Constellation Brands, Inc.
7.250%, due 09/01/16

    (5.000%)        09/20/16      Barclays Bank plc     0.322%        USD        2,000,000        (161,851)        (241,928)        80,077   

Constellation Brands, Inc.
7.250%, due 09/01/16

    (5.000%)        06/20/17      Barclays Bank plc     0.458%        USD        2,000,000        (223,582)        (262,181)        38,599   

D.R. Horton, Inc.
5.250% due 02/15/15

    (5.000%)        03/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.263%        USD        3,425,000        (199,265)        (394,626)        195,361   

D.R. Horton, Inc.
5.250% due 02/15/15

    (5.000%)        06/20/17      Citibank N.A.     0.694%        USD        2,000,000        (211,401)        (281,353)        69,952   

DPL, Inc.
7.250%, due 10/25/21

    (5.000%)        12/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     1.655%        USD        1,131,000        (73,699)        (104,572)        30,873   

Dean Foods Co.
7.000%, due 06/01/16

    (5.000%)        06/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.551%        USD        1,771,000        (116,297)        (171,491)        55,194   

Dell, Inc.
7.100%, due 04/15/28

    (1.000%)        06/20/16      Citibank N.A.     0.500%        USD        1,500,000        (11,061)        (2,575)        (8,486)   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Swap Agreements—(Continued)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
(Pay) Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Dish DBS Corp.
6.750%, due 06/01/21

    (5.000%)        03/20/16      Barclays Bank plc     0.754%        USD        2,500,000      $ (129,776)      $ (162,053)      $ 32,277   

Embarq Corp.
7.082%, due 06/01/16

    (5.000%)        06/20/16      Credit Suisse International     0.294%        USD        2,071,000        (144,174)        (247,588)        103,414   

First Data Corp.
12.625%, due 01/15/21

    (5.000%)        03/20/15      Barclays Bank plc     0.528%        USD        400,000        (3,920)        (24,925)        21,005   

First Data Corp.
12.625%, due 01/15/21

    (5.000%)        03/20/15      Barclays Bank plc     0.528%        USD        2,600,000        (25,478)        (120,307)        94,829   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
5.000%, due 05/15/18

    (5.000%)        06/20/15      Credit Suisse International     0.149%        USD        10,000,000        (229,950)        (837,653)        607,703   

Hospitality Properties Trust
5.125%, due 02/15/15

    (5.000%)        03/20/17      Credit Suisse International     0.522%        USD        5,000,000        (488,194)        (663,898)        175,704   

Lennar Corp.
4.750%, due 12/15/17

    (5.000%)        09/20/19      Citibank N.A.     1.896%        USD        1,350,000        (185,031)        (155,949)        (29,082)   

Lennar Corp.
4.750%, due 12/15/17

    (5.000%)        09/20/19      Credit Suisse International     1.896%        USD        2,000,000        (274,120)        (285,162)        11,042   

Lennar Corp.
4.750%, due 12/15/17

    (5.000%)        12/20/19      Citibank N.A.     2.008%        USD        2,000,000        (275,978)        (264,588)        (11,390)   

PPL Energy Supply LLC
5.500%, due 05/01/18

    (5.000%)        06/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.607%        USD        3,000,000        (194,587)        (252,981)        58,394   

PPL Energy Supply LLC
6.500%, due 05/01/18

    (5.000%)        06/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.607%        USD        3,000,000        (194,587)        (253,214)        58,627   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.
6.875%, due 11/15/31

    (5.000%)        12/05/16      Barclays Bank plc     0.851%        USD        3,500,000        (284,819)        (322,116)        37,297   

Toll Brothers, Inc.
5.150%, due 05/15/15

    (5.000%)        06/20/15      Credit Suisse International     0.190%        USD        3,000,000        (68,414)        (330,262)        261,848   

Toll Brothers, Inc.
5.150%, due 05/15/15

    (5.000%)        06/20/15      Credit Suisse International     0.190%        USD        3,000,000        (68,414)        (316,024)        247,610   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (4,679,888)      $ (7,130,278)      $ 2,450,390   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate and Sovereign Issues—Sell Protection (d)   

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
6.950%, due 06/15/19

    1.000%        09/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     1.108%        USD        3,100,000      $ (15,143)      $ 74,922      $ (90,065)   

Bank of America Corp.
5.650%, due 05/01/18

    1.000%        09/20/17      Credit Suisse International     0.383%        USD        2,000,000        33,371        (4,498)        37,869   

Beazer Home USA, Inc.
9.125%, due 05/15/19

    5.000%        09/20/19      Citibank N.A.     4.052%        USD        1,350,000        54,351        28,152        26,199   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
9.125%, due 05/15/19

    5.000%        12/20/19      Citibank N.A.     4.256%        USD        2,000,000        65,655        59,704        5,951   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
1.900%, due 01/31/17

    1.000%        09/20/15      Barclays Bank plc     0.083%        USD        1,800,000        12,026        21,363        (9,337)   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
2.450%, due 05/15/15

    1.000%        09/20/17      Barclays Bank plc     0.281%        USD        6,000,000        117,077        (84,614)        201,691   

Celanese U.S. Holdings LLC
3.246%, due 10/31/16

    1.800%        06/20/16      Credit Suisse International     0.564%        USD        500,000        9,068               9,068   

First Data Corp.
12.625%, due 01/15/21

    5.000%        03/20/16      Barclays Bank plc     0.605%        USD        2,000,000        107,578        (5,000)        112,578   

First Data Corp.
12.625%, due 01/15/21

    5.000%        03/20/16      Barclays Bank plc     0.605%        USD        1,000,000        53,789        39,817        13,972   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
5.000%, due 05/15/18

    5.000%        03/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     0.648%        USD        3,000,000        533,217        596,396        (63,179)   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Swap Agreements—(Continued)

 

Reference
Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

IHeart Communications, Inc.
6.875%, due 06/15/18

    5.000%        12/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     9.232%        USD        1,600,000      $ (123,067)      $ (160,000)      $ 36,933   

Obrigacoes Do Tesouro
4.950%, due 10/25/23

    1.000%        09/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     1.687%        USD        2,600,000        (78,967)        (139,372)        60,405   

Obrigacoes Do Tesouro
4.950%, due 10/25/23

    1.000%        09/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     3.223%        USD        4,000,000        (374,602)        (197,893)        (176,709)   

PSEG Power LLC
5.500%, due 12/01/15

    1.000%        06/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.882%        USD        4,000,000        20,459        (15,384)        35,843   

PSEG Power LLC
5.500%, due 12/01/15

    1.000%        09/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.963%        USD        1,600,000        2,706        (12,992)        15,698   

Republic of Lithuania
4.500%, due 03/05/13

    1.000%        06/20/16      Credit Suisse International     0.391%        USD        400,000        3,605        (18,566)        22,171   

Tate & Lyle International Financial plc
6.750%, due 11/25/19

    1.000%        09/20/19      Citibank N.A.     0.901%        EUR        2,300,000        12,787        52,058        (39,271)   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.
6.875%, due 11/15/31

    5.000%        12/20/18      Barclays Bank plc     2.374%        USD        2,500,000        246,194        169,065        77,129   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

$ 680,104    $ 403,158    $ 276,946   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Credit Indices—Sell Protection (d)   

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
     Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Markit CMBX North America, AM Tranche, Series 2

    0.500%        03/15/49      Credit Suisse International     0.000%         USD        1,900,000      $ (19,166)      $ (27,906)      $ 8,740   

Markit CMBX North America, AM Tranche, Series 2

    0.500%        03/15/49      Credit Suisse International     0.000%         USD        3,460,000        (34,903)        (48,656)        13,753   

Markit MCDX North America, Series 21

    1.000%        12/20/18      Citibank N.A.     1.088%         USD        4,000,000        (12,632)        (78,611)        65,979   

Markit MCDX North America, Series 23

    1.000%        12/20/19      Citibank N.A.     0.833%         USD        3,300,000        24,739        22,701        2,038   
              

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (41,962)      $ (132,472)      $ 90,510   
              

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash in the amount of $1,730,000 and securities in the amount of $304,356 have been deposited in segregated accounts held by the counterparties as collateral for forward foreign exchange contracts and swap contracts.

 

(a) If the Portfolio is a buyer of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Portfolio will either (i) receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index.
(b) Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate issues or indices as of period end serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced entity or obligation.
(c) The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted payments that the Portfolio could be required to make under a credit default swap contract would be the notional amount of the contract. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the referenced debt obligation or net amounts received from the settlement of purchased protection credit default swap contracts entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced debt obligation.
(d) If the Portfolio is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Portfolio will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index.

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(CLP)— Chilean Peso
(CMBX)— Commercial Mortgage-Backed Index
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(LIBOR)— London InterBank Offered Rate
(MCDX)— Municipal Single Name Index
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar
(USD)— United States Dollar

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

   $       $ 559,241,400      $       $ 559,241,400   

Total Asset-Backed Securities*

             265,569,131                265,569,131   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

             206,903,736                206,903,736   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

             184,144,148                184,144,148   

Total Floating Rate Loans (Less Unfunded Loan Commitments)*

             92,733,812                92,733,812   

Total Foreign Government*

             55,724,305                55,724,305   

Total Municipals

             22,881,561                22,881,561   

Total Purchased Options*

             216,281                216,281   

Total Common Stock*

             109,800                109,800   
Short-Term Investments           

Discount Note

             8,835,000                8,835,000   

Mutual Fund

     75,775,580                        75,775,580   

U.S. Treasury

             116,998,485                116,998,485   

Repurchase Agreement

             28,175,233                28,175,233   

Total Short-Term Investments

     75,775,580         154,008,718                229,784,298   

Total Net Investments

   $ 75,775,580       $ 1,541,532,892      $       $ 1,617,308,472   
                                    

Collateral for Securities Loaned (Liability)

   $       $ (75,775,580   $       $ (75,775,580

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $      $ 20,181,379      $       $ 20,181,379   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

            (2,836,662             (2,836,662

Total Forward Contracts

   $      $ 17,344,717      $       $ 17,344,717   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 102,992      $      $       $ 102,992   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (273,633                    (273,633

Total Futures Contracts

   $ (170,641   $      $       $ (170,641

Written Options at Value

            (80,056             (80,056
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $      $ 1,556,445      $       $ 1,556,445   

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

            (5,386,508             (5,386,508

Total OTC Swap Contracts

   $      $ (3,830,063   $       $ (3,830,063

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b) (c)

   $ 1,617,308,472   

Cash

     2,747,100   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (d)

     8,496,075   

Cash collateral (e)

     3,528,252   

OTC swap contracts at market value (f)

     1,556,445   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     20,181,379   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     3,324,860   

Fund shares sold

     855,828   

Principal paydowns

     183,389   

Dividends and interest

     7,222,478   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     44,220   

Prepaid expenses

     4,011   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,665,452,509   

Liabilities

  

Written options at value (g)

     80,056   

OTC swap contracts at market value (h)

     5,386,508   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     2,836,662   

Collateral for securities loaned

     75,775,580   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     5,793,824   

Fund shares redeemed

     390,042   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     154,031   

Payable for premium on purchased options

     376   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     142,786   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     627,680   

Distribution and service fees

     70,686   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     50,253   

Other expenses

     210,050   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     91,518,534   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,573,933,975   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,577,451,386   

Undistributed net investment income

     29,425,641   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (45,284,052

Unrealized appreciation on investments, written options, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     12,341,000   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,573,933,975   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 1,243,725,247   

Class B

     330,208,728   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     124,688,683   

Class B

     33,290,901   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 9.97   

Class B

     9.92   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,624,921,410.
(b) Investments at value includes unfunded loan commitments of $1,825,218.
(c) Includes securities loaned at value of $73,707,863.
(d) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $8,789,486.
(e) Includes collateral of $892,189 for futures contracts, $1,063 for centrally cleared swap contracts and $2,635,000 for OTC swap contracts.
(f) Net premium paid on OTC swap contracts was $848,202.
(g) Premiums received on written options were $187,620.
(h) Net premium received on OTC swap contracts was $7,707,794.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 41,225   

Interest (a)

     30,620,627   

Securities lending income

     17,677   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     30,679,529   
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Management fees

     7,410,262   

Administration fees

     35,189   

Custodian and accounting fees

     401,158   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     832,688   

Audit and tax services

     94,683   

Legal

     34,300   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,757   

Shareholder reporting

     36,266   

Insurance

     8,670   

Miscellaneous

     13,415   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     8,910,388   

Less management fee waiver

     (278,855
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     8,631,533   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     22,047,996   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     3,534,888   

Futures contracts

     (3,084,926

Written options

     (82,659

Swap contracts

     (1,948,950

Foreign currency transactions

     (4,054,505
  

 

 

 

Net realized loss

     (5,636,152
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (19,634,876

Futures contracts

     (930,506

Written options

     79,143   

Swap contracts

     2,035,905   

Foreign currency transactions

     19,832,716   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     1,382,382   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (4,253,770
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 17,794,226   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $107,364.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 22,047,996      $ 17,663,197   

Net realized gain (loss)

     (5,636,152     2,299,964   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     1,382,382        (3,186,750
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     17,794,226        16,776,411   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (24,484,757     (17,639,187

Class B

     (7,133,230     (1,756,188
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (31,617,987     (19,395,375
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     236,366,758        327,760,599   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     222,542,997        325,141,635   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,351,390,978        1,026,249,343   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,573,933,975      $ 1,351,390,978   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 29,425,641      $ 32,225,765   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     17,789,482      $ 176,824,635        14,696,535      $ 147,589,727   

Reinvestments

     2,470,712        24,484,757        1,763,919        17,639,187   

Redemptions

     (2,330,215     (23,267,025     (2,592,610     (25,943,588
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     17,929,979      $ 178,042,367        13,867,844      $ 139,285,326   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     13,809,843      $ 137,911,876        22,871,088      $ 228,235,754   

Reinvestments

     722,718        7,133,230        176,147        1,756,188   

Redemptions

     (8,722,431     (86,720,715     (4,153,055     (41,516,669
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     5,810,130      $ 58,324,391        18,894,180      $ 188,475,273   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 236,366,758        $ 327,760,599   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data  
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.08       $ 10.12       $ 9.88       $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (b)

     0.15         0.16         0.17         0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.03      (0.02      0.29         (0.21
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.12         0.14         0.46         (0.12
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

           

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.23      (0.18      (0.22      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.23      (0.18      (0.22      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 9.97       $ 10.08       $ 10.12       $ 9.88   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     1.17  (e)       1.33         4.67         (1.20 ) (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.53         0.55         0.57         0.59  (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (g)

     0.51         0.52         0.53         0.56  (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.51         1.55         1.70         1.40  (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     59         67         60         76  (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,243.7       $ 1,075.7       $ 939.7       $ 809.9   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.03       $ 10.08       $ 9.86       $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (b)

     0.13         0.13         0.14         0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.02      (0.01      0.29         (0.23
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.11         0.12         0.43         (0.14
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

           

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.22      (0.17      (0.21      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.22      (0.17      (0.21      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 9.92       $ 10.03       $ 10.08       $ 9.86   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     1.06         1.16         4.40         (1.40 ) (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.78         0.80         0.82         0.84  (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (g)

     0.76         0.77         0.78         0.81  (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.26         1.32         1.45         1.37  (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     59         67         60         76  (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 330.2       $ 275.7       $ 86.6       $ 52.5   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 29, 2011.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Generally accepted accounting principles may require adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Portfolio at period end for financial reporting purposes, and as such, the net asset values for shareholder transactions and the returns based on those net asset values may differ from the returns reported in the portfolio manager commentary section of this report.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Includes the effects of management fee waivers and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered two classes of shares: Class A and B shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946- Financial Services- Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, swap transactions, premium amortization adjustments and paydown transactions. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $28,175,233, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Unfunded Loan Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into certain credit agreements, all or a portion of which may be unfunded. The Portfolio is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion. These commitments, if any, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had open unfunded loan commitments of $1,825,218. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover these commitments.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

The purpose of inflation-capped options is to protect the buyer from inflation, above a specified rate, eroding the value of investments in inflation-linked products with a given notional exposure. Inflation-capped options are used to give downside protection to investments in inflation-linked products by establishing a floor on the value of such products.

Options on swaps (“swaptions”) are similar to options on securities except that instead of selling or purchasing the right to buy or sell a security, the writer or purchaser of the swaptions is granting or buying the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default swap agreement (interest rate risk and/or credit risk) at any time before the expiration of the option.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults of corporate and/or sovereign issuers, or to create exposure to corporate and/or sovereign issuers to which they are not otherwise exposed. Credit default swaps involve one party making a stream of payments (referred to as the buyer of protection) to another party (the seller of protection) in exchange for the right to receive a specified return if a credit event occurs for the referenced entity, obligation or index. A credit event is defined under the terms of each swap agreement and may include, but is not limited to, underlying entity default, bankruptcy, write-down, principal shortfall or interest shortfall. As the seller of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either pay the buyer an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). In return, the Portfolio would receive from the counterparty an upfront or periodic stream of payments throughout the life of the credit default swap agreement provided that no credit event has occurred. As the seller of protection, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the credit default swap.

The Portfolio may also purchase credit default swap contracts in order to hedge against the risk of default of debt securities held in its portfolio. This would involve the risk that the investment may be worthless when it expires and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve credit risk, whereby the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Portfolio in the event of a default. As the buyer of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). If no credit event occurs and the Portfolio is a buyer of protection, the Portfolio will typically recover nothing under the credit default swap agreement, but it will have had to pay the required upfront payment or stream of continuing payments under the credit default swap agreement. Recovery values are at times established through the credit event auction process in which market participants are ensured that a transparent price has been set for the defaulted obligation.

Credit default swap agreements on credit indices involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising the credit index. A credit index is a basket of credit instruments or exposures designed to be representative of some part of the credit market as a whole. An index credit default swap references all the names in the index, and if there is a credit event involving an entity in the index, the credit event is settled based on that entity’s weight in the index. A Portfolio may use credit default swaps on credit indices as a hedge for credit default swaps or bonds held in the portfolio, which is less expensive than it would be to buy many individual credit default swaps to achieve similar effect. Credit default swaps on indices are benchmarks for protecting investors owning bonds against default, and may be used to speculate on changes in credit quality.

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on a credit index or corporate or sovereign issuer, serve as some indication of the status of the payment/performance risk and the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity or index also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads generally represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the particular swap agreement. When no implied credit spread is available for a credit default swap, the current unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the position may be used as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Portfolio as a seller of protection could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. Notional amounts of all credit default swap agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2014, for which the Portfolio is the seller of protection, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced entity or entities.

Currency Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into currency swap agreements to gain or mitigate exposure to currency risk. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

Total Return Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into total return swap agreements to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market or to transfer the risk/return of one market (e.g., fixed income) to another market (e.g., equity) (equity risk and/or interest rate risk). Total return swaps are agreements in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specific period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or floating rate or the total return from other underlying assets. When a Portfolio pays interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may be required to pay the change in value to the counterparty in addition to the interest payment; conversely, when a Portfolio receives interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may receive the change in value in addition to the interest payment. To the extent the total return of the instrument or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swaps can also be structured without an interest payment, so that one party pays the other party if the value of the underlying asset increases and receives payment from the other party if the value of the underlying asset decreases.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate   

Unrealized appreciation on futures

contracts* (a)

   $ 102,992      

Unrealized depreciation on futures

contracts* (a)

   $ 273,633   
Credit    OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      1,296,622       OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      5,338,368   
   Investments at market value (c)      216,281         
         Written options at value      80,056   
Equity    OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      27,738       OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      48,140   
Foreign Exchange    OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      232,085         
  

Unrealized appreciation on forward

foreign currency exchange contracts

     20,181,379      

Unrealized depreciation on forward

foreign currency exchange contracts

     2,836,662   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total         $22,057,097          $ 8,576,859   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.
  (b) Excludes OTC swap interest receivable of $44,220 and OTC swap interest payable of $142,786.
  (c) Represents purchased options which are part of investments as shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 1,199,251       $ (885,239   $ (220,000 )(1)    $ 94,012   

Citibank N.A.

     1,093,549         (704,477     (304,356 )(1)      84,716   

Credit Suisse International

     262,325         (262,325              

Deutsche Bank AG

     15,466,427         (2,518,980            12,947,447   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     1,628,210                (1,510,000 )(1)      118,210   

HSBC Bank plc

     226,141         (9,628            216,513   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     1,267,790         (1,267,790              

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     810,412         (141,794            668,618   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 21,954,105       $ (5,790,233   $ (2,034,356   $ 14,129,516   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
    Net Amount**  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 885,239       $ (885,239   $      $   

Citibank N.A.

     704,477         (704,477              

Credit Suisse International

     2,452,473         (262,325     (2,190,148       

Deutsche Bank AG

     2,518,980         (2,518,980              

HSBC Bank plc

     9,628         (9,628              

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     1,590,635         (1,267,790     (320,000     2,845   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     141,794         (141,794              
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 8,303,226       $ (5,790,233   $ (2,510,148   $ 2,845   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.
(1) Collateral was received into a segregated account in the counterparty’s name at the custodian.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Credit     Foreign
Exchange
    Total  

Investments (a)

   $      $ (60,350   $ (707,590   $ (767,940

Forward foreign currency transactions

                   (3,208,469     (3,208,469

Futures contracts

     (3,084,926                   (3,084,926

Swap contracts

            (1,678,129     (270,821     (1,948,950

Written options

            (49,211     (33,448     (82,659
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ (3,084,926   $ (1,787,690   $ (4,220,328   $ (9,092,944
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Credit     Foreign
Exchange
    Total  

Investments (a)

   $      $ (201,419   $ 474,564      $ 273,145   

Forward foreign currency transactions

                   20,239,341        20,239,341   

Futures contracts

     (930,506                   (930,506

Swap contracts

            1,650,152        385,753        2,035,905   

Written options

            107,564        (28,421     79,143   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ (930,506   $ 1,556,297      $ 21,071,237      $ 21,697,028   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 52,023,854   

Forward foreign currency transactions

     204,643,172   

Futures contracts long

     156,100,000   

Futures contracts short

     (72,216,667

Swap contracts

     115,241,466   

Written options

     (24,433,548

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Statement of Operations.

Written Options

The Portfolio transactions in written options during the year December 31, 2014:

 

Call Options

   Notional
Amount
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

     6,700,000       $ 70,946   

Options written

     5,000,000         25,723   

Options bought back

     (11,700,000      (96,669
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

           $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Put Options

   Notional
Amount
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

           $   

Options written

     85,312,971         423,530   

Options bought back

     (23,000,000      (178,678

Options expired

     (26,812,971      (57,232
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

     35,500,000       $ 187,620   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$110,997,056    $ 778,318,915       $ 269,969,298       $ 531,818,457   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$7,410,262      0.520   First $100 million
     0.510   $100 million to $250 million
     0.500   $250 million to $500 million
     0.490   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.470   $1 billion to $1.5 billion
     0.450   Over $1.5 billion

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Franklin Advisers, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

The subadvisory fee the Adviser pays to the Subadviser in connection with the investment management of the Portfolio is calculated based on the aggregate average daily net assets of the Portfolio and certain other portfolios of the Trust that are managed by the Subadviser and/or its affiliates.

Management Fee Waiver - For the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, MetLife Advisers has contractually agreed to waive a portion of the management fee reflecting the difference, if any, between the subadvisory fee payable by the Adviser to the Subadviser that was calculated based solely on the assets of the Portfolio and the fee that was calculated when the Portfolio’s assets were aggregated with those of the Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio, a series of the Trust.

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-
Term Capital Gain
     Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$31,617,987    $ 19,395,375       $       $       $ 31,617,987       $ 19,395,375   

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Other Accumulated
Capital Losses
    Total  
$50,354,267    $       $ (26,095,981   $ (27,725,443   $ (3,467,157

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains.

As of December 31, 2014, the accumulated short-term capital losses were $11,417,817 and the accumulated long-term capital losses were $16,307,626.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from April 29, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from April 29, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Franklin Advisers, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-year, three-year, and the since-inception (beginning April 29, 2011) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Government/Credit 1-3 Year Bond Index, for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning April 29, 2011) periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were equal to the Expense Group median and the Expense Universe median and were below the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also considered that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-45


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Managed by Franklin Advisers, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio returned 1.41% and 1.14%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Citigroup World Government Bond Index (“WGBI”) ex-U.S.1, returned -2.68%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS

During the period, global financial markets were broadly influenced by the pickup in U.S. growth, China’s economic stabilization, and the abundance of global liquidity from the Bank of Japan (the “BOJ”) and the European Central Bank (the “ECB”). We continued to see differentiation among specific emerging market economies; some had healthy current account and fiscal balances with strong export-driven economies, while others struggled with deficits and economic imbalances.

The U.S. dollar broadly strengthened over the course of the year while oil prices weakened significantly, particularly in the final months. Global liquidity from the BOJ and the ECB helped dampen volatility in emerging markets, and it helped compensate for the withdrawal of liquidity from the ending of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) bond-buying program in October. However, several emerging market currencies depreciated during the period.

In late October, the BOJ introduced a new round of quantitative easing (“QE”) with an indefinite time horizon. The annual level of asset purchasing was raised to 80 trillion yen, a level approximately equal to the U.S. Fed’s former QE program. This massive amount of liquidity had significant implications for global markets. Although Japan’s QE was positive for global risk assets, it contributed to further yen depreciation.

In Europe, economic data was mixed with a persistent lack of inflation. Eurozone bond yields remained around historical lows at the end of the period. The ECB’s renewed commitment to increase the size of its balance sheet will likely maintain weakening pressure on the euro, in our view. China’s growth moderated during the period, but the country’s economy did not face a “hard landing” and did not have a major impact on global aggregate demand.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW/PERIOD END POSITIONING

During the period, the Portfolio’s absolute performance benefited from interest rate strategies while sovereign credit exposures and currency positions had a largely neutral effect. The Portfolio maintained a defensive approach regarding interest rates in developed and emerging markets. Select duration exposures in Europe contributed to absolute performance. Among currencies, the Portfolio’s net-negative positions in the Japanese yen and the euro, through the use of currency forward contracts, contributed to absolute return, while currency positions in the Americas and Asia ex-Japan detracted. Positions in peripheral European currencies against the euro also detracted from absolute performance.

Relative to the benchmark index, currency positions contributed to performance, while interest rate strategies detracted. Sovereign credit exposures had a largely neutral effect on relative return. Underweighted positioning in the euro and the Japanese yen, through the use of currency forwards, contributed to relative performance during the period. However, currency positions in the Americas and Asia ex-Japan detracted from relative return, as did positions in peripheral European currencies against the euro. The Portfolio maintained a shorter duration position relative to its benchmark. Select underweighted duration exposures in Europe and Asia also detracted from relative performance.

The core of our strategy remained seeking to position ourselves to navigate a rising rate environment. Thus, we continued to maintain short portfolio duration while aiming at a negative correlation with U.S. Treasury rates. We also actively sought opportunities that could potentially offer positive real yields without taking undue interest rate risk. We favored countries that we believe have solid underlying fundamentals and policymakers who have been proactive regarding fiscal, monetary and financial policy. We augmented this positioning with select opportunities in emerging markets and with a number of currency strategies.

Michael Hasenstab

Christine Zhu

Portfolio Managers

Franklin Advisers, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE CITIGROUP WORLD GOVERNMENT BOND INDEX (“WGBI”) EX-U.S.

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio                 

Class A

       1.41           6.00           7.09   

Class B

       1.14           5.74           6.82   
Citigroup World Government Bond Index (“WGBI”) ex-U.S.        -2.68           0.85           2.47   

1 The Citigroup World Government Bond Index (“WGBI”) ex-U.S. is an index of bonds issued by governments primarily in Europe and Asia.

2 Inception date of the Class A and Class B shares is 5/1/2009. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Countries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
United States      19.6   
South Korea      14.2   
Poland      8.6   
Mexico      8.2   
Hungary      7.0   
Malaysia      4.8   
Brazil      4.6   
Singapore      4.5   
Ireland      4.4   
Canada      3.1   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to

December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.73    $ 1,000.00         $ 986.10         $ 3.65   
   Hypothetical*      0.73    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.53         $ 3.72   

Class B

   Actual      0.98    $ 1,000.00         $ 984.20         $ 4.90   
   Hypothetical*      0.98    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.27         $ 4.99   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—73.8% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Brazil—4.6%

   

Brazil Letras do Tesouro Nacional

   

Zero Coupon, 10/01/15 (BRL)

    800,000      $ 274,856   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/16 (BRL)

    11,500,000        3,829,372   

Zero Coupon, 07/01/16 (BRL)

    15,280,000        4,786,062   

Zero Coupon, 10/01/16 (BRL)

    760,000        230,717   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/17 (BRL)

    17,580,000        5,186,193   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/18 (BRL)

    10,440,000        2,741,535   

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional

   

6.000%, 05/15/15 (BRL)

    13,495,000        12,888,067   

6.000%, 08/15/16 (BRL)

    3,245,000        3,072,399   

6.000%, 08/15/18 (BRL)

    4,225,000        3,966,062   

6.000%, 05/15/19 (BRL)

    2,420,000        2,288,380   

6.000%, 08/15/20 (BRL)

    430,000        412,270   

6.000%, 08/15/22 (BRL)

    6,930,000        6,504,571   

6.000%, 05/15/23 (BRL)

    1,070,000        1,004,105   

6.000%, 08/15/24 (BRL)

    1,140,000        1,067,442   

6.000%, 05/15/45 (BRL)

    6,400,000        5,910,274   

10.000%, 01/01/17 (BRL)

    19,225,000        6,538,632   

10.000%, 01/01/19 (BRL)

    6,700,000        2,206,404   

10.000%, 01/01/21 (BRL)

    3,480,000        1,119,062   

10.000%, 01/01/23 (BRL)

    8,090,000        2,551,292   
   

 

 

 
      66,577,695   
   

 

 

 

Canada—3.1%

   

Canadian Government Bonds

   

1.000%, 02/01/15 (CAD)

    17,581,000        15,131,797   

1.500%, 08/01/15 (CAD)

    2,730,000        2,356,569   

Canadian Treasury Bills

   

0.855%, 02/12/15 (CAD) (a)

    20,047,000        17,237,521   

0.859%, 03/12/15 (CAD) (a)

    8,813,000        7,572,520   

0.885%, 04/23/15 (CAD) (a)

    2,410,000        2,068,540   
   

 

 

 
      44,366,947   
   

 

 

 

Hungary—7.0%

   

Hungary Government Bonds

   

4.000%, 04/25/18 (HUF)

    614,930,000        2,430,797   

5.500%, 02/12/16 (HUF)

    168,700,000        672,857   

5.500%, 12/22/16 (HUF)

    5,482,200,000        22,378,469   

5.500%, 12/20/18 (HUF)

    1,325,670,000        5,546,928   

5.500%, 06/24/25 (HUF)

    2,424,530,000        10,682,864   

6.000%, 11/24/23 (HUF)

    146,990,000        665,867   

6.500%, 06/24/19 (HUF)

    474,530,000        2,072,533   

6.750%, 02/24/17 (HUF)

    226,970,000        949,308   

6.750%, 11/24/17 (HUF)

    1,796,830,000        7,672,928   

7.000%, 06/24/22 (HUF)

    2,700,030,000        12,672,951   

7.500%, 11/12/20 (HUF)

    129,680,000        605,448   

7.750%, 08/24/15 (HUF)

    200,360,000        796,650   

8.000%, 02/12/15 (HUF)

    109,300,000        420,289   

Hungary Government International Bonds

   

3.875%, 02/24/20 (EUR) (b)

    6,510,000        8,546,299   

4.375%, 07/04/17 (EUR)

    580,000        752,150   

5.750%, 06/11/18 (EUR) (b)

    4,840,000        6,676,573   

6.250%, 01/29/20

    10,995,000        12,355,631   

6.375%, 03/29/21 (b)

    4,058,000        4,638,805   
   

 

 

 
      100,537,347   
   

 

 

 

Iceland—0.2%

   

Iceland Government International Bond
5.875%, 05/11/22 (144A)

    3,080,000      3,451,802   
   

 

 

 

Indonesia—2.0%

   

Indonesia Treasury Bonds

   

10.000%, 09/15/24 (IDR)

    186,070,000,000        16,924,332   

10.000%, 02/15/28 (IDR)

    34,960,000,000        3,203,844   

12.800%, 06/15/21 (IDR)

    93,010,000,000        9,307,759   
   

 

 

 
      29,435,935   
   

 

 

 

Ireland—4.4%

   

Ireland Government Bonds

   

4.500%, 04/18/20 (EUR)

    2,539,000        3,701,504   

5.000%, 10/18/20 (EUR)

    13,476,500        20,403,620   

5.400%, 03/13/25 (EUR)

    21,787,510        36,326,033   

5.900%, 10/18/19 (EUR)

    1,669,000        2,538,830   
   

 

 

 
      62,969,987   
   

 

 

 

Lithuania—1.1%

   

Lithuania Government International Bonds

   

6.125%, 03/09/21 (144A)

    930,000        1,081,711   

6.750%, 01/15/15 (144A)

    7,480,000        7,489,724   

7.375%, 02/11/20 (144A)

    6,420,000        7,743,354   
   

 

 

 
      16,314,789   
   

 

 

 

Malaysia—4.8%

   

Bank Negara Malaysia Monetary Notes

   

2.758%, 01/29/15 (MYR) (a)

    70,000        19,971   

2.802%, 04/28/15 (MYR) (a)

    28,250,000        7,993,187   

2.842%, 02/17/15 (MYR) (a)

    8,190,000        2,332,467   

2.846%, 03/12/15 (MYR) (a)

    1,290,000        366,603   

2.870%, 04/16/15 (MYR) (a)

    2,700,000        764,810   

2.918%, 05/05/15 (MYR) (a)

    760,000        214,853   

2.940%, 03/05/15 (MYR) (a)

    5,420,000        1,541,303   

2.951%, 08/04/15 (MYR) (a)

    1,500,000        420,294   

2.954%, 03/03/15 (MYR) (a)

    10,480,000        2,980,783   

2.990%, 07/16/15 (MYR) (a)

    2,470,000        693,801   

2.994%, 05/19/15 (MYR) (a)

    19,370,000        5,469,752   

3.015%, 06/03/15 (MYR) (a)

    1,660,000        468,084   

3.015%, 06/16/15 (MYR) (a)

    3,710,000        1,044,838   

3.052%, 01/22/15 (MYR) (a)

    3,210,000        916,379   

3.057%, 09/22/15 (MYR) (a)

    1,270,000        354,520   

3.062%, 01/08/15 (MYR) (a)

    2,465,000        704,603   

3.065%, 10/01/15 (MYR) (a)

    10,040,000        2,800,299   

3.082%, 06/30/15 (MYR) (a)

    2,600,000        731,245   

3.089%, 08/18/15 (MYR) (a)

    11,310,000        3,165,784   

3.107%, 04/07/15 (MYR) (a)

    860,000        243,820   

3.129%, 03/24/15 (MYR) (a)

    400,000        113,549   

3.134%, 11/03/15 (MYR) (a)

    360,000        100,002   

3.139%, 10/27/15 (MYR) (a)

    180,000        50,035   

3.150%, 04/23/15 (MYR) (a)

    4,720,000        1,336,125   

3.158%, 08/11/15 (MYR) (a)

    15,565,000        4,359,789   

3.213%, 01/20/15 (MYR) (a)

    4,130,000        1,179,234   

3.218%, 09/08/15 (MYR) (a)

    8,390,000        2,343,597   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Malaysia—(Continued)

   

Bank Negara Malaysia Monetary Notes

   

3.255%, 06/04/15 (MYR) (a)

    730,000      $ 205,852   

3.257%, 05/28/15 (MYR) (a)

    2,460,000        694,148   

3.304%, 02/10/15 (MYR) (a)

    630,000        179,539   

Malaysia Government Bonds

   

3.172%, 07/15/16 (MYR)

    20,000,000        5,684,833   

3.197%, 10/15/15 (MYR)

    3,675,000        1,047,886   

3.741%, 02/27/15 (MYR)

    22,420,000        6,415,313   

3.835%, 08/12/15 (MYR)

    16,880,000        4,838,842   

4.720%, 09/30/15 (MYR)

    24,680,000        7,116,077   
   

 

 

 
      68,892,217   
   

 

 

 

Mexico—8.2%

   

Mexican Bonos

   

6.000%, 06/18/15 (MXN)

    654,875,000        44,975,770   

6.250%, 06/16/16 (MXN)

    108,438,000        7,624,576   

7.250%, 12/15/16 (MXN)

    25,000        1,808   

7.750%, 12/14/17 (MXN)

    195,000,000        14,434,421   

8.000%, 12/17/15 (MXN)

    137,068,000        9,700,861   

Mexican Udibonos

   

2.500%, 12/10/20 (MXN)

    12,959,835        899,390   

3.500%, 12/14/17 (MXN)

    23,938,011        1,731,599   

4.000%, 06/13/19 (MXN)

    16,417,196        1,214,301   

5.000%, 06/16/16 (MXN)

    23,932,741        1,723,081   

Mexico Cetes

   

Zero Coupon, 04/01/15 (MXN) (a)

    674,592,000        4,538,370   

Zero Coupon, 06/25/15 (MXN) (a)

    347,046,000        2,316,972   

Zero Coupon, 07/23/15 (MXN) (a)

    110,000        733   

2.913%, 03/19/15 (MXN) (a)

    286,875,000        1,932,035   

2.976%, 05/28/15 (MXN) (a)

    128,340,000        859,233   

2.981%, 06/11/15 (MXN) (a)

    577,910,000        3,864,511   

2.996%, 04/16/15 (MXN) (a)

    1,352,784,000        9,089,498   

3.043%, 09/17/15 (MXN) (a)

    1,010,628,000        6,703,256   

3.061%, 10/01/15 (MXN) (a)

    780,431,000        5,166,568   

3.147%, 11/12/15 (MXN) (a)

    71,190,000        469,397   

3.158%, 12/10/15 (MXN) (a)

    146,972,000        965,186   
   

 

 

 
      118,211,566   
   

 

 

 

Peru—0.2%

   

Peru Government Bond

   

7.840%, 08/12/20 (PEN)

    5,663,000        2,173,414   
   

 

 

 

Philippines—0.9%

   

Philippine Government Bond

   

1.625%, 04/25/16 (PHP)

    503,310,000        11,132,656   

Philippine Treasury Bills

   

1.336%, 11/04/15 (PHP) (a)

    12,000,000        263,803   

1.349%, 05/06/15 (PHP) (a)

    10,360,000        229,767   

1.392%, 06/03/15 (PHP) (a)

    15,720,000        348,330   

1.414%, 12/02/15 (PHP) (a)

    29,720,000        651,345   

1.473%, 10/07/15 (PHP) (a)

    38,490,000        848,436   
   

 

 

 
      13,474,337   
   

 

 

 

Poland—8.6%

   

Poland Government Bonds

   

Zero Coupon, 07/25/15 (PLN)

    65,950,000      18,454,712   

Zero Coupon, 01/25/16 (PLN)

    58,547,000        16,229,783   

Zero Coupon, 07/25/16 (PLN)

    107,520,000        29,527,907   

2.690%, 01/25/17 (PLN) (c)

    28,518,000        8,052,724   

2.690%, 01/25/21 (PLN) (c)

    28,929,000        8,043,864   

4.750%, 10/25/16 (PLN)

    60,400,000        17,944,338   

4.750%, 04/25/17 (PLN)

    1,320,000        396,833   

5.000%, 04/25/16 (PLN)

    23,660,000        6,955,227   

5.500%, 04/25/15 (PLN)

    9,432,000        2,695,620   

6.250%, 10/24/15 (PLN)

    53,896,000        15,756,803   
   

 

 

 
      124,057,811   
   

 

 

 

Portugal—1.0%

  

Portugal Government International Bond
5.125%, 10/15/24 (144A)

    14,050,000        14,759,778   
   

 

 

 

Russia—1.2%

  

Russian Foreign Bond - Eurobond
7.500%, 03/31/30 (144A)

    16,506,000        17,116,722   
   

 

 

 

Serbia—1.7%

  

Republic of Serbia
4.875%, 02/25/20 (144A)

    3,150,000        3,145,275   

5.250%, 11/21/17 (144A)

    1,720,000        1,766,440   

7.250%, 09/28/21 (144A)

    17,560,000        19,668,605   
   

 

 

 
      24,580,320   
   

 

 

 

Singapore—4.5%

  

Monetary Authority of Singapore
0.296%, 01/20/15 (SGD) (a)

    6,000,000        4,528,004   

0.334%, 01/30/15 (SGD) (a)

    23,435,000        17,682,372   

0.424%, 02/13/15 (SGD) (a)

    15,465,000        11,665,681   

0.443%, 02/23/15 (SGD) (a)

    16,830,000        12,693,122   

0.830%, 03/27/15 (SGD) (a)

    23,750,000        17,901,312   
   

 

 

 
      64,470,491   
   

 

 

 

Slovenia—0.4%

  

Slovenia Government International Bonds
5.500%, 10/26/22 (144A)

    3,200,000        3,548,000   

5.850%, 05/10/23 (144A)

    1,850,000        2,091,703   
   

 

 

 
      5,639,703   
   

 

 

 

South Korea—14.2%

  

Korea Monetary Stabilization Bonds
Zero Coupon, 01/13/15 (KRW)

    893,200,000        812,075   

2.070%, 12/02/16 (KRW)

    1,406,000,000        1,280,385   

2.130%, 10/08/15 (KRW)

    620,200,000        567,194   

2.220%, 10/02/16 (KRW)

    1,374,700,000        1,253,199   

2.460%, 08/02/16 (KRW)

    9,210,700,000        8,425,216   

2.470%, 04/02/15 (KRW)

    40,784,600,000        37,141,574   

2.660%, 06/09/15 (KRW)

    9,015,500,000        8,222,088   

2.740%, 02/02/15 (KRW)

    481,310,000        438,111   

2.760%, 06/02/15 (KRW)

    6,555,600,000        5,980,653   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

South Korea—(Continued)

  

Korea Monetary Stabilization Bonds
2.780%, 02/02/16 (KRW)

    5,175,740,000      $ 4,742,789   

2.790%, 06/02/16 (KRW)

    5,925,600,000        5,442,694   

2.800%, 08/02/15 (KRW)

    23,319,650,000        21,302,447   

2.800%, 04/02/16 (KRW)

    13,568,690,000        12,451,321   

2.810%, 10/02/15 (KRW)

    1,092,000,000        998,836   

2.900%, 12/02/15 (KRW)

    50,092,900,000        45,904,903   

Korea Treasury Bonds
2.750%, 12/10/15 (KRW)

    11,222,000,000        10,272,334   

2.750%, 06/10/16 (KRW)

    17,138,600,000        15,732,834   

3.000%, 12/10/16 (KRW)

    20,004,200,000        18,505,455   

3.250%, 06/10/15 (KRW)

    2,412,300,000        2,205,597   

4.000%, 09/10/15 (KRW)

    2,754,400,000        2,538,095   

4.000%, 03/10/16 (KRW)

    1,043,200,000        970,123   

4.500%, 03/10/15 (KRW)

    521,600,000        476,550   
   

 

 

 
      205,664,473   
   

 

 

 

Sri Lanka—1.2%

   

Sri Lanka Government Bonds
6.400%, 08/01/16 (LKR)

    56,200,000        427,626   

6.400%, 10/01/16 (LKR)

    35,400,000        268,477   

6.500%, 07/15/15 (LKR)

    80,900,000        617,217   

7.500%, 08/15/18 (LKR)

    25,830,000        198,511   

8.000%, 11/15/18 (LKR)

    243,630,000        1,904,423   

8.250%, 03/01/17 (LKR)

    540,000        4,203   

8.500%, 11/01/15 (LKR)

    71,720,000        556,553   

8.500%, 04/01/18 (LKR)

    156,800,000        1,242,710   

8.500%, 06/01/18 (LKR)

    1,410,000        11,167   

8.500%, 07/15/18 (LKR)

    45,000,000        362,408   

9.000%, 05/01/21 (LKR)

    3,530,000        29,117   

10.600%, 07/01/19 (LKR)

    85,130,000        731,104   

10.600%, 09/15/19 (LKR)

    15,930,000        137,243   

11.000%, 08/01/15 (LKR)

    522,600,000        4,100,060   

11.000%, 09/01/15 (LKR)

    762,125,000        6,038,133   

11.200%, 07/01/22 (LKR)

    26,640,000        242,339   

11.750%, 03/15/15 (LKR)

    11,590,000        89,430   
   

 

 

 
      16,960,721   
   

 

 

 

Sweden—2.1%

   

Sweden Government Bond
4.500%, 08/12/15 (SEK)

    234,670,000        30,898,696   
   

 

 

 

Ukraine—2.4%

   

Financing of Infrastrucural Projects State Enterprise
7.400%, 04/20/18 (144A)

    400,000        240,000   

8.375%, 11/03/17 (144A)

    440,000        264,000   

Ukraine Government International Bonds
4.950%, 10/13/15 (144A) (EUR)

    150,000        122,518   

6.250%, 06/17/16 (144A)

    3,440,000        2,230,840   

6.580%, 11/21/16 (144A)

    5,050,000        3,131,000   

7.500%, 04/17/23 (144A) (b)

    3,400,000        2,006,000   

7.750%, 09/23/20 (144A)

    6,949,000        4,169,400   

7.800%, 11/28/22 (144A)

    4,150,000        2,531,500   

Ukraine—(Continued)

   

Ukraine Government International Bonds
7.950%, 02/23/21 (144A)

    9,904,000      $ 6,041,440   

9.250%, 07/24/17 (144A) (b)

    22,630,000        13,804,300   

Ukreximbank Via Biz Finance plc
8.750%, 01/22/18

    1,330,000        758,100   
   

 

 

 
      35,299,098   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $1,122,701,855)

      1,065,853,849   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—21.1%                

Discount Note—2.0%

   

Federal Home Loan Bank
0.010%, 01/02/15 (a)

    28,500,000        28,500,000   
   

 

 

 

Mutual Fund—1.5%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (d)

    21,978,040        21,978,040   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—17.6%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $254,930,419 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $259,290,000 U.S. Treasury Notes with rates ranging from 0.500% - 1.750%, maturity dates ranging from 05/31/16 - 09/30/17 with a value of $260,033,288.

    254,930,419        254,930,419   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $305,408,459)

      305,408,459   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—94.9%
(Cost $1,428,110,314) (e)

      1,371,262,308   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—5.1%

      73,421,651   
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,444,683,959   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $20,031,644 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $21,978,040. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian.
(c) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(d) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,432,266,393. The aggregate unrealized

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

appreciation and depreciation of investments were $28,054,343 and $(89,058,428), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(61,004,085) for federal income tax purposes.

(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $116,404,112, which is 8.1% of net assets.
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(EUR)— Euro
(HUF)— Hungarian Forint
(IDR)— Indonesian Rupiah
(KRW)— South Korea Won
(LKR)— Sri Lankan Rupee
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(MYR)— Malaysian Ringgit
(PEN)— Peruvian Nuevo Sol
(PHP)— Philippine Peso
(PLN)— Polish Zloty
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar

 

Top Industries as of
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Global Government Investment Grade

     44.3%   

Global Government High Yield

     29.5%   
  

 

 

 
     73.8%   
  

 

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

   Settlement

Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
CLP     864,300,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     01/12/15         USD         1,567,038       $ (144,081
CLP     108,963,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/30/15         USD         180,869         (1,853
CLP     104,773,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/02/15         USD         174,884         (2,811
CLP     303,150,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/02/15         USD         503,739         (5,863
CLP     89,414,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/03/15         USD         149,222         (2,391
CLP     438,100,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/10/15         USD         753,656         (34,693
CLP     993,900,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     02/12/15         USD         1,726,720         (95,905
CLP     370,000,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/17/15         USD         643,926         (37,070
CLP     433,400,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/18/15         USD         741,679         (30,896
CLP     202,490,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/20/15         USD         347,027         (14,994
CLP     488,550,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     02/23/15         USD         855,305         (54,403
CLP     687,600,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/24/15         USD         1,204,625         (77,504
CLP     313,500,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     02/25/15         USD         546,786         (32,936
CLP     360,850,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/26/15         USD         628,221         (36,809
CLP     39,050,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/03/15         USD         67,397         (3,423
CLP     408,600,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     03/20/15         USD         693,130         (24,638
CLP     9,313,680,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     05/11/15         USD         15,893,652         (720,325
CLP     440,900,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     05/11/15         USD         752,517         (34,228
CLP     9,249,063,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/12/15         USD         15,776,653         (709,837
CLP     1,155,000,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     06/04/15         USD         2,032,377         (154,427
CLP     113,400,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     06/05/15         USD         198,686         (14,321
CLP     753,400,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     07/28/15         USD         1,296,306         (76,719
CLP     438,900,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/12/15         USD         741,636         (32,016
CLP     376,530,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     08/18/15         USD         634,476         (25,992
CLP     202,610,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/20/15         USD         341,526         (14,154
CLP     245,250,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/27/15         USD         409,227         (13,184
CLP     246,100,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/28/15         USD         410,714         (13,330
CLP     39,050,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     09/08/15         USD         64,482         (1,482
EUR     975,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/07/15         USD         1,218,058         (38,234
EUR     4,876,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/07/15         USD         5,964,811         (64,480
EUR     10,382,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/09/15         USD         14,320,412         (1,753,117
EUR     13,630,862      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/27/15         USD         18,335,131         (1,832,760
EUR     457,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/05/15         USD         614,756         (61,457
INR     14,658,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/22/15         USD         234,247         (2,866
INR     16,661,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/27/15         USD         265,938         (3,216
INR     16,661,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/30/15         USD         267,389         (4,834
INR     71,467,067      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/30/15         USD         1,148,944         (22,719
INR     75,632,417      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/30/15         USD         1,217,031         (25,166

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

   Settlement

Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
INR     27,220,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     01/30/15         USD         437,990       $ (9,040
INR     201,041,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     01/30/15         USD         3,232,046         (63,909
INR     75,632,417      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/02/15         USD         1,215,320         (24,209
INR     35,346,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/03/15         USD         567,205         (10,669
INR     34,949,750      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/03/15         USD         560,779         (10,482
INR     1,228,565,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/12/15         USD         19,733,194         (424,673
INR     34,949,750      

HSBC Bank plc

     03/03/15         USD         555,263         (8,097
KRW     2,321,000,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     06/29/15         USD         2,241,646         (143,895
KRW     2,328,000,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     09/30/15         USD         2,213,769         (112,098
MXN     521,116,000      

Citibank N.A.

     02/17/15         USD         38,054,330         (2,827,962
MXN     16,965,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     03/10/15         USD         1,281,151         (135,917
MXN     205,379,143      

HSBC Bank plc

     05/19/15         USD         15,372,000         (1,567,423
MXN     285,397,780      

HSBC Bank plc

     10/07/15         USD         20,670,514         (1,663,725
MXN     35,485,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/14/15         USD         2,594,691         (232,618
MYR     3,409,400      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/08/15         USD         1,016,124         (41,269
MYR     1,900,500      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/08/15         USD         567,178         (23,765
MYR     1,022,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/09/15         USD         305,220         (13,022
MYR     306,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/12/15         USD         91,480         (4,013
MYR     697,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/16/15         USD         210,009         (10,843
MYR     3,758,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/04/15         USD         1,110,553         (38,346
MYR     10,421,193      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/27/15         USD         3,121,800         (154,421
MYR     6,890,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/02/15         USD         2,114,535         (158,076
MYR     13,780,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/02/15         USD         4,134,289         (221,372
MYR     48,436,950      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     05/06/15         USD         14,550,000         (827,664
MYR     50,424,120      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     05/14/15         USD         15,293,012         (1,015,244
MYR     99,141,840      

HSBC Bank plc

     06/08/15         USD         29,992,994         (1,966,849
MYR     6,890,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     07/02/15         USD         2,103,560         (158,918
MYR     4,429,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     07/31/15         USD         1,363,944         (116,185
MYR     7,610,828      

HSBC Bank plc

     08/06/15         USD         2,328,610         (185,257
MYR     7,165,900      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/27/15         USD         2,214,842         (199,442
MYR     21,469,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     10/01/15         USD         6,418,236         (393,304
MYR     13,558,531      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/16/15         USD         4,077,018         (275,438
MYR     3,043,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/20/15         USD         909,254         (56,249
MYR     5,541,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     10/23/15         USD         1,657,146         (104,183
MYR     4,132,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/26/15         USD         1,239,984         (82,122
MYR     2,756,789      

HSBC Bank plc

     10/26/15         USD         827,368         (54,864
MYR     2,837,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/30/15         USD         849,528         (54,735
MYR     2,742,080      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/19/15         USD         802,341         (35,039
MYR     1,632,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     11/20/15         USD         476,232         (19,585
SGD     2,190,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/26/15         USD         1,765,417         (113,080
SGD     12,676,300      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/30/15         USD         10,218,785         (655,642
SGD     10,161,130      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     01/30/15         USD         8,179,618         (513,948
SGD     2,353,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/09/15         USD         1,888,443         (113,675
SGD     4,687,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/12/15         USD         3,737,640         (202,549
SGD     1,398,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/17/15         USD         1,119,045         (64,683
SGD     1,398,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/18/15         USD         1,106,013         (51,663
SGD     1,398,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/23/15         USD         1,119,452         (65,159
SGD     2,961,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/27/15         USD         2,365,772         (132,848
SGD     4,013,100      

HSBC Bank plc

     03/16/15         USD         3,176,630         (150,815
SGD     10,928,651      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/06/15         USD         8,730,000         (493,974
SGD     3,014,189      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     05/08/15         USD         2,418,413         (146,910
SGD     3,051,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/19/15         USD         2,442,070         (143,069
SGD     569,250      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/28/15         USD         438,678         (9,771
SGD     569,250      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/29/15         USD         453,495         (24,593
SGD     2,180,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     06/15/15         USD         1,661,585         (19,329
SGD     2,625,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     06/22/15         USD         1,997,869         (20,515
SGD     3,488,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     09/21/15         USD         2,763,867         (137,524

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

   Settlement

Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR     16,117,434      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/07/15         USD         21,983,052       $ 2,479,732   
EUR     8,953,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     01/13/15         USD         12,167,217         1,332,713   
EUR     913,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/21/15         USD         1,244,419         139,455   
EUR     1,858,400      

Citibank N.A.

     01/29/15         USD         2,540,758         291,425   
EUR     9,760,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/30/15         USD         13,339,968         1,526,730   
EUR     8,440,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/03/15         USD         11,439,998         1,224,016   
EUR     10,382,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/09/15         USD         14,043,731         1,476,437   
EUR     6,590,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     02/09/15         USD         9,184,747         1,207,626   
EUR     1,915,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/10/15         USD         2,605,262         287,157   
EUR     2,553,000      

Citibank N.A.

     02/10/15         USD         3,471,748         381,346   
EUR     419,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/10/15         USD         569,886         62,687   
EUR     1,023,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/11/15         USD         1,390,973         152,623   
EUR     446,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     02/13/15         USD         610,226         70,331   
EUR     1,912,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/19/15         USD         2,622,145         307,507   
EUR     2,080,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/20/15         USD         2,858,066         340,028   
EUR     1,022,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     02/23/15         USD         1,406,425         169,168   
EUR     1,673,320      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/25/15         USD         2,299,978         274,185   
EUR     3,134,584      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/26/15         USD         4,307,138         512,245   
EUR     1,623,255      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/26/15         USD         2,228,161         262,963   
EUR     1,120,359      

Bank of America N.A.

     02/27/15         USD         1,531,867         175,490   
EUR     13,630,862      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/27/15         USD         18,683,823         2,181,451   
EUR     457,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/05/15         USD         630,043         76,744   
EUR     2,142,782      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/09/15         USD         2,944,718         350,323   
EUR     1,405,634      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/09/15         USD         1,930,294         228,408   
EUR     8,070,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/09/15         USD         11,079,706         1,308,872   
EUR     714,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     03/09/15         USD         981,579         117,096   
EUR     10,839,830      

Citibank N.A.

     03/10/15         USD         15,002,596         1,878,053   
EUR     2,023,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     03/10/15         USD         2,801,804         352,416   
EUR     225,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     03/16/15         USD         311,812         39,375   
EUR     651,717      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/17/15         USD         908,819         119,694   
EUR     462,068      

Citibank N.A.

     03/17/15         USD         644,723         85,233   
EUR     399,325      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/23/15         USD         556,060         72,517   
EUR     1,040,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/26/15         USD         1,432,236         172,869   
EUR     1,815,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/27/15         USD         2,506,515         308,659   
EUR     205,485      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/31/15         USD         282,850         34,012   
EUR     1,200,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     03/31/15         USD         1,529,580         76,404   
EUR     1,005,008      

Barclays Bank plc

     04/02/15         USD         1,385,353         168,288   
EUR     2,372,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     04/07/15         USD         3,272,008         399,397   
EUR     640,496      

Deutsche Bank AG

     04/07/15         USD         884,237         108,564   
EUR     3,821,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     04/10/15         USD         5,267,917         640,346   
EUR     4,186,153      

Deutsche Bank AG

     04/13/15         USD         5,778,021         708,054   
EUR     1,911,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     04/13/15         USD         2,641,442         326,976   
EUR     3,193,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/14/15         USD         4,425,658         558,484   
EUR     3,696,678      

HSBC Bank plc

     04/16/15         USD         5,133,244         655,949   
EUR     989,372      

Barclays Bank plc

     04/22/15         USD         1,365,415         167,044   
EUR     31,188,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     04/22/15         USD         43,098,697         5,322,387   
EUR     274,083      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/22/15         USD         379,179         47,197   
EUR     692,175      

Barclays Bank plc

     04/30/15         USD         959,673         121,207   
EUR     5,010,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     04/30/15         USD         6,933,139         864,280   
EUR     3,083,128      

Barclays Bank plc

     05/05/15         USD         4,272,784         537,840   
EUR     9,737,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/07/15         USD         13,514,469         1,718,678   
EUR     7,580,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     05/07/15         USD         10,522,101         1,339,386   
EUR     24,145,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/12/15         USD         33,435,996         4,184,210   
EUR     2,440,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     05/13/15         USD         3,362,320         406,216   
EUR     17,552,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     05/13/15         USD         24,144,092         2,879,530   
EUR     7,408,999      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     05/14/15         USD         10,205,451         1,229,220   
EUR     8,042,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/15/15         USD         11,020,757         1,277,521   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

   Settlement

Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR     2,080,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     05/18/15         USD         2,855,258       $ 335,165   
EUR     302,256      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     05/20/15         USD         379,360         13,144   
EUR     1,287,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/21/15         USD         1,616,215         56,857   
EUR     1,154,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     05/21/15         USD         1,584,223         186,011   
EUR     469,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     05/22/15         USD         643,058         74,801   
EUR     195,330      

Barclays Bank plc

     06/05/15         USD         266,030         29,325   
EUR     2,021,800      

Deutsche Bank AG

     06/10/15         USD         2,762,385         312,202   
EUR     1,546,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     06/15/15         USD         2,095,402         221,732   
EUR     9,480,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     06/23/15         USD         12,941,148         1,450,904   
EUR     776,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     07/16/15         USD         1,059,907         119,074   
EUR     3,870,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     07/16/15         USD         5,283,943         591,899   
EUR     7,170,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     07/17/15         USD         9,749,407         1,056,257   
EUR     1,218,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     07/20/15         USD         1,651,279         174,464   
EUR     670,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     07/22/15         USD         908,453         96,057   
EUR     4,966,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     07/22/15         USD         6,722,673         701,244   
EUR     609,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     07/23/15         USD         825,000         86,557   
EUR     799,500      

Citibank N.A.

     07/28/15         USD         1,078,470         108,958   
EUR     5,010,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     07/31/15         USD         6,735,745         660,088   
EUR     146,322      

Barclays Bank plc

     08/04/15         USD         196,267         18,810   
EUR     5,009,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     08/04/15         USD         6,722,203         647,370   
EUR     5,009,000      

UBS AG

     08/04/15         USD         6,722,078         647,244   
EUR     3,073,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     08/05/15         USD         4,130,957         404,013   
EUR     1,362,600      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/05/15         USD         1,831,825         179,259   
EUR     502,668      

Citibank N.A.

     08/10/15         USD         672,143         62,456   
EUR     146,742      

Citibank N.A.

     08/10/15         USD         196,341         18,357   
EUR     1,943,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/11/15         USD         2,603,533         246,829   
EUR     2,537,900      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/11/15         USD         3,399,200         320,931   
EUR     900,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     08/12/15         USD         1,208,466         116,821   
EUR     650,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     08/14/15         USD         811,824         23,388   
EUR     650,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     08/17/15         USD         872,641         84,168   
EUR     2,341,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     08/18/15         USD         3,141,657         301,893   
EUR     1,313,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/20/15         USD         1,761,160         168,366   
EUR     2,600,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/20/15         USD         3,488,875         334,828   
EUR     4,541,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/21/15         USD         6,062,916         554,164   
EUR     1,115,456      

Barclays Bank plc

     08/26/15         USD         1,484,254         130,970   
EUR     440,882      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/31/15         USD         583,119         48,193   
EUR     720,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     09/02/15         USD         951,466         77,855   
EUR     1,516,100      

Deutsche Bank AG

     09/08/15         USD         2,000,069         160,336   
EUR     281,896      

Barclays Bank plc

     09/21/15         USD         366,852         24,710   
EUR     3,307,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     09/23/15         USD         4,270,825         256,932   
EUR     685,747      

Barclays Bank plc

     09/24/15         USD         884,188         51,845   
EUR     840,650      

Citibank N.A.

     09/28/15         USD         1,084,186         63,760   
EUR     1,538,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     09/28/15         USD         1,980,683         113,775   
EUR     1,815,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     09/29/15         USD         2,317,401         114,221   
EUR     1,620,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     09/30/15         USD         2,064,261         97,754   
EUR     4,440,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/01/15         USD         5,663,753         273,982   
EUR     2,310,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/07/15         USD         2,927,625         123,178   
EUR     3,220,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     10/09/15         USD         4,079,257         169,848   
EUR     3,217,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/14/15         USD         4,072,272         166,055   
EUR     3,529,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/26/15         USD         4,479,536         193,290   
EUR     2,313,904      

Barclays Bank plc

     10/27/15         USD         2,938,589         128,107   
EUR     8,218,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/28/15         USD         10,454,118         472,254   
EUR     4,118,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     10/29/15         USD         5,238,096         236,117   
EUR     1,370,039      

Deutsche Bank AG

     10/30/15         USD         1,749,471         85,298   
EUR     92,609      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/03/15         USD         117,289         4,788   
EUR     4,170,000      

UBS AG

     11/04/15         USD         5,242,732         176,890   
EUR     1,990,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/05/15         USD         2,495,918         78,350   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

   Settlement

Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR     652,963      

Barclays Bank plc

     11/06/15         USD         820,278       $ 27,002   
EUR     1,618,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/10/15         USD         2,020,801         54,934   
EUR     9,537,000      

Citibank N.A.

     11/12/15         USD         11,953,485         365,510   
EUR     1,525,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/12/15         USD         1,900,531         47,573   
EUR     413,121      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     11/12/15         USD         517,661         15,697   
EUR     1,623,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     11/12/15         USD         2,029,115         57,082   
EUR     309,733      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/16/15         USD         387,615         11,238   
EUR     86,267      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/19/15         USD         107,838         3,002   
EUR     1,380,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     12/04/15         USD         1,721,826         44,199   
EUR     263,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     12/09/15         USD         324,889         5,131   
EUR     1,529,000      

Bank of America N.A.

     12/15/15         USD         1,901,235         42,001   
EUR     1,340,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     12/15/15         USD         1,672,762         43,349   
EUR     14,641,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/05/16         USD         17,844,833         33,029   
JPY     296,207,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/07/15         USD         2,844,315         371,369   
JPY     174,225,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     01/08/15         USD         1,679,909         225,342   
JPY     44,450,000      

Citibank N.A.

     01/13/15         USD         424,993         53,874   
JPY     133,330,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     01/14/15         USD         1,276,129         162,931   
JPY     554,560,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/15/15         USD         5,347,533         717,360   
JPY     183,890,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     01/15/15         USD         1,768,173         232,825   
JPY     360,500,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/15/15         USD         3,475,888         465,975   
JPY     60,980,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/16/15         USD         589,937         80,794   
JPY     44,590,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/16/15         USD         431,376         59,078   
JPY     248,150,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     01/16/15         USD         2,401,703         329,815   
JPY     55,370,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     01/20/15         USD         533,332         71,013   
JPY     359,980,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     01/27/15         USD         3,482,273         476,398   
JPY     342,205,982      

Deutsche Bank AG

     01/28/15         USD         3,351,675         494,190   
JPY     443,025,359      

HSBC Bank plc

     01/28/15         USD         4,329,125         629,780   
JPY     133,761,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     02/12/15         USD         1,310,072         193,000   
JPY     164,870,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/12/15         USD         1,617,602         240,730   
JPY     164,783,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/12/15         USD         1,618,646         242,501   
JPY     218,400,000      

Citibank N.A.

     02/13/15         USD         2,142,857         318,928   
JPY     109,360,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/13/15         USD         1,070,645         157,344   
JPY     109,070,000      

Citibank N.A.

     02/17/15         USD         1,068,895         157,984   
JPY     109,540,000      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     02/18/15         USD         1,079,116         164,272   
JPY     46,833,020      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     02/18/15         USD         461,114         69,979   
JPY     196,520,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/18/15         USD         1,935,338         294,064   
JPY     144,240,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     02/24/15         USD         1,413,813         209,103   
JPY     54,700,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/25/15         USD         534,049         77,184   
JPY     144,300,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     02/25/15         USD         1,408,341         203,119   
JPY     468,190,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/26/15         USD         4,578,114         667,668   
JPY     350,622,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     02/26/15         USD         3,431,482         502,996   
JPY     36,614,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/27/15         USD         359,207         53,395   
JPY     178,400,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     03/03/15         USD         1,752,180         262,072   
JPY     160,000,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     03/03/15         USD         1,571,092         234,672   
JPY     159,900,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     03/04/15         USD         1,566,879         231,283   
JPY     578,374,700      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/09/15         USD         5,656,006         824,769   
JPY     109,701,956      

Citibank N.A.

     03/17/15         USD         1,072,125         155,687   
JPY     465,903,000      

Citibank N.A.

     03/19/15         USD         4,589,544         697,353   
JPY     200,950,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     03/19/15         USD         1,990,195         311,443   
JPY     160,844,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/24/15         USD         1,575,111         231,330   
JPY     164,310,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/25/15         USD         1,608,517         235,764   
JPY     86,066,450      

Barclays Bank plc

     03/25/15         USD         843,458         124,403   
JPY     100,800,000      

Citibank N.A.

     04/15/15         USD         995,787         153,431   
JPY     177,260,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     04/17/15         USD         1,744,548         263,204   
JPY     106,500,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/21/15         USD         1,044,497         154,444   
JPY     627,180,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     04/22/15         USD         6,152,292         910,698   
JPY     8,128,806,420      

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     05/12/15         USD         80,004,000         12,052,074   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

   Settlement

Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
JPY     796,134,720      

Deutsche Bank AG

     05/13/15         USD         7,849,879       $ 1,194,593   
JPY     791,049,590      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     05/13/15         USD         7,793,822         1,181,046   
JPY     8,630,050      

Bank of America N.A.

     05/18/15         USD         85,000         12,853   
JPY     8,604,125      

Bank of America N.A.

     05/19/15         USD         85,000         13,069   
JPY     8,627,500      

Barclays Bank plc

     05/19/15         USD         85,000         12,873   
JPY     8,617,300      

Citibank N.A.

     05/19/15         USD         85,000         12,959   
JPY     8,634,400      

HSBC Bank plc

     05/19/15         USD         85,000         12,815   
JPY     275,190,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     05/20/15         USD         2,345,336         44,693   
JPY     462,800,000      

Citibank N.A.

     06/09/15         USD         4,531,391         661,365   
JPY     693,100,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     06/09/15         USD         6,785,585         989,745   
JPY     596,690,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     06/10/15         USD         5,843,743         854,043   
JPY     464,700,000      

Citibank N.A.

     06/10/15         USD         4,544,210         658,250   
JPY     430,940,000      

Citibank N.A.

     06/10/15         USD         4,214,078         610,429   
JPY     635,480,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     06/10/15         USD         6,225,954         911,881   
JPY     210,400,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     06/11/15         USD         2,059,918         300,469   
JPY     588,770,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     06/11/15         USD         5,763,102         839,573   
JPY     119,465,000      

Citibank N.A.

     06/17/15         USD         1,174,311         175,225   
JPY     248,300,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     06/17/15         USD         2,441,003         364,470   
JPY     930,710,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     06/22/15         USD         9,139,841         1,355,849   
JPY     811,652,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     06/30/15         USD         8,010,185         1,221,284   
JPY     353,334,000      

Citibank N.A.

     07/24/15         USD         3,496,210         539,664   
JPY     544,000,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     07/24/15         USD         5,380,013         828,057   
JPY     189,600,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     07/27/15         USD         1,876,113         289,538   
JPY     411,460,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     07/29/15         USD         4,055,691         612,467   
JPY     105,370,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     08/11/15         USD         1,033,921         151,949   
JPY     303,103,000      

Citibank N.A.

     08/11/15         USD         2,975,244         438,201   
JPY     105,400,000      

Citibank N.A.

     08/11/15         USD         1,034,601         152,378   
JPY     105,370,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/12/15         USD         1,038,271         156,284   
JPY     338,124,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/18/15         USD         3,315,315         484,787   
JPY     639,006,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     08/20/15         USD         6,252,505         903,022   
JPY     457,974,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/20/15         USD         4,483,304         649,344   
JPY     151,705,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     08/24/15         USD         1,474,453         204,354   
JPY     149,920,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/25/15         USD         1,449,791         194,614   
JPY     300,880,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     08/25/15         USD         2,911,272         392,211   
JPY     427,709,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     08/26/15         USD         4,141,818         560,842   
JPY     302,459,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/26/15         USD         2,926,862         394,537   
JPY     256,658,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/27/15         USD         2,477,621         328,724   
JPY     488,094,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     08/27/15         USD         4,712,151         625,531   
JPY     244,017,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/27/15         USD         2,358,712         315,654   
JPY     150,260,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     08/31/15         USD         1,452,665         194,508   
JPY     109,297,635      

Barclays Bank plc

     09/18/15         USD         1,025,172         109,708   
JPY     109,471,259      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     09/29/15         USD         1,007,661         90,565   
JPY     66,105,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     09/30/15         USD         609,024         55,219   
JPY     55,370,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/19/15         USD         523,856         59,775   
JPY     104,580,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/20/15         USD         989,170         112,616   
JPY     698,590,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     10/22/15         USD         6,565,078         709,415   
JPY     94,232,353      

Citibank N.A.

     11/10/15         USD         826,581         36,315   
JPY     229,154,000      

Citibank N.A.

     11/12/15         USD         2,016,562         94,690   
JPY     157,477,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     11/12/15         USD         1,380,439         59,709   
JPY     92,567,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     11/12/15         USD         813,332         36,992   
JPY     119,300,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     11/16/15         USD         1,040,331         39,678   
JPY     93,849,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

     11/16/15         USD         819,771         32,594   
JPY     306,357,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     11/18/15         USD         2,641,464         71,695   
JPY     379,208,000      

Citibank N.A.

     11/19/15         USD         3,274,539         93,600   
JPY     425,961,000      

Citibank N.A.

     11/20/15         USD         3,675,246         102,029   
JPY     79,941,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     11/24/15         USD         683,841         13,176   
JPY     929,100,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     12/21/15         USD         7,953,261         152,965   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

   Settlement

Date
     In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
JPY     930,530,000      

HSBC Bank plc

     12/21/15         USD         7,956,648       $ 144,346   
JPY     383,980,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     12/22/15         USD         3,247,408         23,602   
JPY     599,020,000      

Citibank N.A.

     12/22/15         USD         5,073,001         43,771   
MYR     48,436,950      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     05/06/15         USD         14,712,514         990,179   

Cross Currency Contracts to Buy

                           
EUR     14,637,395      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/29/15         SEK         137,978,000         15,506   
HUF     789,872,400      

Deutsche Bank AG

     03/19/15         EUR         2,475,313         16,119   
HUF     236,727,980      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     03/19/15         EUR         741,978         4,690   
HUF     396,052,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     03/20/15         EUR         1,245,564         2,694   
HUF     393,926,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     03/20/15         EUR         1,238,878         2,680   
HUF     388,774,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     09/23/15         EUR         1,235,655         (23,868
HUF     311,219,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     09/25/15         EUR         988,091         (17,902
MYR     48,436,950      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/08/15         JPY         1,581,287,200         337,675   
MYR     44,900,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10/13/15         JPY         1,449,179,828         447,123   
PLN     4,666,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/10/15         EUR         1,091,590         (5,663
PLN     4,666,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     02/11/15         EUR         1,090,952         (4,959
PLN     4,666,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     02/17/15         EUR         1,095,820         (11,257
PLN     5,956,000      

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     05/27/15         EUR         1,395,501         (18,219
PLN     39,200,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     07/07/15         EUR         9,263,198         (234,451
PLN     35,870,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

     08/19/15         EUR         8,416,237         (158,883
SEK     261,920,000      

Barclays Bank plc

     01/29/15         EUR         28,314,359         (669,205
                

 

 

 
Net Unrealized Appreciation       $ 82,779,359   
                

 

 

 

Swap Agreements

OTC Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

  Floating
Rate Index
  Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
 

Counterparty

   Notional
Amount
     Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Receive

  3-Month USD-LIBOR     3.018   08/22/23   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      USD         26,870,000       $ (1,779,141   $       $ (1,779,141

Receive

  3-Month USD-LIBOR     3.848   08/22/43   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      USD         15,360,000         (3,672,680             (3,672,680
                

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Totals

  

     $(5,451,821)      $         $(5,451,821)   
                

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating Rate
Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         0.925     10/17/17         USD         74,980,000       $ 590,633   

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.730     07/07/24         USD         14,050,000         (582,467
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 8,166   
                

 

 

 

Cash in the amount of $37,080,892 and securities in the amount of $7,605,795 have been deposited in segregated accounts held by the counterparties as collateral for forward foreign exchange contracts and swap contracts.

 

(CLP)— Chilean Peso
(EUR)— Euro
(HUF)— Hungarian Forint
(INR)— Indian Rupee
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(KRW)— South Korea Won

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(MYR)— Malaysian Ringgit
(PLN)— Polish Zloty
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar
(USD)— United States Dollar
(LIBOR)—London Interbank Offered Rate

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Foreign Government*

   $ —         $ 1,065,853,849      $ —         $ 1,065,853,849   
Short-Term Investments           

Discount Note

     —           28,500,000        —           28,500,000   

Mutual Fund

     21,978,040         —          —           21,978,040   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           254,930,419        —           254,930,419   

Total Short-Term Investments

     21,978,040         283,430,419        —           305,408,459   

Total Investments

   $ 21,978,040       $ 1,349,284,268      $ —         $ 1,371,262,308   
                                    

Collateral for Securities Loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (21,978,040   $ —         $ (21,978,040
Forward Contracts           

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 106,647,569      $ —         $ 106,647,569   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —           (23,868,210     —           (23,868,210

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —         $ 82,779,359      $ —         $ 82,779,359   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts           

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 590,633      $ —         $ 590,633   

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —           (582,467     —           (582,467

Total Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts

   $ —         $ 8,166      $ —         $ 8,166   
OTC Swap Contracts           

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

   $ —         $ (5,451,821   $ —         $ (5,451,821

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,116,331,889   

Repurchase Agreement

     254,930,419   

Cash

     244,615   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     21,287,380   

Cash collateral for centrally cleared swaps

     1,588,253   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     106,647,569   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     4,670,936   

Fund shares sold

     313,748   

Dividends and interest

     11,860,323   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     10,471   

Prepaid expenses

     3,769   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,517,889,372   

Liabilities

  

OTC swap contracts at market value

     5,451,821   

Cash collateral for centrally cleared swap contracts

     11,942   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     23,868,210   

Collateral for securities loaned

     21,978,040   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     19,409,302   

Fund shares redeemed

     43,335   

Foreign taxes

     603,591   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     40,137   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     502,379   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     738,875   

Distribution and service fees

     13,708   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     476,649   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     73,205,413   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,444,683,959   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,401,095,571   

Undistributed net investment income

     25,845,725   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (1,726,054

Unrealized appreciation on investments, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions (d)

     19,468,717   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,444,683,959   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 1,380,515,884   

Class B

     64,168,075   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     121,962,912   

Class B

     5,707,540   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 11.32   

Class B

     11.24   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement, was $1,173,179,895.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $20,031,644.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $21,339,311.
(d) Includes foreign capital gains tax of $603,591

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Interest (a)

   $ 46,676,939   

Securities lending income

     148,692   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     46,825,631   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     8,540,596   

Administration fees

     33,305   

Custodian and accounting fees

     1,510,785   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     171,060   

Audit and tax services

     95,069   

Legal

     34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,769   

Shareholder reporting

     50,096   

Insurance

     8,651   

Miscellaneous

     13,340   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     10,500,990   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     36,324,641   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     214,445   

Swap contracts

     (1,774,173

Foreign currency transactions

     3,800,190   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     2,240,462   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments (b)

     (98,410,293

Swap contracts

     (5,650,683

Foreign currency transactions

     84,721,010   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (19,339,966
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (17,099,504
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 19,225,137   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $1,751,373.
(b) Includes change in foreign capital gains tax of $(115,683).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 36,324,641      $ 44,996,540   

Net realized gain

     2,240,462        20,144,603   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (19,339,966     (51,091,458
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     19,225,137        14,049,685   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (60,444,741     (25,258,496

Class B

     (3,157,552     (1,507,561

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     0        (5,070,835

Class B

     0        (340,003
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (63,602,293     (32,176,895
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     167,260,154        214,998,175   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     122,882,998        196,870,965   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,321,800,961        1,124,929,996   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,444,683,959      $ 1,321,800,961   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 25,845,725      $ 57,510,785   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     13,374,366      $ 151,454,777        17,720,480      $ 210,385,198   

Reinvestments

     5,387,232        60,444,741        2,542,274        30,329,331   

Redemptions

     (3,534,727     (40,475,497     (1,799,528     (21,180,248
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     15,226,871      $ 171,424,021        18,463,226      $ 219,534,281   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     419,298      $ 4,797,172        1,006,488      $ 11,739,010   

Reinvestments

     282,935        3,157,552        155,650        1,847,564   

Redemptions

     (1,059,442     (12,118,591     (1,563,610     (18,122,680
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (357,209   $ (4,163,867     (401,472   $ (4,536,106
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 167,260,154        $ 214,998,175   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.72       $ 11.88       $ 11.54       $ 12.45       $ 11.02   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.30         0.43         0.43         0.50         0.49   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.14      (0.28      1.15         (0.47      1.03   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.16         0.15         1.58         0.03         1.52   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.56      (0.26      (1.24      (0.92      (0.09

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00         (0.05      0.00         (0.02      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.56      (0.31      (1.24      (0.94      (0.09
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.32       $ 11.72       $ 11.88       $ 11.54       $ 12.45   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     1.41         1.27         14.64         (0.06      13.73   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.73         0.72         0.73         0.74         0.73   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.56         3.69         3.78         4.09         4.18   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28         37         35         46         18   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,380.5       $ 1,251.2       $ 1,048.6       $ 926.3       $ 747.3   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.64       $ 11.80       $ 11.48       $ 12.41       $ 11.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.26         0.40         0.40         0.46         0.46   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.13      (0.27      1.14         (0.46      1.03   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.13         0.13         1.54         0.00         1.49   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.53      (0.24      (1.22      (0.91      (0.08

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00         (0.05      0.00         (0.02      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.53      (0.29      (1.22      (0.93      (0.08
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.24       $ 11.64       $ 11.80       $ 11.48       $ 12.41   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     1.14         1.04         14.29         (0.33      13.54   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.98         0.97         0.98         0.99         0.98   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.31         3.44         3.53         3.81         3.86   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28         37         35         46         18   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 64.2       $ 70.6       $ 76.3       $ 67.3       $ 46.3   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Distributions from net realized capital gains were less than $0.01.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is non-diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, swap transactions and premium amortization adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $254,930,419, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (b)    $ 590,633      

Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (b)

   $ 582,467   
         OTC swap contracts at market value (a)      5,451,821   
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      106,647,569       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      23,868,210   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 107,238,202          $ 29,902,498   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Excludes OTC swap interest receivable of $10,471 and OTC swap interest payable of $502,379.
  (b) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
     Net Amount*  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 243,413       $      $       $ 243,413   

Barclays Bank plc

     13,122,275         (863,284     (12,007,000 )(1)       251,991   

Citibank N.A.

     8,411,231         (2,827,962     (5,459,191 )(1)       124,078   

Deutsche Bank AG

     34,190,970         (6,735,656             27,455,314   

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     18,317,882                (18,317,882 )(1)         

HSBC Bank plc

     7,817,359         (7,412,702             404,657   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     13,870,644         (10,322,765     (2,160,496 )(1)       1,387,383   

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     3,342,364         (1,157,662             2,184,702   

Standard Chartered Bank

     6,507,297                (6,370,000 )(1)       137,297   

UBS AG

     824,134                        824,134   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 106,647,569       $ (29,320,031   $ (44,314,569    $ 33,012,969   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net Amount**  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 863,284       $ (863,284   $       $   

Citibank N.A.

     2,827,962         (2,827,962               

Deutsche Bank AG

     6,735,656         (6,735,656               

HSBC Bank plc

     7,412,702         (7,412,702               

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     10,322,765         (10,322,765               

Morgan Stanley & Co.

     1,157,662         (1,157,662               
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 29,320,031       $ (29,320,031   $       $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.
  (1) Collateral was received into a segregated account in the counterparty’s name at the custodian.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $ 4,556,846       $ 4,556,846   

Swap contracts

     (1,774,173             (1,774,173
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (1,774,173   $ 4,556,846       $ 2,782,673   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $ 85,267,334       $ 85,267,334   

Swap contracts

     (5,650,683             (5,650,683
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (5,650,683   $ 85,267,334       $ 79,616,651   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 1,350,481,119   

Swap contracts

     68,000,000   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 274,838,268       $ 0       $ 259,055,933   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
Metlife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$8,540,596      0.600   ALL
    

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Franklin Advisers, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$63,602,293    $ 26,818,418       $       $ 5,358,477       $ 63,602,293       $ 32,176,895   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss
Carryforwards
     Total  
$118,597,789    $ 2,430,024       $ (77,372,001   $       $ 43,655,812   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized $2,828,709 of capital loss carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Franklin Advisers, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Citigroup World Government Bond Index (WGBI) ex-US Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were below the medians of the Expense Group, the Expense Universe, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were equal to the median of the Expense Group, slightly below the median of the Expense Universe, and slightly above the median of the Sub-advised Expense Universe. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio returned 5.24% and 5.09%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Aggressive Index1, returned 6.59%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

After a sharp weather-related contraction in the first quarter, the U.S. economy turned the corner and ended 2014 on a strong note, with the majority of leading economic indicators pointing to continued strength. U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at a healthy rate in the second and third quarters, the strongest two quarters of expansion since 2003. Solid economic growth domestically, combined with the Federal Reserve Bank’s (the “Fed”) accommodative stance in respect to interest rates, provided ample support for the U.S. stock market, which delivered another strong year of performance in 2014. Economic growth around the world became increasingly divergent in 2014. While the U.S. economy was on the rise, renewed concerns over economic growth in Europe and Asia weighed on the equity market outside the U.S. Furthermore, geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe and Iraq added to short-term volatility. As the Fed finally wound down its quantitative easing program as planned, the European Central Bank initiated an easing strategy, and the Bank of Japan increased its asset purchasing program. In November, China cut interest rates unexpectedly, stepping up a campaign to prop up growth in the world’s second-largest economy as it headed toward its slowest growth in nearly a quarter century. As other central banks moved toward further stimulus, the U.S. dollar rallied strongly, which further dented the returns of international stocks in U.S. dollar terms.

The U.S. stock market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, was the bright spot in the global equity market, advancing 13.7% over the twelve month period. Small cap stocks, represented by the S&P Small Cap 600 Index, trailed their large cap counterparts at 5.8%, despite an outperformance in the fourth quarter. Energy stocks were the bottom performing sector and the only sector that produced a negative return for the year, driven by plummeting oil prices as a result of increased production in the U.S. and a slower demand worldwide. On the other side of the spectrum, the Utilities sector delivered the best results, as investors were hungry for yields in an extended low interest rate environment. The Health Care sector followed closely behind, gaining on strong earnings reports and forward guidance. Technology stocks performed strongly as well, with semiconductor manufacturers and software firms benefitting from order expansions and merger activities. The equity markets outside the U.S., however, ended the year in negative territory in both the developed world and emerging markets. The MSCI EAFE Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 4.9% and 2.2% in U.S. dollar terms, respectively.

Contrary to many investors’ expectations of rising yields in the U.S., Treasury yields declined across the maturity spectrum in 2014. The 10-year Treasury yield dropped to 2.17% at the end of the year. As a result, the bond market rallied over the course of the past year. The yield curve continued to flatten with yields on the long end of the curve coming down significantly more than yields on the short end. While Investment Grade Credit outperformed Treasuries, the High Yield sector underperformed. For the twelve month period, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index advanced 6.0%. The Barclays Corporate High Yield Index was up 2.5%. As yields across the world declined due to further monetary easing implemented by a number of central banks, bond markets outside the U.S. on average delivered strong returns in local currency terms. However, the positive local returns were erased by the depreciation of many currencies against the U.S. dollar. The Barclays Global Aggregate ex-U.S. Index lost 3.1% in U.S. dollar terms for the year.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio invested in underlying portfolios of the Met Investors Series Trust and the Metropolitan Series Fund to maintain a broad asset allocation of approximately 100% to equities, although we expect that some residual cash will be held by the underlying portfolios.

Over the twelve month period, the Portfolio underperformed the Dow Jones Aggressive Index due to unfavorable security selection in a number of underlying portfolios in addition to a cash drag during a year the market was fairly strong.

The domestic equity portfolios in aggregate produced a positive contribution. The ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio considerably outpaced its benchmark. Strong stock selection in the Health Care, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors generated sizable contributions to relative performance. An overweight to the Health Care sector further enhanced return. The T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio and WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio also contributed positively. For the T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio, solid stock selection in the Industrials sector more than compensated for a negative impact from an underweight position to the Technology sector. More specifically, within the Industrials sector, the portfolio’s holding in Southwest Airlines generated a significant contribution as the price of the stock soared more than 100% in the past year. The WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio benefited from strong stock selection in the Health Care and Materials sectors. Conversely, the Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio detracted from the allocation portfolio’s relative performance, driven largely by stock selection in the Technology sector. A number of holdings in the internet and software space, which enjoyed strong returns in 2013, struggled during the growth sell-off in the spring of 2014. The Jennison Growth Portfolio was another performance detractor. Underperformance was primarily attributable to weak stock selection in the Technology and Consumer Discretionary sectors. Additionally, the Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Portfolio underperformed its benchmark index as well. Stock selection in the Information Technology sector was particularly weak. An overweight position to the Energy sector further dampened the relative performance.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Within the equity portfolios that invest outside the U.S., the Van Eck Global Natural Resources Portfolio produced a large detraction to the allocation portfolio’s relative performance as the Energy sector sold off due to plummeting oil prices. The MFS Emerging Markets Portfolio was another performance detractor. Despite a positive contribution from an underweight position to the Energy and Materials sector, stock selection in a number of sectors hampered the relative performance. The MFS Research International Portfolio also hindered the allocation portfolio’s relative results to some extent due to its weak stock selection in the Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, and Financials sectors. Conversely, the Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio aided the relative performance of the allocation portfolio as the real estate investment trust (“REIT”) industry surged in the past year. The Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio serves as a good diversifier in the underlying portfolio line-up, especially to balance off the other portfolios whose managers don’t invest in REITs. Since being added to the allocation portfolio in the beginning of May, the Met/Artisan International Portfolio also contributed positively, benefiting from a minimal exposure to the Energy sector in addition to healthy stock selection in the Technology and Health Care sectors.

Investment Committee

MetLife Advisers, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the advisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio (formerly, MetLife Aggressive Strategy Portfolio)

 


A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES AGGRESSIVE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception2  
MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio                    

Class A

       5.24           12.03                     6.78   

Class B

       5.09           11.77           5.86             
Dow Jones Aggressive Index        6.59           12.37           7.87             

1 The Dow Jones Aggressive Index is a benchmark designed for asset allocation strategists who are willing to take 100% of the risk of the global equity securities market. It is a total returns index formed by equally weighing nine equity style indices with monthly rebalancing. The nine Dow Jones equity style indices include: U.S. Large Cap Value, U.S. Large Cap Growth, U.S. Mid Cap Value, U.S. Small Cap Value, U.S. Mid Cap Growth, U.S. Small Cap Growth, Emerging Markets LN, Europe/Canada, and Asia/Pacific.

2 Inception dates of the Class A and Class B shares are 5/2/2005 and 11/4/2004, respectively. Index since inception return is based on the Class B inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio (Class A)      6.1   
T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A)      6.1   
Jennison Growth Portfolio (Class A)      6.1   
MFS Value Portfolio (Class A)      5.1   
T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio (Class A)      5.1   
WMC Core Equity Opportunities Portfolio (Class A)      5.1   
Invesco Comstock Portfolio (Class A)      5.1   
Harris Oakmark International Portfolio (Class A)      4.4   
Met/Dimensional International Small Company Portfolio (Class A)      4.2   
BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio (Class A)      4.1   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.79    $ 1,000.00         $ 997.20         $ 3.98   
   Hypothetical*      0.79    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.22         $ 4.02   

Class B(a)

   Actual      1.04    $ 1,000.00         $ 996.40         $ 5.23   
   Hypothetical*      1.04    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,019.96         $ 5.30   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio reflects the expenses of both the Portfolio and the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Funds—100.0% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Affiliated Investment Companies—100.0%

  

Baillie Gifford International Stock Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    6,152,045      $ 61,951,096   

BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    1,800,228        74,151,408   

BlackRock Large Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    6,522,492        64,507,451   

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    5,901,439        73,354,888   

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    6,928,014        110,640,382   

Frontier Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    748,078        27,888,360   

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    1,711,574        27,967,112   

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    4,914,882        78,343,217   

Invesco Comstock Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    5,834,871        92,132,610   

Invesco Mid Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    907,505        18,476,810   

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    2,359,603        46,295,413   

Jennison Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    6,765,985        109,811,929   

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    1,873,546        33,892,448   

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    2,287,123        33,620,702   

Met/Artisan International Portfolio (Class A) (b) (c)

    5,232,788        52,537,192   

Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    134,537        36,565,680   

Met/Dimensional International Small Company Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    5,079,046        75,373,038   

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio) (Class A) (b)

    1,612,268        33,067,620   

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    6,023,856        57,949,491   

MFS Research International Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    4,698,191        51,351,223   

MFS Value Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    5,044,370        92,715,521   

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    1,094,549        18,071,007   

Affiliated Investment Companies—(Continued)

  

Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    1,630,080      29,455,537   

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    1,302,141        26,485,549   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    4,457,248        110,361,460   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    2,574,865        92,540,658   

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    2,231,799        27,942,129   

T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    1,192,106        27,895,275   

Van Eck Global Natural Resources Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    5,197,216        58,832,485   

WMC Core Equity Opportunities Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    2,136,755        92,158,261   

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    4,473,695        64,823,848   
   

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds
(Cost $1,496,932,926)

      1,801,159,800   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.0%
(Cost $1,496,932,926) (d)

      1,801,159,800   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—0.0%

      (504,539
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,800,655,261   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) A Portfolio of Metropolitan Series Fund. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers.)
(b) A Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers.)
(c) Non-income producing security.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,531,260,935. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $286,484,699 and $(16,585,834), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $269,898,865 for federal income tax purposes.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Mutual Funds            

Affiliated Investment Companies

   $ 1,801,159,800       $ —         $ —         $ 1,801,159,800   

Total Investments

   $ 1,801,159,800       $ —         $ —         $ 1,801,159,800   
                                     

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Affiliated investments at value (a)

   $ 1,801,159,800   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     209,163   

Fund shares sold

     175,440   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,801,544,403   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     384,603   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     108,534   

Distribution and service fees

     248,918   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     111,560   

Other expenses

     35,527   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     889,142   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,800,655,261   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,375,025,186   

Undistributed net investment income

     24,042,354   

Accumulated net realized gain

     97,360,847   

Unrealized appreciation on affiliated investments

     304,226,874   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,800,655,261   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 631,639,932   

Class B

     1,169,015,329   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     45,010,389   

Class B

     83,648,944   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 14.03   

Class B

     13.98   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $1,496,932,926.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from affiliated investments

   $ 17,138,050   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     17,138,050   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     1,293,628   

Administration fees

     22,323   

Deferred expense reimbursement

     68,214   

Custodian and accounting fees

     25,277   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,996,675   

Audit and tax services

     26,310   

Legal

     35,265   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     45,669   

Miscellaneous

     6,423   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     4,519,784   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     12,618,266   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Affiliated investments

     123,281,321   

Capital gain distributions from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     82,767,075   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     206,048,396   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation on affiliated investments

     (126,655,012
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     79,393,384   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 92,011,650   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 12,618,266      $ 12,510,544   

Net realized gain

     206,048,396        87,220,247   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (126,655,012     296,960,137   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     92,011,650        396,690,928   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (5,957,726     (736,790

Class B

     (8,551,799     (8,281,024
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (14,509,525     (9,017,814
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (145,510,433     415,127,110   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (68,008,308     802,800,224   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,868,663,569        1,065,863,345   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,800,655,261      $ 1,868,663,569   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 24,042,354      $ 14,185,143   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     1,212,369      $ 16,611,001        2,619,374      $ 30,726,583   

Shares issued through acquisition

     0        0        44,617,982        505,967,920   

Reinvestments

     451,343        5,957,726        67,042        736,790   

Redemptions

     (4,686,992     (64,293,621     (5,808,570     (69,512,462
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (3,023,280   $ (41,724,894     41,495,828      $ 467,918,831   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     5,347,753      $ 72,593,786        9,511,395      $ 112,021,339   

Reinvestments

     649,339        8,551,799        754,879        8,281,024   

Redemptions

     (13,551,678     (184,931,124     (14,650,878     (173,094,084
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (7,554,586   $ (103,785,539     (4,384,604   $ (52,791,721
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (145,510,433     $ 415,127,110   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.46       $ 10.48       $ 9.03       $ 9.68       $ 8.39   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     0.12         0.02         0.09         (0.01      0.08   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.58         3.07         1.44         (0.51      1.33   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.70         3.09         1.53         (0.52      1.41   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.13      (0.11      (0.08      (0.13      (0.12
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.13      (0.11      (0.08      (0.13      (0.12
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.03       $ 13.46       $ 10.48       $ 9.03       $ 9.68   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     5.24         29.77         17.05         (5.57      16.92   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.08         0.10         0.10         0.10         0.11   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c) (d)

     0.08         0.10         0.10         0.10         0.10   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) (e)

     0.85         0.15         0.89         (0.08      0.87   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     17         13         13         23         13   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 631.6       $ 646.3       $ 68.5       $ 56.3       $ 1.2   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 13.40       $ 10.43       $ 8.99       $ 9.64       $ 8.37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.08         0.13         0.07         0.06         0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.60         2.93         1.43         (0.60      1.28   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.68         3.06         1.50         (0.54      1.37   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.10      (0.09      (0.06      (0.11      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.10      (0.09      (0.06      (0.11      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 13.98       $ 13.40       $ 10.43       $ 8.99       $ 9.64   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     5.09         29.51         16.74         (5.78      16.50   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.33         0.35         0.35         0.35         0.36   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c) (d)

     0.33         0.35         0.35         0.35         0.35   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     0.60         1.07         0.67         0.61         1.02   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     17         13         13         23         13   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,169.0       $ 1,222.3       $ 997.4       $ 945.4       $ 798.0   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.
(d) Includes the effects of expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(e) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio (the “Asset Allocation Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Asset Allocation Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Asset Allocation Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Asset Allocation Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Asset Allocation Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Asset Allocation Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Asset Allocation Portfolio, and certain Asset Allocation Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Asset Allocation Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

The Asset Allocation Portfolio is designed on established principles of asset allocation to achieve a specific risk profile. The Asset Allocation Portfolio will invest substantially all of its assets in other portfolios of the Trust or of Metropolitan Series Fund (“Underlying Portfolios”).

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Asset Allocation Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Asset Allocation Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Valuation - Investments in the Underlying Portfolios are valued at their closing daily net asset value. The net asset value of the Asset Allocation Portfolio is calculated based on the net asset values of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Asset Allocation Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying Portfolios, please refer to the prospectuses of the Underlying Portfolios.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Asset Allocation Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Capital gains distributions received from the Underlying Portfolios are recorded as Net realized gain in the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Asset Allocation Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to short-term capital gain distributions received from Underlying Portfolios. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Asset Allocation Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Asset Allocation Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Asset Allocation Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Underlying Portfolios invest in securities and enter into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Underlying Portfolios may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Underlying Portfolios; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Underlying Portfolios may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Underlying Portfolios have unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Underlying Portfolios to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Underlying Portfolios manage counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Underlying Portfolios’ investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of their trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of their net exposure to each individual counterparty based on the adviser’s assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Underlying Portfolios restrict their exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom the Underlying Portfolios undertake a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

The Asset Allocation Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Asset Allocation Portfolio and in the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of shares of the Underlying Portfolios by the Asset Allocation Portfolio, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 315,659,251       $ 0       $ 380,317,571   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - The Trust has entered into a management agreement with the Adviser (the “Management Agreement”) for investment management services in connection with the investment management of the Asset Allocation Portfolio. The Adviser is subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Trust.

Under the terms of the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s Management Agreement, the Asset Allocation Portfolio pays the Adviser a monthly fee based upon annual rates applied to the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s average daily net assets as follows:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended

December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$1,293,628      0.100   First $500 million
     0.075   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.050   Over $1 billion

In addition to the above management fee paid to the Adviser, the Asset Allocation Portfolio indirectly pays MetLife Advisers a management fee through its investments in the Underlying Portfolios.

Expense Limitation Agreement - The Adviser had entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) in the interest of limiting expenses of the Asset Allocation Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Agreement was in effect with respect to the Asset Allocation Portfolio until April 27, 2014. Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser had agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Asset Allocation

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Portfolio other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized or expensed in accordance with GAAP, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s business, and Underlying Portfolios’ fees and expenses but including amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, were limited to the following expense ratios as a percentage of the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Maximum Expense Ratio under Current
Expense Limitation Agreement

Class A

  

Class B

0.10%    0.35%

If, in any year in which the Management Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate operating expenses of the Asset Allocation Portfolio for the fiscal year are less than the Maximum Expense Ratio for that year, subject to approval by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Asset Allocation Portfolio to the extent that the charge does not cause the expenses in such subsequent year to exceed the Maximum Expense Ratio as stated above. The Asset Allocation Portfolio is not obligated to repay any expense paid by the Adviser more than five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such expense was incurred.

As of December 31, 2014, there were no expenses deferred in 2014 and $68,214 was repaid to the Adviser in accordance with the Expense Limitation Agreement. Amounts recouped for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Deferred expense reimbursement in the Statement of Operations.

Effective April 28, 2014, there was no longer an expense cap for the Asset Allocation Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Asset Allocation Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Asset Allocation Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Asset Allocation Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Asset Allocation Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Asset Allocation Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Asset Allocation Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

The Asset Allocation Portfolio does not invest in the Underlying Portfolios for the purpose of exercising control; however, investments by the Asset Allocation Portfolio within its principal investment strategies may represent a significant portion of the Underlying Portfolios’ net assets. Transactions in the Underlying Portfolios for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares
sold
    Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Baillie Gifford International Stock

     7,047,790         149,147         (1,044,892     6,152,045   

BlackRock Capital Appreciation

     2,505,725         9,855         (715,352     1,800,228   

BlackRock Large Cap Value

     4,688,404         2,064,270         (230,182     6,522,492   

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares
sold
    Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Clarion Global Real Estate

     7,979,733         216,016         (2,294,310     5,901,439   

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth

     8,436,377         30,923         (1,539,286     6,928,014   

Frontier Mid Cap Growth

     1,020,730         97,055         (369,707     748,078   

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value

     2,389,858         539,415         (1,217,699     1,711,574   

Harris Oakmark International

     4,353,531         647,083         (85,732     4,914,882   

Invesco Comstock

     7,768,499         95,824         (2,029,452     5,834,871   

Invesco Mid Cap Value

             925,670         (18,165     907,505   

Invesco Small Cap Growth

     2,299,893         294,287         (234,577     2,359,603   

Jennison Growth

     8,348,024         537,812         (2,119,851     6,765,985   

JPMorgan Small Cap Value

     1,694,510         259,913         (80,877     1,873,546   

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth

     3,178,318         440,673         (1,331,868     2,287,123   

Met/Artisan International

             5,267,743         (34,955     5,232,788   

Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value

     157,150         1,259         (23,872     134,537   

Met/Dimensional International Small Company

     4,456,244         849,160         (226,358     5,079,046   

MetLife Small Cap Value (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value)

     1,613,240         77,448         (78,420     1,612,268   

MFS Emerging Markets Equity

     7,754,220         535,788         (2,266,152     6,023,856   

MFS Research International

     6,150,753         208,855         (1,661,417     4,698,191   

MFS Value

     5,308,269         370,613         (634,512     5,044,370   

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth

     2,609,224         46,637         (1,561,312     1,094,549   

Neuberger Berman Genesis

     1,659,725         13,607         (43,252     1,630,080   

Oppenheimer Global Equity

             1,311,907         (9,766     1,302,141   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth

     5,388,791         434,396         (1,365,939     4,457,248   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value

     2,924,611         47,263         (397,009     2,574,865   

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth

     3,454,542         364,143         (1,586,886     2,231,799   

T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth

     396,540         850,784         (55,218     1,192,106   

Van Eck Global Natural Resources

     5,147,395         505,816         (455,995     5,197,216   

WMC Core Equity Opportunities

     1,759,025         496,216         (118,486     2,136,755   

WMC Large Cap Research

             4,675,147         (201,452     4,473,695   

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Underlying
Portfolios
     Capital Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Underlying
Portfolios
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Baillie Gifford International Stock

   $ 2,077,529       $       $ 1,027,876      $ 61,951,096   

BlackRock Capital Appreciation

     5,790,142                 58,671        74,151,408   

BlackRock Large Cap Value

     758,530         13,138,759         721,057        64,507,451   

Clarion Global Real Estate

     10,009,469                 1,710,981        73,354,888   

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth

     13,639,494                 349,763        110,640,382   

Frontier Mid Cap Growth

     932,849         3,222,933                27,888,360   

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value

     3,746,520         7,494,875         332,342        27,967,112   

Harris Oakmark International

     837,440         7,672,486         2,086,188        78,343,217   

Invesco Comstock

     13,792,762                 1,312,507        92,132,610   

Invesco Mid Cap Value

     19,354                        18,476,810   

Invesco Small Cap Growth

     2,534,011         5,139,235                46,295,413   

Jennison Growth

     14,272,477         6,852,325         336,999        109,811,929   

JPMorgan Small Cap Value

     197,410         3,950,280         360,939        33,892,448   

Loomis Sayles Small Cap Growth

     3,522,995         5,792,635                33,620,702   

Met/Artisan International

     1,354                        52,537,192   

Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value

     2,475,694                 301,550        36,565,680   

Met/Dimensional International Small Company

     1,636,164         2,529,849         1,619,616        75,373,038   

MetLife Small Cap Value (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value)

     831,900         1,349,704         93,796        33,067,620   

MFS Emerging Markets Equity

     6,959,246                 884,283        57,949,491   

MFS Research International

     4,427,189                 1,768,152        51,351,223   

MFS Value

     5,503,573         4,449,339         1,594,652        92,715,521   

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth

     4,941,144                 21,999        18,071,007   

Neuberger Berman Genesis

     306,198                 114,796        29,455,537   

Oppenheimer Global Equity

     1,944                        26,485,549   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Growth

     9,531,088         8,961,985         78,476        110,361,460   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value

     4,916,988                 1,445,746        92,540,658   

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth

     5,720,983         3,977,630                27,942,129   

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Underlying
Portfolios
     Capital Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth

   $ 190,149       $ 689,238       $ 1,545       $ 27,895,275   

Van Eck Global Natural Resources

     2,370,148         1,195,229         384,731         58,832,485   

WMC Core Equity Opportunities

     1,125,647         6,350,573         531,385         92,158,261   

WMC Large Cap Research

     210,930                         64,823,848   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 123,281,321       $ 82,767,075       $ 17,138,050       $ 1,801,159,800   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$14,509,525    $ 9,017,814       $       $       $ 14,509,525       $ 9,017,814   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$24,153,914    $ 131,688,856       $ 269,898,865       $       $ 425,741,635   

The Asset Allocation Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Asset Allocation Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Asset Allocation Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $45,809,779.

9. Acquisition

At the close of business on April 26, 2013, the Asset Allocation Portfolio, with aggregate Class A and Class B net assets of $73,784,334 and $1,073,640,005, respectively, acquired all of the assets and liabilities of Zenith Equity Portfolio of the Metropolitan Series Fund (“Zenith Equity”).

The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 44,617,982 Class A shares of the Asset Allocation Portfolio (valued at $505,967,920) for 1,460,084 Class A shares of Zenith Equity. Each shareholder of Zenith Equity received Class A shares of the Asset Allocation Portfolio at the Class NAV, as determined at the close of business on April 26, 2013. The transaction was part of a restructuring designed to eliminate the offering of overlapping Portfolios in the MetLife, Inc. families of funds with similar investment objectives and similar investment strategies that serve as funding vehicles for insurance contracts that are offered by affiliates of MetLife. Some of the investments held by Zenith Equity may have been purchased or sold prior to the acquisition for the purpose of complying with the anticipated investment policies or limitations of the Asset Allocation Portfolio after the acquisition. If such purchases or sales occurred, the transaction costs were borne by Zenith Equity. All other costs associated with the merger were not borne by the shareholders of either portfolio.

Zenith Equity’s net assets on April 26, 2013, were $505,967,920 for Class A shares, including investments valued at $506,025,400 with a cost basis of $512,194,667. For financial reporting purposes, assets received, liabilities assumed and shares issued by the

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Asset Allocation Portfolio were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments received by the Asset Allocation Portfolio from Zenith Equity were carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.

The aggregate net assets of the Asset Allocation Portfolio immediately after the acquisition were $1,653,392,259, which included $(6,169,267) of acquired unrealized depreciation.

Assuming the acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2013, the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s pro-forma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

Net Investment income

   $ 19,768,418 (a) 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

   $ 425,928,242 (b)
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 445,696,660  
  

 

 

 

Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single integrated portfolio since the acquisition was completed, it is not practicable to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings of Zenith Equity that have been included in the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s Statement of Operations since April 26, 2013.

 

(a) $12,510,544 net investment income as reported December 31, 2013, plus $7,392,816 from Zenith Equity pre-merger net investment income, minus $80,324 in higher advisory fees, minus $54,618 of proforma additional other expenses.
(b) $430,881,886 Unrealized appreciation as reported December 31, 2013, minus $124,708,212 pro-forma December 31, 2012 Unrealized appreciation, plus $87,220,247 net realized gain as reported December 31, 2013, plus $32,534,321 in net realized gain from Zenith Equity pre-merger.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Asset Allocation Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of the MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the transfer agent. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (the “Advisory Agreements” or “Agreements”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser that the Adviser had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser has provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance program, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser regularly review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding material information related to those reviews and assessments.

The Board further considered the provision of investment advisory services by the Adviser to the Asset Allocation Portfolios (i.e., MetLife Asset Allocation 20 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 40 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 60 Portfolio, MetLife Asset Allocation 80 Portfolio and MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio) and the American Funds of Funds (i.e., American Funds Balanced Allocation Portfolio, American Funds Growth Allocation Portfolio and American Funds Moderate Allocation Portfolio). With respect to the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board noted that the Adviser has hired an independent consultant to provide research and consulting services with respect to the periodic asset allocation targets for each of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and to investments

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

in other Portfolios of the Trusts (the “Underlying Portfolios”), which may assist the Adviser with the selection of Underlying Portfolios for inclusion in each Asset Allocation Portfolio. Additionally, the Board considered that a committee, consisting of investment professionals from across the Adviser, meets periodically to review the asset allocations and discuss the performance of the Asset Allocation Portfolios and the American Funds of Funds.

The Board further considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to each Asset Allocation Portfolio and American Fund of Funds was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance. The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”) and a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report.

The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. In the case of the Asset Allocation Portfolios, the Board also considered the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability that was attributable to its management of the Underlying Portfolios of the Trust in which the Asset Allocation Portfolios invest. The Board further considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Portfolios, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

MetLife Asset Allocation 100 Portfolio (formerly, MetLife Aggressive Strategy Portfolio). The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreement with the Adviser regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed both the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed both the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Aggressive AA Broad Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also noted that the Portfolio underperformed its other benchmark, the Dow Jones Aggressive Index, for the one- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and outperformed the Dow Jones Aggressive Index for the three-year period ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were below the Expense Group median and equal to the Expense Universe median. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were above the Expense Group median and below the Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio returned 9.65%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Both uncertainty and volatility increased at the start of 2014 amid geopolitical tensions and weak economic data. An uncharacteristically cold winter took a toll on economic data in the U.S., resulting in a weak first quarter U.S. gross domestic product rate of -2.9%. On the global front, rising geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine at the outset of the year led to volatile swings in financial markets, particularly in equities. The situation calmed in the months following as Russia acknowledged the legitimacy of the newly elected Ukrainian President and continued to engage in cease-fire negotiations.

Central banks across the globe continued their accommodative stance during the first half of the year. Despite the weak first quarter, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) continued tapering its asset purchases and remained on track to conclude their purchases by year-end. The Fed also took considerable steps to strengthen its forward guidance on the policy rate. In Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s first statement in March, the Fed dropped references to a 6.5% unemployment target and placed greater emphasis on inflation and other “measures of labor market conditions” as more appropriate barometers for determining the timing of the first interest rate hike. In Europe, the European Central Bank announced new easing measures, including a historic negative rate on deposits, policy rate cut, and targeted long-term refinancing operations to spur business lending.

Financial markets, despite the volatility early on, ended the first half of the year in positive territory. Improving global economic data in the second quarter, supportive central banks, and easing of global political risks led to sizable market gains overall with the S&P 500 Index hitting an all-time high. Global fixed income markets also posted strong returns with the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index returning 3.93%, benefitting from rate declines across most maturities and investors beginning to embrace the view that policy rates would remain lower than historical norms suggested.

Far from the typical summer lull, the third quarter was marked by geopolitical tension and diverging markets. Most developed market government yields were led lower by easy central bank policies, while credit market yields backed up. Equity markets somersaulted their way to modest gains in the U.S., but were flat or slightly negative in many other regions as economic data varied. U.S. growth became more sure-footed, but the eurozone recovery sputtered and growth decelerated in parts of Asia. In addition to headline volatility around central bank actions and the Scottish independence referendum, geopolitical tensions flared in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Evidence of global growth divergence was further borne out in the final quarter of 2014, but the most defining event of the quarter was the sharp decline in oil prices and accompanying market volatility. Growth in the U.S. exceeded expectations and handily outpaced its peers in the developed world, especially Japan and Europe, which continued to struggle. Meanwhile, oil prices plunged nearly 40% as still weak global growth brought concerns about oil demand and OPEC’s (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) decision not to cut production led to a supply glut. The uneven growth and drop in oil led to bouts of market volatility that dissipated quickly but still managed to leave certain risk sectors bruised. Core bonds in developed markets rallied over the quarter as weak growth and lower oil prices kept many central banks in easing mode.

TOTAL PORTFOLIO REVIEW/ PERIOD END POSITIONING

The MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio was composed of two sleeves. Approximately 70% of the Portfolio’s assets were invested in a variety of underlying Portfolios of the Met Investors Series Trust and the Metropolitan Series Fund to achieve and maintain a broad asset allocation of approximately 40% to fixed income and 30% to equities. These assets (the “Base Sleeve”) were managed by the Investment Committee of MetLife Advisers, LLC. The remaining 30% of the assets (the “Overlay Sleeve”) are designed to keep the Portfolio’s overall volatility level within the desired range by dynamically changing its total equity exposure in response to measures of implied equity market volatility. To gain and actively manage this equity exposure, the Overlay Sleeve’s subadviser, Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (“PIMCO”), invested in equity index derivative instruments and various fixed income instruments that served as collateral for the equity derivative exposures.

Combining the two sleeves, the equity exposure of the Portfolio was at its maximum of 70% for the majority of the period as well as at the year end. However, short bouts of volatility activated de-risking which resulted in brief periods of lower Portfolio equity allocations in February, October, and December.

BASE SLEEVE PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Base Sleeve Portfolio generated a positive return for investors over the twelve month period. A modest overweight to domestic equity contributed positively while security selection in a handful of underlying portfolios weighed on relative result. From a security selection perspective, domestic equity portfolios in aggregate did not add value during the past year. The Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value Portfolio and the Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio were two noticeable underperformers. The Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value Portfolio substantially lagged the Russell Mid Cap Value Index driven largely by its Energy sector holdings. An overweight position in the sector as well as stock selection within the sector weighed heavily on results. The portfolio’s holdings in a number of oil & gas exploration and production companies, and drilling companies, were among the largest decliners within the Energy sector as stock prices of these companies were most impacted by plunging oil prices. For the Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, underperformance was primarily attributable to stock selection in the Technology sector. A

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

number of holdings in the internet and software space, which enjoyed strong returns in 2013, struggled during the growth sell-off in the spring of 2014, and therefore hampered the portfolio’s relative performance. The Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio was another performance detractor. Weak relative return was largely driven by a lack of exposure in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), which performed strongly in 2014. The team generally does not invest in REITs as these companies do not meet the team’s investment philosophy: strong cash flow generating capabilities, the ability to finance their own growth, and high barriers to entry. On the positive side, the ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio considerably outpaced its benchmark. Strong stock selection in the Health Care, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors generated significant contributions to relative performance. An overweight to the Health Care sector further enhanced return.

Within the equity portfolios that invest outside the U.S., the Van Eck Global Natural Resources Portfolio was the top detractor as the Energy sector sold off due to plummeting oil prices. The MFS Research International Portfolio also hindered the Base Sleeve’s relative results to some extent due to its weak stock selection in the Industrials, Consumer Discretionary, and Financials sectors. Conversely, the Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio contributed positively, as the REITs industry surged in the past year. The Clarion portfolio serves as a good diversifier in the underlying portfolio line-up, especially to balance off the other portfolios whose managers do not invest in REITs. Since being added to the Base Sleeve in the beginning of May, the Met/Artisan International Portfolio also contributed positively, benefiting from a minimal exposure to the Energy sector in addition to solid stock selection in the Technology and Health Care sectors.

Among all the fixed income underlying portfolios, the BlackRock Bond Income Portfolio produced the largest positive contribution to the Base Sleeve’s relative performance. The portfolio outperformed the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index due largely to its yield curve positioning. Yields on the long end of the U.S. yield curve declined significantly as curve flattened throughout the year; bonds with a long maturity delivered remarkable returns in 2014. The portfolio benefited from an overweight to longer dated bonds. Additionally, the portfolio’s holdings in securitized assets added value as investors’ demand for yield boosted the returns of this sector. The Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio also contributed positively. Despite a modest detraction from its defensive interest rate position, the portfolio significantly benefited from a sizable underweight to the euro and the Japanese yen, as both currencies experienced a large depreciation against the U.S. dollar. Conversely, the Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio and the PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio detracted from the Base Sleeve’s relative result due to the underperformance of these two groups of bonds: short dated bonds lagged long dated bonds as a result of curve flattening and inflation protected bonds trailed bonds with similar maturities as inflation expectations moderated over the course of the year.

OVERLAY SLEEVE PORTFOLIO REVIEW

The Portfolio’s Overlay Sleeve maintained a maximum allocation to equities during much of the year as a result of low volatility in financial markets. This equity overweight contributed a total of approximately 40% to overall Portfolio equity exposure and resulted in positive absolute and relative returns, given the outperformance of U.S. equity markets. Equity exposure in the Overlay Sleeve was obtained by purchasing S&P 500 Index futures contracts. Since the performance of the S&P 500 Index futures contracts was substantially similar to that of the underlying securities, PIMCO used these derivatives as risk-neutral and cost-effective substitutes for physical securities.

The collateral backing the derivative exposure within the Overlay Sleeve was composed primarily of U.S Treasuries, but also included modest exposures to high quality Corporates, Agencies, Sovereigns, and Municipal bonds. During the year, PIMCO maintained a modest underweight to the long end of the curve. While this underweight detracted from returns, a focus on intermediate maturities in the 10- to 15-year portion of the curve more than offset this negative impact due to the significant rally in yields beyond the 5-year maturity point. Modest exposures to Government-Related bonds and duration exposure in Canada also added to returns as they outperformed like-duration Treasuries over the period.

The Base Sleeve is managed by:

Investment Committee

MetLife Advisers, LLC

The Overlay Sleeve is managed by:

Vineer Bhansali

Steve A. Rodosky

Portfolio Managers

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio            

Class B

       9.65           8.38   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           6.70   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 5/2/2011. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
BlackRock Bond Income Portfolio (Class A)      7.8   
PIMCO Total Return Portfolio (Class A)      6.9   
JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio (Class A)      6.3   
Western Asset Management U.S. Government Portfolio (Class A)      3.4   
Harris Oakmark International Portfolio (Class A)      3.3   
Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio (Class A)      3.3   
Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities Portfolio (Class A)      3.1   
Baillie Gifford International Stock Portfolio (Class A)      2.4   
Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio (Class A)      2.3   
MFS Research International Portfolio (Class A)      2.3   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Mutual Funds      67.7   
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      21.1   
Corporate Bonds & Notes      3.1   
Foreign Government      0.7   
Municipals      0.2   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      0.2   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)(b)

   Actual      0.94    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.80         $ 4.79   
   Hypothetical*      0.94    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.47         $ 4.79   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio reflects the expenses of both the Portfolio and the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

(b) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Funds—67.7% of Net Assets

 

Security Description       
    
Shares
    Value  

Affiliated Investment Companies—67.7%

  

Baillie Gifford International Stock Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    26,146,656      $ 263,296,829   

BlackRock Bond Income Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    7,824,602        868,296,039   

BlackRock Capital Appreciation Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    1,414,937        58,281,264   

BlackRock High Yield Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    13,050,527        107,144,826   

Clarion Global Real Estate Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    12,590,425        156,498,985   

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    3,584,760        57,248,623   

Frontier Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    1,528,419        56,979,474   

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    10,608,725        173,346,569   

Harris Oakmark International Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    23,365,214        372,441,504   

Invesco Comstock Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    3,568,395        56,344,954   

Invesco Small Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    5,798,528        113,767,114   

Jennison Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    4,223,413        68,545,995   

JPMorgan Core Bond Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    66,892,502        700,364,500   

JPMorgan Small Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    6,207,281        112,289,714   

Met/Artisan International Portfolio (Class A) (b) (h)

    21,000,052        210,840,525   

Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    589,452        160,207,136   

Met/Dimensional International Small Company Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    9,791,843        145,310,951   

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    15,426,915        159,051,491   

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    37,353,697        372,416,363   

Met/Templeton International Bond Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    23,104,853        261,546,938   

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio) (Class A) (b)

    5,332,374        109,367,000   

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    14,794,507        142,323,158   

MFS Research International Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    23,511,728        256,983,189   

MFS Value Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    3,148,265        57,865,106   

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    9,821,036        162,145,297   

Neuberger Berman Genesis Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    4,201,925        75,928,789   

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    2,607,272        53,031,921   

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    21,183,295        213,527,615   

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    63,389,303        766,376,677   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    1,602,018        57,576,510   

Affiliated Investment Companies—(Continued)

  

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    7,159,425      $ 89,635,997   

T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    4,928,155        115,318,833   

Van Eck Global Natural Resources Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    11,606,640        131,387,162   

Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    26,005,759        349,257,338   

Western Asset Management U.S. Government Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    30,885,440        374,022,679   

WMC Core Equity Opportunities Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    1,285,222        55,431,612   

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio (Class A) (b)

    3,844,546        55,707,475   
   

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds
(Cost $7,168,180,882)

      7,540,106,152   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—21.1%   

Federal Agencies—1.3%

  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
1.750%, 05/30/19

    36,000,000        36,199,584   

2.375%, 01/13/22

    10,500,000        10,608,087   

6.250%, 07/15/32

    30,000,000        43,849,020   

Federal National Mortgage Association
6.625%, 11/15/30

    1,300,000        1,930,310   

Residual Funding Corp. Principal Strip
Zero Coupon, 10/15/19

    24,600,000        22,368,534   

Zero Coupon, 07/15/20

    33,405,000        29,670,488   
   

 

 

 
      144,626,023   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—19.8%

   

U.S. Treasury Bonds

   

2.750%, 11/15/42

    11,500,000        11,488,316   

2.875%, 05/15/43

    126,000,000        128,874,312   

3.000%, 05/15/42

    3,000,000        3,153,282   

3.125%, 11/15/41 (c)

    206,900,000        223,290,411   

3.125%, 02/15/42 (c)

    149,100,000        160,503,764   

3.125%, 02/15/43

    61,200,000        65,708,726   

3.125%, 08/15/44

    13,100,000        14,102,962   

3.375%, 05/15/44

    58,495,000        65,852,560   

4.250%, 11/15/40

    177,700,000        230,038,159   

4.375%, 02/15/38

    105,600,000        138,179,290   

4.375%, 11/15/39

    33,600,000        44,058,000   

4.375%, 05/15/40

    7,100,000        9,333,724   

4.375%, 05/15/41 (c)

    93,500,000        124,018,961   

4.500%, 05/15/38

    63,000,000        83,942,586   

4.625%, 02/15/40

    7,000,000        9,515,625   

5.250%, 02/15/29

    131,000,000        176,113,125   

5.375%, 02/15/31

    8,000,000        11,150,624   

5.500%, 08/15/28

    59,900,000        81,782,189   

6.000%, 02/15/26

    26,700,000        36,593,605   

6.250%, 08/15/23

    88,000,000        117,170,592   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

U.S. Treasury—(Continued)

   

U.S. Treasury Bonds

   

6.500%, 11/15/26

    39,900,000      $ 57,434,175   

8.000%, 11/15/21 (c)

    57,700,000        80,275,125   

U.S. Treasury Floating Rate Note
0.093%, 10/31/16 (d)

    63,700,000        63,660,697   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds

   

2.000%, 01/15/26

    4,546,206        5,209,670   

3.625%, 04/15/28

    5,872,440        8,071,393   

U.S. Treasury Notes

   

1.375%, 02/28/19 (c)

    54,000,000        53,708,886   

2.000%, 05/31/21 (c)

    137,500,000        138,187,500   

2.125%, 06/30/21 (c)

    10,800,000        10,930,777   

3.625%, 02/15/21 (c)

    100,000        110,156   

U.S. Treasury Principal Strips

   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/27

    39,600,000        29,100,892   

Zero Coupon, 05/15/39

    6,700,000        3,429,321   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/41

    24,000,000        11,315,976   

Zero Coupon, 11/15/42

    6,600,000        2,982,269   
   

 

 

 
      2,199,287,650   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies (Cost $2,202,676,310)

      2,343,913,673   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—3.1%   

Agriculture—0.1%

   

Philip Morris International, Inc.
6.375%, 05/16/38

    5,000,000        6,392,800   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.1%

   

BMW U.S. Capital LLC
0.574%, 06/02/17 (d) (e)

    9,000,000        8,995,707   
   

 

 

 

Banks—1.9%

   

Banco del Estado de Chile
2.000%, 11/09/17 (144A)

    5,000,000        4,998,915   

Banco Santander Brasil S.A.
4.625%, 02/13/17 (144A)

    10,200,000        10,570,260   

Bank of America Corp.
6.875%, 04/25/18

    5,900,000        6,776,622   

6.875%, 11/15/18

    600,000        697,555   

Bank of America N.A.
0.521%, 06/15/16 (d)

    2,000,000        1,986,488   

0.703%, 02/14/17 (d)

    10,000,000        9,970,620   

BNP Paribas S.A.
0.692%, 05/07/17 (d)

    15,000,000        14,978,610   

Credit Agricole S.A.
0.814%, 06/02/17 (144A) (d)

    10,000,000        10,016,290   

Credit Suisse
1.375%, 05/26/17

    10,000,000        9,970,540   

2.300%, 05/28/19

    10,700,000        10,681,628   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)
0.860%, 06/04/17 (d)

    8,000,000        7,983,512   

HSBC Holdings plc
5.250%, 03/14/44

    3,000,000        3,360,465   

Banks—(Continued)

   

HSBC USA, Inc.
0.843%, 11/13/19 (d)

    20,000,000      19,999,460   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.
1.650%, 04/07/15

    16,700,000        16,730,995   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
0.752%, 02/15/17 (d)

    18,100,000        18,054,297   

0.784%, 04/25/18 (d)

    20,000,000        19,954,140   

3.450%, 03/01/16

    8,400,000        8,621,785   

6.125%, 04/30/24 (d)

    3,000,000        2,992,470   

PNC Bank N.A.
2.250%, 07/02/19

    8,000,000        7,987,712   

Wells Fargo & Co.
5.900%, 06/15/24 (d)

    8,600,000        8,664,500   

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.
0.501%, 06/15/17 (d)

    21,000,000        21,004,116   
   

 

 

 
      216,000,980   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.4%

  

American Express Credit Corp.
0.547%, 09/22/17 (d)

    2,500,000        2,485,778   

0.793%, 03/18/19 (d)

    5,000,000        4,979,150   

General Electric Capital Corp.
0.460%, 01/14/16 (d)

    14,500,000        14,499,942   

LeasePlan Corp. NV
3.000%, 10/23/17 (144A) (f)

    5,100,000        5,223,639   

MassMutual Global Funding II
2.500%, 10/17/22 (144A)

    4,000,000        3,893,588   

Navient Corp.
4.625%, 09/25/17

    1,400,000        1,421,000   

6.250%, 01/25/16

    1,560,000        1,622,400   

8.450%, 06/15/18

    5,840,000        6,511,600   
   

 

 

 
      40,637,097   
   

 

 

 

Electric—0.2%

   

Duke Energy Corp.
0.636%, 04/03/17 (d)

    4,000,000        4,005,348   

Electricite de France S.A.
0.691%, 01/20/17 (144A) (d)

    10,000,000        10,027,220   

2.150%, 01/22/19 (144A)

    6,200,000        6,215,265   

Ohio Power Co.
5.375%, 10/01/21

    949,000        1,097,784   
   

 

 

 
      21,345,617   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.1%

  

New York Life Global Funding
1.125%, 03/01/17 (144A)

    6,000,000        5,986,524   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.1%

  

Gazprom OAO Via Gaz Capital S.A.
9.250%, 04/23/19 (144A)

    4,200,000        4,281,900   

Statoil ASA
2.450%, 01/17/23

    5,400,000        5,150,704   
   

 

 

 
      9,432,604   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Software—0.0%

  

Microsoft Corp.
3.500%, 11/15/42

    4,500,000      $ 4,264,951   
   

 

 

 

Sovereign—0.1%

  

Export-Import Bank of Korea
1.750%, 02/27/18

    6,700,000        6,662,882   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.1%

  

AT&T, Inc.
4.800%, 06/15/44

    3,000,000        3,056,868   

Verizon Communications, Inc.
0.636%, 06/09/17 (d)

    15,000,000        14,970,465   
   

 

 

 
      18,027,333   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.0%

  

Vessel Management Services, Inc.
3.432%, 08/15/36

    3,588,000        3,679,659   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $342,697,294)

      341,426,154   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—0.7%   

Municipal—0.2%

  

Junta de Castilla y Leon
6.270%, 02/19/18 (EUR)

    7,500,000        10,577,388   

6.505%, 03/01/19 (EUR)

    7,500,000        11,036,946   
   

 

 

 
      21,614,334   
   

 

 

 

Provincial—0.5%

  

Province of Ontario Canada
3.450%, 06/02/45 (CAD)

    4,600,000        4,090,785   

4.600%, 06/02/39 (CAD)

    8,600,000        9,044,805   

4.650%, 06/02/41 (CAD)

    14,800,000        15,809,045   

Province of Quebec Canada
5.750%, 12/01/36 (CAD)

    22,000,000        26,065,209   
   

 

 

 
      55,009,844   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $78,822,982)

      76,624,178   
   

 

 

 
Municipals—0.2%   

Metropolitan Transportation Authority NY, Dedicated Tax Fund Revenue, Refunding
5.000%, 11/15/29

    4,000,000        4,743,800   

New Mexico State Hospital Equipment Loan Council Hospital Revenue
5.000%, 08/01/42

    1,000,000        1,100,360   

New York State Dormitory Authority, State Personal Income Tax Revenue, Refunding
5.000%, 02/15/42

    6,000,000        6,762,900   

Pennsylvania State Economic Development Financing Authority Unemployment Compensation Revenue, Refunding
5.000%, 07/01/22

    4,000,000      $ 4,263,720   

University of California CA, Revenue
1.796%, 07/01/19

    8,500,000        8,427,240   

Utah County UT Hospital Revenue, Intermountain Healthcare Health Services, Inc.
5.000%, 05/15/43

    2,000,000        2,221,360   
   

 

 

 

Total Municipals
(Cost $28,077,870)

      27,519,380   
   

 

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities—0.2%   

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—0.2%

  

CSMC Trust
3.953%, 09/15/37 (144A)

    20,000,000        21,235,380   

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
4.106%, 07/15/46 (144A)

    100,000        106,858   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $20,700,840)

      21,342,238   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—7.4%   

Certificate of Deposit—0.2%

   

Credit Suisse International
0.444%, 01/12/15 (d)

    25,000,000        25,000,000   
   

 

 

 

Discount Notes—3.0%

   

Federal Home Loan Bank
0.040%, 01/14/15 (g)

    66,800,000        66,799,035   

0.078%, 01/29/15 (g)

    51,900,000        51,896,771   

0.079%, 01/23/15 (g)

    56,300,000        56,297,192   

0.120%, 08/24/15 (g)

    15,000,000        14,988,250   

0.130%, 02/25/11 (g)

    23,800,000        23,795,273   

0.140%, 09/28/15 (g)

    85,000,000        84,910,750   

0.170%, 09/04/15 (g)

    4,000,000        3,995,353   

Federal National Mortgage Association
0.092%, 01/22/15 (g)

    25,700,000        25,698,576   
   

 

 

 
      328,381,200   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—4.2%

   

U.S. Treasury Bills
0.025%, 04/30/15 (g)

    4,700,000        4,699,612   

0.104%, 02/05/15 (c) (g)

    153,000        152,984   

0.210%, 12/10/15 (c) (g)

    461,239,000        460,327,219   
   

 

 

 
      465,179,815   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Short-Term Investments—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Repurchase Agreement—0.0%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $608,128 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $585,000 Federal National Mortgage Association at 5.000% due 03/15/16 with a value of $625,243.

    608,128      $ 608,128   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $819,169,143)

      819,169,143   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.4%
(Cost $10,660,325,321) (i)

      11,170,100,918   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(0.4)%

      (39,245,946
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 11,130,854,972   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) A Portfolio of Metropolitan Series Fund. (See Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers.)
(b) A Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust. (See Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers.)
(c) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $222,831,383.
(d) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(e) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.1% of net assets.
(f) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $5,223,639, which is 0.0% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
(g) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(h) Non-income producing security.
(i) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $10,695,702,277. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $579,036,121 and $(104,637,480), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $474,398,641 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $82,555,839, which is 0.7% of net assets.
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(EUR)— Euro

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

LeasePlan Corp. NV

     10/15/2012       $ 5,100,000       $ 5,098,078       $ 5,223,639   
           

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

      

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
JPY      1,987,300,000        

Bank of America N.A.

       01/05/15         $ 16,571,011         $ 20,240   

Contracts to Deliver

                                   
CAD      57,781,000        

Citibank N.A.

       03/03/15           50,427,641           759,706   
EUR      36,303,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       02/19/15           45,280,551           1,332,677   
JPY      1,987,300,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           16,793,706           202,455   
JPY      1,987,300,000        

Bank of America N.A.

       02/03/15           16,574,646           (20,522
                      

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 2,294,556   
                      

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     12/14/15         1,403         USD         346,944,503       $ 596,135   

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     03/14/16         160         USD         39,562,016         (34,016

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         46,377         USD         4,706,633,419         52,574,321   

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         1,592         USD         223,889,204         6,254,296   
              

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 59,390,736   
              

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(EUR)— Euro
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(USD)— United States Dollar

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Mutual Funds*

   $ 7,540,106,152      $ —        $ —         $ 7,540,106,152   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

     —          2,343,913,673        —           2,343,913,673   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

     —          341,426,154        —           341,426,154   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          76,624,178        —           76,624,178   

Total Municipals

     —          27,519,380        —           27,519,380   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —          21,342,238        —           21,342,238   
Short-Term Investments          

Certificate of Deposit

     —          25,000,000        —           25,000,000   

Discount Notes

     —          328,381,200        —           328,381,200   

U.S. Treasury

     —          465,179,815        —           465,179,815   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          608,128        —           608,128   

Total Short-Term Investments

     —          819,169,143        —           819,169,143   

Total Investments

   $ 7,540,106,152      $ 3,629,994,766      $ —         $ 11,170,100,918   
                                   
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 2,315,078      $ —         $ 2,315,078   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (20,522     —           (20,522

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 2,294,556      $ —         $ 2,294,556   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 59,424,752      $ —        $ —         $ 59,424,752   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (34,016     —          —           (34,016

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 59,390,736      $ —        $ —         $ 59,390,736   

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 3,629,994,766   

Affiliated investments at value (b)

     7,540,106,152   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     766   

Cash collateral for futures contracts

     452,000   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     2,315,078   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     5,303,658   

Interest

     20,700,464   

Prepaid expenses

     8,551   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     11,198,881,435   

Liabilities

  

Cash collateral for forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     2,190,000   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     20,522   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     4,035,136   

Fund shares redeemed

     1,268,521   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     55,606,069   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     2,328,627   

Distribution and service fees

     2,355,880   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     50,253   

Other expenses

     171,455   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     68,026,463   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 11,130,854,972   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 9,774,109,584   

Undistributed net investment income

     228,625,323   

Accumulated net realized gain

     556,752,207   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, affiliated investments, futures contracts and foreign currency transactions

     571,367,858   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 11,130,854,972   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 11,130,854,972   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     951,728,561   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 11.70   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $3,492,144,439.
(b) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $7,168,180,882.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $775.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from affiliated investments

   $ 153,371,530   

Interest

     67,398,963   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     220,770,493   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     25,792,176   

Administration fees

     90,826   

Custodian and accounting fees

     266,721   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     26,311,767   

Audit and tax services

     39,207   

Legal

     31,511   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,766   

Shareholder reporting

     64,457   

Insurance

     33,244   

Miscellaneous

     10,653   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     52,684,328   

Less management fee waiver

     (443,951
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     52,240,377   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     168,530,116   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     (14,566,981

Affiliated investments

     138,405,745   

Futures contracts

     469,021,929   

Foreign currency transactions

     10,085,433   

Capital gain distributions from affiliated Investments

     164,974,942   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     767,921,068   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     327,505,574   

Affiliated investments

     (242,172,449

Futures contracts

     (62,711,706

Foreign currency transactions

     2,072,145   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     24,693,564   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     792,614,632   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 961,144,748   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 168,530,116      $ 137,634,853   

Net realized gain

     767,921,068        721,618,519   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     24,693,564        230,990,927   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     961,144,748        1,090,244,299   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (183,525,044     (94,628,528

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (813,599,504     (152,861,468
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (997,124,548     (247,489,996
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     1,457,804,077        2,406,968,703   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     1,421,824,277        3,249,723,006   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     9,709,030,695        6,459,307,689   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 11,130,854,972      $ 9,709,030,695   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 228,625,323      $ 182,854,668   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     64,804,736      $ 753,650,852        205,508,134      $ 2,299,030,477   

Reinvestments

     91,900,880        997,124,548        22,747,242        247,489,996   

Redemptions

     (25,495,727     (292,971,323     (12,449,546     (139,551,770
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     131,209,889      $ 1,457,804,077        215,805,830      $ 2,406,968,703   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 1,457,804,077        $ 2,406,968,703   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012     2011(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.83       $ 10.68       $ 9.46      $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

          

Net investment income (b)

     0.18         0.19         0.16        0.01   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.87         1.33         1.06        (0.54
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.05         1.52         1.22        (0.53
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

          

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.22      (0.14      (0.00 )(c)      (0.01

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.96      (0.23      0.00        0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.18      (0.37      (0.00     (0.01
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.70       $ 11.83       $ 10.68      $ 9.46   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (d)

     9.65         14.36         13.11        (5.28 )(e) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

          

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (f)

     0.50         0.50         0.51        0.54  (g) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (f)(h)

     0.50         0.50         0.51        0.54  (g) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (i)

     1.60         1.70         1.55        0.17  (g) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     13         13         13        10  (e) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 11,130.9       $ 9,709.0       $ 6,459.3      $ 3,151.9   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was May 2, 2011.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Distributions from net investment income were less than $0.01.
(d) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(e) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(f) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.
(g) Computed on an annualized basis.
(h) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(i) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio invests approximately 70% of its assets (the “Base Portion”) in other Portfolios of the Trust or of Metropolitan Series Fund (“Underlying Portfolios”) and approximately 30% of its assets (the “Overlay Portion”) in a portfolio of fixed income instruments that serve as collateral for derivative instruments, primarily stock index futures.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Capital gains distributions received from the Underlying Portfolios are recorded as Net realized gains in the Statement of Operations. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, premium amortization adjustments and short term dividend reclasses from Underlying Portfolios. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $608,128, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Secured Borrowing Transactions - The Portfolio may enter into transactions consisting of a transfer of a security by the Portfolio to a financial institution or counterparty, with a simultaneous agreement to reacquire the same, or substantially the same security, at an agreed-upon price and future settlement date. Such transactions are treated as secured borrowings, and not as purchases and sales. The Portfolio receives cash from the transfer of the security to use for other investment purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio held a U.S. Treasury security purchased through secured borrowing transactions. During the term of the borrowing, the Portfolio is not entitled to receive principal and interest payments, if any, made on the security transferred to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. The difference between the transfer price and the reacquisition price, known as the “price drop”, is included in net investment income with the cost of the secured borrowing transaction being recorded as interest expense over the term of the borrowing.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls - The Portfolio may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Portfolio sells to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon, and maturity) securities on a specified future date. For the duration of the transaction, or roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal (including prepayments of principal) and interest paid on the securities sold. Dollar rolls are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions; gain or loss is recognized at the commencement of the term of the dollar roll and each time the mortgage-backed security is rolled.

Secured borrowing transactions and mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Portfolio is required to reacquire may be less than the agreed-upon repurchase price of those securities and that the investment performance of securities purchased with proceeds from these transactions does not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities transferred or sold, as applicable, as part of the secured borrowing transaction or mortgage dollar roll.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts* (a)    $ 6,850,431       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts* (a)    $ 34,016   
Equity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts* (a)      52,574,321         
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      2,315,078       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      20,522   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 61,739,830          $ 54,538   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 20,240       $ (20,240   $      $   

Citibank N.A.

     759,706                (759,706       

Credit Suisse International

     202,455                (202,455       

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     1,332,677                (1,050,000     282,677   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 2,315,078       $ (20,240   $ (2,012,161   $ 282,677   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net Amount**  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 20,522       $ (20,240   $       $ 282   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Investments (a)

   $       $ (352,896   $       $ (352,896

Forward foreign currency transactions

                    10,099,023         10,099,023   

Futures contracts

     23,908,299         445,113,630                469,021,929   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 23,908,299       $ 444,760,734      $ 10,099,023       $ 478,768,056   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Investments (a)

   $       $ 96,448      $       $ 96,448   

Forward foreign currency transactions

                    2,208,284         2,208,284   

Futures contracts

     10,416,815         (73,128,521             (62,711,706
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 10,416,815       $ (73,032,073   $ 2,208,284       $ (60,406,974
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 1,600,000   

Forward foreign currency transactions

     122,718,371   

Futures contracts long

     552,012,425   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

 

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$788,463,960    $ 1,895,685,811       $ 572,669,182       $ 698,938,702   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - The Trust is managed by the Adviser. The Trust has entered into a management agreement with the Adviser (the “Management Agreement”) for investment management services in connection with the investment management of the Portfolio. The Adviser is responsible for managing the Base Portion of the Portfolio. The Adviser is subject to the supervision and direction of the Board and has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Trust. The Adviser has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Pacific Investment Management Company LLC (the “Subadviser”) for investment subadvisory services in connection with the investment management of the Overlay Portion of the Portfolio.

Subject to the supervision and direction of the Board, the Adviser supervises the Subadviser and has full discretion with respect to the retention or renewal of the subadvisory agreement. The Adviser pays the Subadviser a fee based on the Portfolio’s average daily net assets of the Overlay Portion of the Portfolio.

Under the terms of the Portfolio’s Management Agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser a monthly fee based upon annual rates applied to the Portfolio’s average daily net assets as follows:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers (Overlay
Portion managed by PIMCO)
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
of the Overlay Portion
$21,792,724      0.725   First $250 million
     0.700   $250 million to $750 million
     0.675   $750 million to $1 billion
     0.650   Over $1 billion

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers (Base
Portion managed by
MetLife Advisers)
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
of the Base Portion
$3,999,452      0.100   First $500 million
     0.075   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.050   Over $1 billion

In addition to the above management fees paid to the Adviser, the Portfolio indirectly pays MetLife Advisers a management fee through its investment in the Underlying Portfolios.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

Overlay Portion:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
of the Overlay Portion
0.050%    First $250 million
0.025%    $250 million to $750 million
0.025%    $2.5 billion to $5 billion
0.050%    Over $5 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period January 1, 2014 to April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

The Portfolio does not invest in the Underlying Portfolios for the purpose of exercising control; however, investments by the Portfolio within its principal investment strategies may represent a significant portion of the Underlying Portfolios’ net assets. Transactions in the Underlying Portfolios for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Baillie Gifford International Stock

     19,458,168         6,707,292         (18,804     26,146,656   

BlackRock Bond Income

     7,188,496         651,171         (15,065     7,824,602   

BlackRock Capital Appreciation

     1,907,264         57,712         (550,039     1,414,937   

BlackRock High Yield

     11,363,638         1,777,166         (90,277     13,050,527   

Clarion Global Real Estate

     12,132,224         636,808         (178,607     12,590,425   

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth

     5,210,020         33,132         (1,658,392     3,584,760   

Frontier Mid Cap Growth

     2,395,184         312,783         (1,179,548     1,528,419   

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value

     11,504,649         2,992,746         (3,888,670     10,608,725   

Harris Oakmark International

     17,856,588         5,523,850         (15,224     23,365,214   

Invesco Comstock

     4,696,526         206,738         (1,334,869     3,568,395   

Invesco Small Cap Growth

     8,659,328         1,221,342         (4,082,142     5,798,528   

Jennison Growth

     4,466,645         446,632         (689,864     4,223,413   

JPMorgan Core Bond

     56,085,068         10,874,830         (67,396     66,892,502   

JPMorgan Small Cap Value

     8,563,723         1,952,409         (4,308,851     6,207,281   

Met/Artisan International

             21,014,885         (14,833     21,000,052   

Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value

     352,901         236,969         (418     589,452   

Met/Dimensional International Small Company

     8,230,623         1,568,547         (7,327     9,791,843   

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate

     12,628,980         2,810,615         (12,680     15,426,915   

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return

     33,306,596         4,077,977         (30,876     37,353,697   

Met/Templeton International Bond

     17,197,032         5,924,339         (16,518     23,104,853   

MetLife Small Cap Value (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value)

     8,267,816         774,338         (3,709,780     5,332,374   

MFS Emerging Markets Equity

     13,011,556         2,090,685         (307,734     14,794,507   

MFS Research International

     28,371,626         3,179,470         (8,039,368     23,511,728   

MFS Value

     3,892,793         383,066         (1,127,594     3,148,265   

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth

     5,692,987         4,172,321         (44,272     9,821,036   

Neuberger Berman Genesis

     3,921,553         283,406         (3,034     4,201,925   

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
    Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Oppenheimer Global Equity

            2,609,128         (1,856     2,607,272   

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond

     20,244,637        1,281,948         (343,290     21,183,295   

PIMCO Total Return

     62,213,571        4,674,459         (3,498,727     63,389,303   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value

     2,107,087        106,233         (611,302     1,602,018   

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth

            7,164,792         (5,367     7,159,425   

T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth

     7,511,270        871,219         (3,454,334     4,928,155   

Van Eck Global Natural Resources

     9,583,186        2,200,765         (177,311     11,606,640   

Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities*

     22,466,943        3,560,227         (21,411     26,005,759   

Western Asset Management U.S. Government

     27,923,162        2,989,831         (27,553     30,885,440   

WMC Core Equity Opportunities

            1,286,171         (949     1,285,222   

WMC Large Cap Research

            3,847,404         (2,858     3,844,546   

*      The Portfolio had ownership of at least 25% of the outstanding voting securities of the Underlying Portfolio as of December 31, 2014. The most recent Annual Report of the Underlying Portfolio is available without charge, upon request, by calling (800) 848-3854 or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

           

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Underlying
Portfolios
    Capital Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Underlying
Portfolios
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Baillie Gifford International Stock

   $ 36,399      $       $ 2,994,493      $ 263,296,829   

BlackRock Bond Income

     9,889                28,275,142        868,296,039   

BlackRock Capital Appreciation

     5,817,510                46,725        58,281,264   

BlackRock High Yield

     47,769        4,713,612         6,420,264        107,144,826   

Clarion Global Real Estate

     326,932                2,670,766        156,498,985   

ClearBridge Aggressive Growth

     11,284,720                232,918        57,248,623   

Frontier Mid Cap Growth

     3,023,509        8,178,349                56,979,474   

Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value

     12,182,298        38,258,250         1,696,467        173,346,569   

Harris Oakmark International

     73,089        32,935,045         8,955,204        372,441,504   

Invesco Comstock

     7,854,844                836,190        56,344,954   

Invesco Small Cap Growth

     14,904,826        20,278,323                113,767,114   

Jennison Growth

     1,617,665        3,913,726         192,478        68,545,995   

JPMorgan Core Bond

     (19,452     3,369,089         10,455,793        700,364,500   

JPMorgan Small Cap Value

     16,033,254        21,243,132         1,940,996        112,289,714   

Met/Artisan International

     1,755                       210,840,525   

Met/Artisan Mid Cap Value

     33,462                720,373        160,207,136   

Met/Dimensional International Small Company

     5,997        4,875,152         3,121,086        145,310,951   

Met/Eaton Vance Floating Rate

     359        594,802         5,035,990        159,051,491   

Met/Franklin Low Duration Total Return

     (1,080             7,925,179        372,416,363   

Met/Templeton International Bond

     (12,994             10,185,839        261,546,938   

MetLife Small Cap Value (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value)

     22,650,051        7,282,443         506,082        109,367,000   

MFS Emerging Markets Equity

     (216,570             1,574,122        142,323,158   

MFS Research International

     21,368,448                8,577,857        256,983,189   

MFS Value

     5,800,304        3,391,472         1,215,510        57,865,106   

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth

     177,911                51,890        162,145,297   

Neuberger Berman Genesis

     15,727                276,545        75,928,789   

Oppenheimer Global Equity

     682                       53,031,921   

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond

     (299,506             3,879,891        213,527,615   

PIMCO Total Return

     (1,093,429             19,724,037        766,376,677   

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value

     3,296,162                1,106,506        57,576,510   

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth

     764                       89,635,997   

T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth

     13,655,820        13,627,299         30,555        115,318,833   

Van Eck Global Natural Resources

     (192,408     2,314,248         744,930        131,387,162   

Western Asset Management Strategic Bond Opportunities

     13,666                17,156,785        349,257,338   

Western Asset Management U.S. Government

     6,608                6,820,917        374,022,679   

WMC Core Equity Opportunities

     205                       55,431,612   

WMC Large Cap Research

     559                       55,707,475   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 138,405,745      $ 164,974,942       $ 153,371,530      $ 7,540,106,152   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$460,081,216    $ 160,802,324       $ 537,043,332       $ 86,687,672       $ 997,124,548       $ 247,489,996   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$394,573,483    $ 487,916,549       $ 474,305,610       $       $ 1,356,795,642   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the periods then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the transfer agent, custodian, and brokers, when replies were not received from brokers; we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

MetLife Balanced Plus Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Pacific Investment Management Company LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

The Board considered the Adviser’s provision of investment advisory services to a portion of the Portfolio (i.e., investing in underlying Portfolios). The Board noted that a committee, consisting of investment professionals from across the Adviser, meets periodically to review the asset allocations and discuss the performance of the Portfolio’s investments in other Portfolios.

The Board considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to the Portfolio was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the underlying portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed its Blended Index for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio underperformed its other benchmark, the Balanced Plus Narrow Index, for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were equal to the Expense Group median and below the Expense Universe median and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board considered that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

The Board also considered the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability that was attributable to its management of the underlying Portfolios of the Trust in which the Portfolio invests.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC and MetLife Investment Management, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio returned 9.26%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The year 2014 began with severe weather impacting much of the United States and negatively impacting growth and economic indicators; however, as the year went on, improved employment and growth indicators signaled that the U.S. recovery was continuing. The U.S. Federal Reserve finished tapering their bond purchases. The market absorbed the pace of the tapering and U.S. Treasury prices rallied, also supported by increased global liquidity from additional Quantitative Easing from Japanese and European central banks.

Domestically, equities and fixed income were up over the period as the economic recovery continued and unemployment fell. The U.S. equity market was led by large and middle capitalization stocks outperforming small capitalization stocks. International equities in developed markets increased modestly in the beginning of the year spurred by Quantitative Easing from European central banks which outweighed geopolitical concerns from the Ukraine. In the second half of 2014 collapsing oil prices and signs that the economic recovery had not gained traction in Europe caused equities to fall with the MSCI EAFE Index erasing previous gains and ending the year with a loss.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio is composed of two segments. The first segment, (the “Base Sleeve”) is approximately 75% of the Portfolio’s assets and was invested in a variety of the Metropolitan Series Fund Index Portfolios to achieve and maintain a broad asset allocation of approximately 40% fixed income and 35% equity. The asset allocation of the Base Sleeve was managed by the Investment Committee of MetLife Advisers, LLC. The second segment (the “Overlay Sleeve”) is approximately 25% of the Portfolio’s assets. The Overlay Sleeve was invested in equity derivatives used to keep the Portfolio’s volatility level within a desired range by changing the Portfolio’s total equity exposure, interest rate derivatives used to increase duration exposure, and cash and money market instruments which served as the collateral for derivative instruments.

The Portfolio utilized a quantitative model to rebalance the Portfolio risk based on market signals driven by realized equity price volatility. The Portfolio targeted an equity contribution to volatility within an 8% to 12% band, subject to a maximum equity allocation of 70%. Realized equity volatility in the period was low relative to historical averages, impacted by an increased diversification benefit as International and Domestic markets became more decoupled and the U.S. multi-year equity rally continued. The lower than average volatility signaled the Portfolio to remain at the maximum equity allocation and, despite the increased equity allocation, the Portfolio experienced volatility below the target band.

The overweight to equity relative to the benchmark benefited the Portfolio during the period as equity markets rallied. A larger exposure to interest rates relative to the benchmark also helped total performance as rates fell and bonds and U.S. Treasury prices rallied.

Derivatives were a significant component of the Portfolio, which used both equity futures and interest rate swaps to manage total market exposures. Equity futures may be used to either increase or decrease equity exposure. During the period, equity futures were used to increase equity allocations and the exposure from the equity derivatives during a period of broadly rising equity markets added to overall Portfolio performance. The Portfolio used S&P 500 e-mini and S&P 400 e-mini contracts from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Russell 2000 mini and mini MSCI EAFE contracts from the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The futures contracts were held in proportion with the Base Sleeve equity exposure to represent a broad market exposure. Interest rate swaps were used to add additional diversification and balance the sources of risk in the Portfolio. During the period, both the equity futures and the interest rate swaps facilitated the total Portfolio return by providing cost-effective and liquid access to the desired market exposures.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio was allocated 69% to equity and 40% to fixed income. The equity exposure was distributed across domestic and international equity indices as follows: 32% in U.S. Large Cap as represented by the S&P 500 Index, 11% in U.S. Mid Cap as represented by the S&P Midcap 400 Index, 6% in U.S. Small Cap as represented by the Russell 2000 Index, and 20% in Foreign

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC and MetLife Investment Management, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Equity as represented by the MSCE EAFE Index. The fixed income exposure was invested in an index Portfolio that tracks the performance of the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.

The Base Sleeve is managed by:

Investment Committee

MetLife Advisers, LLC

The Overlay Sleeve is managed by:

Chris Johnson

Portfolio Manager

MetLife Investment Management, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

 

 


A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio            

Class B

       9.26           11.06   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           10.10   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 11/5/2012. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Barclays Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio (Class A)      40.2   
MetLife Stock Index Portfolio (Class A)      15.9   
MSCI EAFE Index Portfolio (Class A)      11.0   
MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index Portfolio (Class A)      5.0   
Russell 2000 Index Portfolio (Class A)      3.0   

 

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Mutual Funds      75.1   
Cash and Cash Equivalents      25.3   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.67    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.00         $ 3.41   
   Hypothetical*      0.67    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.83         $ 3.41   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio reflects the expenses of both the Portfolio and the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Funds—75.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Affiliated Investment Companies—75.1%

  

Barclays Aggregate Bond Index Portfolio
(Class A) (a)

    34,141,090      $ 383,063,032   

MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    2,506,256        47,643,935   

MetLife Stock Index Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    3,289,506        152,008,070   

MSCI EAFE Index Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    8,270,143        104,782,713   

Russell 2000 Index Portfolio (Class A) (a)

    1,430,574        28,768,838   
   

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds
(Cost $687,074,468)

      716,266,588   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—25.3%   

Discount Notes—19.1%

   

Fannie Mae
0.058%, 03/25/15 (b) (c)

    34,000,000        33,995,454   

0.083%, 01/28/15 (b) (c)

    12,700,000        12,699,190   

Federal Home Loan Bank
0.048%, 01/16/15 (b)

    10,000,000        9,999,792   

0.058%, 01/21/15 (b)

    18,000,000        17,999,400   

0.059%, 01/30/15 (b)

    6,000,000        5,999,710   

0.060%, 03/25/15 (b)

    2,000,000        1,999,723   

0.077%, 03/06/15 (b)

    8,100,000        8,098,892   

0.081%, 01/09/15 (b)

    2,500,000        2,499,950   

0.082%, 03/27/15 (b)

    3,500,000        3,499,328   

0.090%, 01/14/15 (b)

    13,300,000        13,299,540   

0.095%, 04/17/15 (b)

    10,000,000        9,997,203   

0.100%, 03/04/15 (b)

    16,000,000        15,997,245   

0.115%, 03/17/15 (b)

    32,000,000        31,992,333   

Freddie Mac
0.067%, 03/02/11 (b)

    8,900,000        8,898,998   

0.080%, 03/25/15 (b)

    3,000,000        2,999,447   

0.100%, 04/07/15 (b)

    2,000,000        1,999,467   
   

 

 

 
      181,975,672   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—5.4%

   

U.S. Treasury Bills
0.002%, 03/26/15 (b)

    8,000,000        7,999,963   

U.S. Treasury—(Continued)

   

U.S. Treasury Bills
0.032%, 03/19/15 (b) (d)

    11,400,000      $ 11,399,217   

0.044%, 04/02/15 (b)

    17,000,000        16,998,134   

0.060%, 03/05/15 (b) (d)

    15,000,000        14,999,550   
   

 

 

 
      51,396,864   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—0.8%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $7,365,841 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $7,620,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $7,513,594.

    7,365,841        7,365,841   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $240,737,263)

      240,738,377   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—100.4%
(Cost $927,811,731) (e)

      957,004,965   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(0.4)%

      (3,671,595
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 953,333,370   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) A Portfolio of Metropolitan Series Fund. (See Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers.)
(b) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(c) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $15,398,214.
(d) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open centrally cleared swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $11,198,548.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $927,903,029. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $32,762,571 and $(3,660,635), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $29,101,936 for federal income tax purposes.

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

MSCI EAFE Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         1,003         USD         87,121,390       $ 1,037,295   

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         236         USD         26,957,513         1,379,007   

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         1,548         USD         158,710,867         144,893   

S&P Midcap 400 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         374         USD         52,128,640         2,049,000   
              

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 4,610,195   
              

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Swap Agreements

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.606     07/24/24         USD         32,000,000       $ 964,387   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.631     07/28/24         USD         45,000,000         1,452,897   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.629     07/28/24         USD         35,000,000         1,123,927   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.660     09/30/24         USD         33,000,000         1,122,278   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.440     10/30/24         USD         39,000,000         524,442   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.470     11/17/24         USD         23,000,000         375,961   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.311     12/03/24         USD         47,000,000         115,432   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.335     12/11/24         USD         27,000,000         121,832   
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 5,801,156   
                

 

 

 

 

(USD)— United States Dollar
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Mutual Funds            

Affiliated Investment Companies

   $ 716,266,588       $ —         $ —         $ 716,266,588   
Short-Term Investments            

Discount Notes

     —           181,975,672         —           181,975,672   

U.S. Treasury

     —           51,396,864         —           51,396,864   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           7,365,841         —           7,365,841   

Total Short-Term Investments

     —           240,738,377         —           240,738,377   

Total Investments

   $ 716,266,588       $ 240,738,377       $ —         $ 957,004,965   
                                     
Futures Contracts            

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 4,610,195       $ —         $ —         $ 4,610,195   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts            

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 5,801,156       $ —         $ 5,801,156   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 240,738,377   

Affiliated investments at value (b)

     716,266,588   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     1,505,299   

Fund shares sold

     314,416   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     98,511   

Prepaid expenses

     501   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     958,923,692   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     1,819,715   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     3,345,725   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     140,095   

Distribution and service fees

     199,705   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     37,628   

Other expenses

     47,454   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     5,590,322   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 953,333,370   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 871,830,288   

Undistributed net investment income

     14,449,199   

Accumulated net realized gain

     27,449,298   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, affiliated investments, futures contracts and swap contracts

     39,604,585   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 953,333,370   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 953,333,370   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     77,896,817   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 12.24   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $240,737,263.
(b) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $687,074,468.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Affilated Underlying Portfolios

   $ 12,649,390   

Interest

     132,154   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     12,781,544   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     1,345,818   

Administration fees

     21,412   

Deferred expense reimbursement

     148,313   

Custodian and accounting fees

     45,692   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,905,943   

Audit and tax services

     34,625   

Legal

     31,513   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,773   

Shareholder reporting

     11,291   

Insurance

     1,034   

Miscellaneous

     4,439   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     3,593,853   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     9,187,691   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain on:   

Affiliated investments

     478,143   

Futures contracts

     19,078,077   

Swap contracts

     11,779,600   

Capital gain distributions from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     5,088,240   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     36,424,060   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:   

Investments

     1,114   

Affiliated investments

     14,145,976   

Futures contracts

     1,065,769   

Swap contracts

     6,171,508   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     21,384,367   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     57,808,427   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 66,996,118   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 9,187,691      $ 996,555   

Net realized gain

     36,424,060        7,008,062   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     21,384,367        18,018,435   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     66,996,118        26,023,052   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     0        (1,091,455

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (2,295,613     (8,368,510
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (2,295,613     (9,459,965
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     403,527,383        444,674,098   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     468,227,888        461,237,185   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     485,105,482        23,868,297   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 953,333,370      $ 485,105,482   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed (distributions in excess of) net investments income

    

End of period

   $ 14,449,199      $ (20,233
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     36,864,092      $ 428,432,388        40,750,831      $ 443,879,138   

Reinvestments

     201,901        2,295,613        842,905        9,459,965   

Redemptions

     (2,317,131     (27,200,618     (795,233     (8,665,005
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     34,748,862      $ 403,527,383        40,798,503      $ 444,674,098   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 403,527,383        $ 444,674,098   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                    
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013     2012(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.24       $ 10.16      $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

       

Net investment income (loss) (b)

     0.14         0.06        (0.01

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.90         1.26        0.17   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.04         1.32        0.16   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

       

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.03     0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.04      (0.21     0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.04      (0.24     0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.24       $ 11.24      $ 10.16   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     9.26         12.94        1.60  (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

       

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (e)

     0.47         0.54        9.45  (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (e)(g)

     0.47         0.54        0.60  (f) 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%) (j)

     1.21         0.50        (0.57 )(f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     1         0  (h)      0  (d)(i) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 953.3       $ 485.1      $ 23.9   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was November 5, 2012.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Includes the effects of expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(h) Rounds to less than 1%.
(i) There were no long term sale transactions during the period ended December 31, 2012.
(j) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio invests approximately 75% of its assets (the “Base Portion”) in other Portfolios of the Metropolitan Series Fund (“Underlying Portfolios”) and approximately 25% of its assets (the “Overlay Portion”) in a portfolio of fixed income instruments that serve as collateral for derivative instruments, primarily stock index futures and interest rate swaps.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to swap transactions and distributions received from underlying portfolios. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $7,365,841, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Interest Rate

   Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts*    $ 5,801,156   

Equity

   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts**      4,610,195   
     

 

 

 
Total       $ 10,411,351   
     

 

 

 

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 259,168       $ 18,818,909      $ 19,078,077   

Swap contracts

     11,779,600                11,779,600   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 12,038,768       $ 18,818,909      $ 30,857,677   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 2,626,473       $ (1,560,704   $ 1,065,769   

Swap contracts

     6,171,508                6,171,508   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 8,797,981       $ (1,560,704   $ 7,237,277   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 9,487,350   

Swap contracts

     206,833,333   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 342,625,570       $ 0       $ 4,906,323   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - The Trust is managed by the Adviser. The Trust has entered into a management agreement with the Adviser (the “Management Agreement”) for investment management services in connection with the investment management of the Portfolio. The Adviser is responsible for managing the Base Portion of the Portfolio. The Adviser is subject to the supervision and direction of the Board and has overall responsibility for the general management and administration of the Trust. The Adviser has entered into a subadvisory agreement with MetLife Investment Management, LLC (“MIM”) for investment subadvisory services in connection with the investment management of the Overlay Portion of the Portfolio.

Under the terms of the Portfolio’s Management Agreement, the Portfolio pays the Adviser a monthly fee based upon annual rates applied to the Portfolio’s average daily net assets as follows:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers (Overlay
Portion managed by
MIM)
for the year  ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
of the Overlay Portion
$954,569      0.500   First $250 million
     0.485   $250 million to $500 million
     0.470   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.450   Over $1 billion

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers (Base
Portion managed by
the Adviser)
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
of the Base Portion
$391,249      0.070   First $500 million
     0.060   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.050   Over $1 billion

In addition to the above management fees paid to the Adviser, the Portfolio indirectly pays the Adviser a management fee through its investment in the Underlying Portfolios.

For providing subadvisory services to the Portfolio, the Adviser has agreed to pay MIM an investment subadvisory fee based upon annual rates applied to the Overlay Portion of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets as follows:

 

% per annum

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.200%    First $250 million
0.185%    $250 to $500 million
0.170%    $500 million to $1 billion
0.150%    Over $1 billion

Fees earned by MIM with respect to the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $381,827.

Expense Limitation Agreement - The Adviser had entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) in the interest of limiting expenses of the Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Agreement was in effect with respect to the Portfolio until April 27, 2014. Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser had agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Portfolio other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized or expensed in accordance with GAAP, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Portfolio’s business, and Underlying Portfolios’ fees and expenses but including amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, were limited to the following expense ratio as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Maximum Expense Ratio under Current
        Expense Limitation  Agreement        

Class B

0.60%

If, in any year in which the Management Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate operating expenses of the Portfolio for the fiscal year are less than the Maximum Expense Ratio for that year, subject to approval by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Portfolio to the extent that the charge does not cause the expenses in such subsequent year to exceed the Maximum Expense Ratio as stated above. The Portfolio is not obligated to repay any expense paid by the Adviser more than five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such expense was incurred.

As of December 31, 2014, there were no expenses deferred in 2014 and $148,313 was repaid to the Adviser in accordance with the Expense Limitation Agreement. The amount of expenses deferred in 2013, which were recovered during the year ended December 31, 2014 was $148,313. Amounts recouped for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Deferred expense reimbursement in the Statement of Operations.

Effective April 28, 2014, there was no longer an expense cap for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

The Portfolio does not invest in the Underlying Portfolios for the purpose of exercising control; however, investments by the Portfolio within its principal investment strategies may represent a significant portion of the Underlying Portfolios’ net assets. Transactions in the Underlying Portfolios for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
    Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Barclays Aggregate Bond Index

     17,757,766        16,590,642         (207,318     34,141,090   

MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index

     1,314,989        1,191,429         (162     2,506,256   

MetLife Stock Index

     1,937,277        1,408,456         (56,227     3,289,506   

MSCI EAFE Index

     3,508,539        4,761,604                8,270,143   

Russell 2000 Index

     734,086        708,745         (12,257     1,430,574   

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Underlying
Portfolios
    Capital Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Underlying
Portfolios
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Barclays Aggregate Bond Index

   $ (91,055   $       $ 8,294,274      $ 383,063,032   

MetLife Mid Cap Stock Index

     738        1,657,312         365,803        47,643,935   

MetLife Stock Index

     491,806        2,963,185         2,019,235        152,008,070   

MSCI EAFE Index

                    1,728,698        104,782,713   

Russell 2000 Index

     76,654        467,743         241,380        28,768,838   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 478,143      $ 5,088,240       $ 12,649,390      $ 716,266,588   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$906,163    $ 4,317,731       $ 1,389,450       $ 5,142,234       $ 2,295,613       $ 9,459,965   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$29,515,698    $ 17,121,920       $ 34,903,092       $       $ 81,540,710   

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of the MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, and the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from November 5, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the brokers, custodian and transfer agent; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from November 5, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

MetLife Multi-Index Targeted Risk Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and MetLife Investment Management, LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

The Board considered the Adviser’s provision of investment advisory services to a portion of the Portfolio (i.e., investing in underlying Portfolios). The Board noted that a committee, consisting of investment professionals from across the Adviser, meets periodically to review the asset allocations and discuss the performance of this Portfolio’s investments in other Portfolios.

The Board considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to the Portfolio was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the underlying portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the since-inception (beginning November 5, 2012) period ended June 30, 2014. The Board also noted that the Portfolio underperformed its Blended Index for the one-year and since-inception (beginning November 5, 2012) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one-year and since-inception (beginning November 5, 2012) periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account that the Portfolio underperformed its other benchmark, the MITR Blended Benchmark, for the one-year and since-inception (beginning November 5, 2012) periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also noted that the Portfolio commenced operations on November 5, 2012 and thus has a limited performance history.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

The Board also considered the Adviser’s analysis of its profitability that was attributable to its management of the underlying Portfolios of the Trust in which the Portfolio invests.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Managed by Delaware Investments Fund Advisers and Wells Capital Management Incorporated

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio returned 1.96% and 1.72%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 2000 Value Index1, returned 4.22%.

Third Avenue Management LLC ceased managing the Portfolio on November 30, 2014. (The following commentary was provided by the former Portfolio subadviser Third Avenue Management LLC)

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Market volatility was rampant during the second half of the year, with most financial markets exhibiting large swings in prices. U.S. Treasuries and the U.S. dollar continued to appreciate while oil and commodity prices continued to fall. Contrary to consensus expectations at the beginning of the year, the yield on U.S. Treasuries dropped by about 80 basis points (“bps”) to 2.2%, the U.S. dollar appreciated significantly relative to most major currencies, and the price of oil fell from over $100 to below $50 a barrel. Global equity markets suffered a dramatic decline and equally dramatic rebound both in October and December, with energy-related stocks suffering as a result of the drop in oil prices, and non-U.S. stocks bearing the burden of a stronger U.S. dollar. The Russell 2000 Value Index returned 4.2% in 2014, following two years of strong performance – returning 18.1% in 2012 and 34.5% in 2013.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

During the period Third Avenue Management was managing the Portfolio in 2014, it outperformed the Russell 2000 Value Index by 153 bps. This was mainly due to positive contributions from stock selection, reflecting a successful result from our bottom up investment process.

The largest contributors to returns relative to the benchmark were InterDigital, Inc., Multi-Color Corp. and SemGroup Corp. InterDigital develops technology for wireless communications and is an attractive investment on several counts, including its strong financial position, capacity for continued growth and several development initiatives with value enhancement potential. The largest detractors to performance were Stepan Co., Alamo Group, Inc., and Blucora, Inc.

From a sector standpoint, the top contributors were Energy and Consumer Discretionary. SemGroup was the top contributor among the Energy holdings, while The Madison Square Garden Co. was the largest contributor within Consumer Discretionary. The underweight in Energy and stock selection within these two sectors added value relative to the benchmark.

The main detractors from performance were Financials and Materials. Dundee Corp. and JZ Capital Partners Ltd. were the largest detractors within Financials, where both the underweight to the sector as well as security selection within the sector detracted from performance. Stepan and LSB Industries were the largest detractors within Materials. While the overweight to Materials detracted from performance, stock selection within that sector had a neutral effect on the Portfolio.

Chip Rewey

Timothy Bui

Portfolio Managers

Third Avenue Management LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL 2000 VALUE INDEX &

THE DOW JONES U.S. SMALL CAP TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio                 

Class A

       1.96           11.93           7.18   

Class B

       1.72           11.64           6.91   
Russell 2000 Value Index        4.22           14.26           6.89   
Dow Jones U.S. Small Cap Total Stock Market Index        6.39           17.02           9.51   

1 The Russell 2000 Value Index is an unmanaged measure of performance of those Russell 2000 companies that have lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

2 The Dow Jones U.S. Small Cap Total Stock Market Index is a float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that reflects the shares of securities of the small-cap portion of the Dow Jones U.S. Total Full Cap Equity Index available to investors in the marketplace. The Index includes the components ranked 751 to 2,500 by full market capitalization.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
First Citizens BancShares, Inc. - Class A      1.5   
iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF      1.4   
East West Bancorp, Inc.      1.3   
ProAssurance Corp.      1.2   
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.      1.1   
STERIS Corp.      1.1   
Validus Holdings, Ltd.      1.0   
Regal-Beloit Corp.      1.0   
Hancock Holding Co.      0.9   
Mueller Industries, Inc.      0.9   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      26.7   
Industrials      17.0   
Information Technology      13.2   
Consumer Discretionary      11.6   
Materials      9.4   
Health Care      7.1   
Energy      3.9   
Consumer Staples      3.7   
Utilities      2.4   
Telecommunication Services      0.2   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio
(formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.77    $ 1,000.00         $ 976.70         $ 3.84   
   Hypothetical*      0.77    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.32         $ 3.92   

Class B(a)

   Actual      1.02    $ 1,000.00         $ 975.10         $ 5.08   
   Hypothetical*      1.02    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.06         $ 5.19   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—93.4% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Air Freight & Logistics—0.4%

  

Forward Air Corp.

    102,300      $ 5,152,851   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.7%

  

Standard Motor Products, Inc.

    95,700        3,648,084   

Tenneco, Inc. (a)

    81,600        4,619,376   
   

 

 

 
      8,267,460   
   

 

 

 

Banks—12.3%

  

Associated Banc-Corp.

    215,600        4,016,628   

Bank of Hawaii Corp.

    137,000        8,125,470   

BBCN Bancorp, Inc.

    205,300        2,952,214   

Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc.

    347,300        4,678,131   

Community Bank System, Inc.

    193,400        7,374,342   

CVB Financial Corp.

    148,200        2,374,164   

East West Bancorp, Inc.

    399,800        15,476,258   

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. - Class A

    71,200        17,998,648   

First Financial Bancorp

    282,500        5,251,675   

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

    249,400        4,267,234   

First Niagara Financial Group, Inc.

    400,300        3,374,529   

Hancock Holding Co.

    363,900        11,171,730   

Independent Bank Corp.

    160,000        6,849,600   

NBT Bancorp, Inc.

    235,400        6,183,958   

S&T Bancorp, Inc.

    130,400        3,887,224   

Synovus Financial Corp.

    137,900        3,735,711   

TCF Financial Corp.

    461,500        7,333,235   

UMB Financial Corp.

    174,800        9,944,372   

Valley National Bancorp

    578,600        5,618,206   

Webster Financial Corp.

    256,400        8,340,692   

WesBanco, Inc.

    161,200        5,609,760   
   

 

 

 
      144,563,781   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.4%

  

Cott Corp.

    699,700        4,813,936   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—1.3%

  

Griffon Corp.

    92,400        1,228,920   

Quanex Building Products Corp.

    191,100        3,588,858   

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.

    311,900        10,791,740   
   

 

 

 
      15,609,518   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—1.8%

  

Apollo Investment Corp.

    354,200        2,628,164   

CIFC Corp.

    131,500        1,087,505   

Main Street Capital Corp.

    126,900        3,710,556   

Stifel Financial Corp. (a)

    122,800        6,265,256   

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

    118,200        7,307,124   
   

 

 

 
      20,998,605   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—5.8%

  

A. Schulman, Inc.

    202,700        8,215,431   

Albemarle Corp.

    93,900        5,646,207   

Chemtura Corp. (a)

    400,200        9,896,946   

Cytec Industries, Inc.

    161,200        7,442,604   

HB Fuller Co.

    200,000        8,906,000   

Innospec, Inc.

    200,800        8,574,160   

Chemicals—(Continued)

  

LSB Industries, Inc. (a)

    78,100      2,455,464   

Olin Corp.

    143,300        3,262,941   

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The) - Class A

    122,500        7,634,200   

Sensient Technologies Corp.

    98,700        5,955,558   
   

 

 

 
      67,989,511   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—3.1%

  

ACCO Brands Corp. (a)

    724,000        6,523,240   

Brady Corp. - Class A

    147,900        4,043,586   

Brink’s Co. (The)

    100,600        2,455,646   

Courier Corp.

    102,089        1,523,168   

Deluxe Corp.

    20,000        1,245,000   

Knoll, Inc.

    147,300        3,118,341   

Matthews International Corp. - Class A

    136,900        6,662,923   

United Stationers, Inc.

    83,200        3,507,712   

Viad Corp.

    298,800        7,966,008   
   

 

 

 
      37,045,624   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—1.7%

  

Aviat Networks, Inc. (a)

    659,900        989,850   

Black Box Corp.

    46,700        1,116,130   

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

    585,600        6,933,504   

CommScope Holding Co., Inc. (a)

    216,900        4,951,827   

Ixia (a)

    253,900        2,856,375   

NETGEAR, Inc. (a)

    89,100        3,170,178   
   

 

 

 
      20,017,864   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—1.5%

  

EMCOR Group, Inc.

    150,600        6,700,194   

MasTec, Inc. (a)

    304,100        6,875,701   

Primoris Services Corp.

    168,200        3,908,968   
   

 

 

 
      17,484,863   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.6%

  

Eagle Materials, Inc.

    88,700        6,743,861   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.7%

  

Berry Plastics Group, Inc. (a)

    264,500        8,344,975   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.1%

  

Core-Mark Holding Co., Inc.

    18,000        1,114,740   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services—0.9%

  

Liberty Tax, Inc. (a)

    100,700        3,599,018   

Service Corp. International

    303,900        6,898,530   
   

 

 

 
      10,497,548   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—0.2%

  

Premiere Global Services, Inc. (a)

    206,800        2,196,216   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.9%

  

Cleco Corp.

    109,500        5,972,130   

El Paso Electric Co.

    109,700        4,394,582   
   

 

 

 
      10,366,712   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Electrical Equipment—2.7%

  

EnerSys

    82,300      $ 5,079,556   

Franklin Electric Co., Inc.

    284,400        10,673,532   

Regal-Beloit Corp.

    156,500        11,768,800   

Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. (a)

    170,500        4,124,395   
   

 

 

 
      31,646,283   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—4.0%

  

AVX Corp.

    292,100        4,089,400   

Coherent, Inc. (a)

    52,000        3,157,440   

GSI Group, Inc. (a)

    570,400        8,396,288   

Knowles Corp. (a)

    290,500        6,841,275   

Orbotech, Ltd. (a)

    300,400        4,445,920   

Tech Data Corp. (a)

    99,100        6,266,093   

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

    943,400        13,349,110   
   

 

 

 
      46,545,526   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—2.4%

  

Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (a)

    118,500        3,361,845   

CARBO Ceramics, Inc.

    93,600        3,748,680   

Frank’s International NV

    159,500        2,652,485   

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (a)

    395,700        8,586,690   

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

    421,600        6,994,344   

Steel Excel, Inc. (a)

    96,600        2,458,470   
   

 

 

 
      27,802,514   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—0.2%

  

SUPERVALU, Inc. (a)

    256,600        2,489,020   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—1.5%

  

J&J Snack Foods Corp.

    30,700        3,339,239   

Pinnacle Foods, Inc.

    109,900        3,879,470   

TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (a)

    126,800        10,845,204   
   

 

 

 
      18,063,913   
   

 

 

 

Gas Utilities—0.6%

  

Southwest Gas Corp.

    122,600        7,577,906   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—4.2%

  

Analogic Corp.

    68,300        5,778,863   

Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)

    33,000        5,348,970   

CryoLife, Inc.

    122,700        1,390,191   

Haemonetics Corp. (a)

    239,600        8,965,832   

ICU Medical, Inc. (a)

    47,900        3,923,010   

Meridian Bioscience, Inc.

    145,000        2,386,700   

STERIS Corp.

    199,000        12,905,150   

Teleflex, Inc.

    41,700        4,787,994   

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

    73,500        3,913,140   
   

 

 

 
      49,399,850   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—2.0%

  

Hanger, Inc. (a)

    58,000        1,270,200   

Owens & Minor, Inc.

    247,700        8,696,747   

Patterson Cos., Inc.

    130,600        6,281,860   

VCA, Inc. (a)

    145,500        7,096,035   
   

 

 

 
      23,344,842   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—3.5%

  

Brinker International, Inc.

    65,100      3,820,719   

Cheesecake Factory, Inc. (The)

    119,900        6,032,169   

Denny’s Corp. (a)

    656,700        6,770,577   

DineEquity, Inc.

    98,100        10,167,084   

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (a)

    248,600        4,907,364   

Texas Roadhouse, Inc.

    157,600        5,320,576   

Wendy’s Co. (The)

    409,200        3,695,076   
   

 

 

 
      40,713,565   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—1.5%

  

Blyth, Inc.

    150,800        1,379,820   

Dixie Group, Inc. (The) (a)

    332,781        3,051,602   

Helen of Troy, Ltd. (a)

    57,200        3,721,432   

Meritage Homes Corp. (a)

    171,600        6,175,884   

Tupperware Brands Corp.

    44,700        2,816,100   
   

 

 

 
      17,144,838   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—1.2%

  

Central Garden and Pet Co. (a)

    273,100        2,397,818   

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

    25,200        2,411,136   

WD-40 Co.

    115,800        9,852,264   
   

 

 

 
      14,661,218   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—5.9%

  

Brown & Brown, Inc.

    275,700        9,073,287   

Endurance Specialty Holdings, Ltd.

    65,900        3,943,456   

Fidelity & Guaranty Life

    97,600        2,368,752   

Infinity Property & Casualty Corp.

    63,300        4,890,558   

Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd.

    101,900        7,481,498   

ProAssurance Corp.

    320,100        14,452,515   

Selective Insurance Group, Inc.

    275,000        7,471,750   

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc.

    48,400        3,381,224   

Stewart Information Services Corp.

    133,700        4,952,248   

Validus Holdings, Ltd.

    290,500        12,073,180   
   

 

 

 
      70,088,468   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.2%

  

EarthLink Holdings Corp.

    488,200        2,143,198   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—1.2%

  

Acxiom Corp. (a)

    190,100        3,853,327   

DST Systems, Inc.

    50,000        4,707,500   

Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (a)

    251,600        5,905,052   
   

 

 

 
      14,465,879   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—0.4%

  

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. - Class A (a)

    43,900        5,292,584   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—5.4%

  

Actuant Corp. - Class A

    135,300        3,685,572   

Altra Industrial Motion Corp.

    174,600        4,956,894   

Barnes Group, Inc.

    135,400        5,011,154   

CIRCOR International, Inc.

    41,900        2,525,732   

Douglas Dynamics, Inc.

    229,100        4,909,613   

EnPro Industries, Inc. (a)

    60,500        3,796,980   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Machinery—(Continued)

  

ESCO Technologies, Inc.

    121,900      $ 4,498,110   

Hillenbrand, Inc.

    147,000        5,071,500   

ITT Corp.

    266,500        10,782,590   

Kadant, Inc.

    179,278        7,653,378   

Mueller Industries, Inc.

    324,400        11,075,016   
   

 

 

 
      63,966,539   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.6%

  

Kirby Corp. (a)

    37,900        3,060,046   

Matson, Inc.

    108,600        3,748,872   
   

 

 

 
      6,808,918   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.9%

  

AH Belo Corp. - Class A

    367,200        3,811,536   

Cinemark Holdings, Inc.

    79,500        2,828,610   

Meredith Corp.

    78,400        4,258,688   
   

 

 

 
      10,898,834   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.8%

  

Kaiser Aluminum Corp.

    102,100        7,293,003   

Ryerson Holding Corp. (a)

    175,500        1,742,715   
   

 

 

 
      9,035,718   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.9%

  

Black Hills Corp.

    84,900        4,503,096   

NorthWestern Corp.

    100,100        5,663,658   
   

 

 

 
      10,166,754   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—1.5%

  

Bill Barrett Corp. (a)

    253,200        2,883,948   

Comstock Resources, Inc.

    259,800        1,769,238   

Jones Energy, Inc. - Class A (a)

    95,400        1,088,514   

Stone Energy Corp. (a)

    440,300        7,432,264   

Whiting Petroleum Corp. (a)

    139,300        4,596,900   
   

 

 

 
      17,770,864   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—1.6%

  

Neenah Paper, Inc.

    102,300        6,165,621   

PH Glatfelter Co.

    220,700        5,643,299   

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.

    164,200        6,945,660   
   

 

 

 
      18,754,580   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.5%

  

Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. (a)

    74,700        2,593,584   

Theravance, Inc.

    241,100        3,411,565   
   

 

 

 
      6,005,149   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—0.4%

  

Korn/Ferry International (a)

    179,500        5,162,420   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—3.9%

  

Brandywine Realty Trust

    351,600        5,618,568   

Education Realty Trust, Inc.

    83,967        3,072,352   

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

Gramercy Property Trust, Inc.

    324,400      2,238,360   

Hatteras Financial Corp.

    365,500        6,736,165   

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.

    163,200        4,458,624   

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

    139,000        6,154,920   

Lexington Realty Trust

    496,100        5,447,178   

Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust

    202,200        3,789,228   

Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.

    270,400        3,363,776   

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust

    168,400        4,657,944   
   

 

 

 
      45,537,115   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development—0.4%

  

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

    115,300        4,526,678   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.9%

  

Saia, Inc. (a)

    85,300        4,722,208   

Werner Enterprises, Inc.

    197,900        6,164,585   
   

 

 

 
      10,886,793   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—2.8%

  

Cirrus Logic, Inc. (a)

    143,900        3,391,723   

DSP Group, Inc. (a)

    326,900        3,553,403   

Exar Corp. (a)

    392,800        4,006,560   

ON Semiconductor Corp. (a)

    693,600        7,026,168   

RF Micro Devices, Inc. (a)

    531,900        8,824,221   

Teradyne, Inc.

    310,800        6,150,732   
   

 

 

 
      32,952,807   
   

 

 

 

Software—2.7%

  

ACI Worldwide, Inc. (a)

    267,000        5,385,390   

NetScout Systems, Inc. (a)

    126,500        4,622,310   

Progress Software Corp. (a)

    190,300        5,141,906   

PTC, Inc. (a)

    183,600        6,728,940   

Synopsys, Inc. (a)

    239,200        10,398,024   
   

 

 

 
      32,276,570   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—2.8%

  

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (a)

    39,700        3,014,024   

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (a)

    290,300        3,646,168   

Cato Corp. (The) - Class A

    117,000        4,935,060   

Christopher & Banks Corp. (a)

    256,600        1,465,186   

Finish Line, Inc. (The) - Class A

    153,100        3,721,861   

Genesco, Inc. (a)

    47,800        3,662,436   

Guess?, Inc.

    221,700        4,673,436   

Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

    315,500        4,858,700   

Stage Stores, Inc.

    122,700        2,539,890   
   

 

 

 
      32,516,761   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—0.6%

  

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (a)

    130,800        5,602,164   

Imation Corp. (a)

    343,176        1,300,637   
   

 

 

 
      6,902,801   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—1.3%

  

Delta Apparel, Inc. (a)

    222,700        2,267,086   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description       
Shares
    Value  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—(Continued)

  

Hanesbrands, Inc.

    32,300      $ 3,605,326   

Steven Madden, Ltd. (a)

    200,400        6,378,732   

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

    122,900        3,621,863   
   

 

 

 
      15,873,007   
   

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance—0.7%

  

Essent Group, Ltd. (a)

    123,600        3,177,756   

People’s United Financial, Inc.

    316,200        4,799,916   
   

 

 

 
      7,977,672   
   

 

 

 

Tobacco—0.3%

  

Universal Corp.

    75,100        3,302,898   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.5%

  

H&E Equipment Services, Inc.

    217,800        6,118,002   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,088,906,049)

      1,100,028,549   
   

 

 

 
Investment Company Securities—1.8%   

iShares Micro-Cap ETF

    59,700        4,595,706   

iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF

    166,619        16,941,820   
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Company Securities
(Cost $21,094,175)

      21,537,526   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investment—4.7%    
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Repurchase Agreement—4.7%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $55,275,416 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $57,185,000 U.S. Treasury Notes at 0.750% due 03/31/18, with a value of $56,386,469.

    55,275,416      55,275,416   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment
(Cost $55,275,416)

      55,275,416   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—99.9%
(Cost $1,165,275,640) (b)

      1,176,841,491   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—0.1%

      1,742,476   
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,178,583,967   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,165,257,732. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $42,042,928 and $(30,459,169), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $11,583,759 for federal income tax purposes.
(ETF)— Exchange-Traded Fund

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Total Common Stocks*

   $ 1,100,028,549       $ —         $ —         $ 1,100,028,549   

Total Investment Company Securities

     21,537,526         —           —           21,537,526   

Total Short-Term Investment*

     —           55,275,416         —           55,275,416   

Total Investments

   $ 1,121,566,075       $ 55,275,416       $ —         $ 1,176,841,491   
                                     

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 1,176,841,491   

Cash

     126,719   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     55,609   

Dividends

     3,096,746   

Prepaid expenses

     3,192   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,180,123,757   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     447,641   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     730,457   

Distribution and service fees

     112,166   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     68,279   

Other expenses

     181,247   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     1,539,790   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,178,583,967   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 764,862,198   

Undistributed net investment income

     3,074,494   

Accumulated net realized gain

     399,079,786   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     11,567,489   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,178,583,967   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 646,720,054   

Class B

     531,863,913   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     31,531,772   

Class B

     26,116,736   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 20.51   

Class B

     20.36   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,165,275,640.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 15,062,753   

Interest

     4,603   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     15,067,356   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     9,627,269   

Administration fees

     30,551   

Custodian and accounting fees

     134,722   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,406,084   

Audit and tax services

     39,511   

Legal

     37,315   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     44,518   

Shareholder reporting

     124,550   

Insurance

     8,417   

Miscellaneous

     25,079   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     11,478,016   

Less management fee waiver

     (151,948
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     11,326,068   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     3,741,288   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     403,399,199   

Futures contracts

     (3,134,265

Foreign currency transactions

     (15,405
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     400,249,529   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:   

Investments

     (385,934,103

Foreign currency transactions

     (5,084
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (385,939,187
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     14,310,342   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 18,051,630   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $96,267.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 3,741,288      $ 4,045,638   

Net realized gain

     400,249,529        148,219,351   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (385,939,187     261,500,091   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     18,051,630        413,765,080   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (2,575,767     (10,601,597

Class B

     (222,441     (5,533,642

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (37,064,844     0   

Class B

     (23,606,559     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (63,469,611     (16,135,239
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (312,928,539     (271,188,971
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (358,346,520     126,440,870   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,536,930,487        1,410,489,617   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,178,583,967      $ 1,536,930,487   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 3,074,494      $ 3,484,019   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     986,687      $ 19,594,172        3,097,333      $ 54,540,193   

Reinvestments

     2,008,136        39,640,611        632,931        10,601,597   

Redemptions

     (15,863,510     (316,021,684     (14,957,827     (267,751,157
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (12,868,687   $ (256,786,901     (11,227,563   $ (202,609,367
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     1,501,902      $ 30,143,517        2,229,564      $ 39,879,025   

Reinvestments

     1,213,289        23,829,000        332,151        5,533,642   

Redemptions

     (5,455,549     (110,114,155     (6,196,104     (113,992,271
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (2,740,358   $ (56,141,638     (3,634,389   $ (68,579,604
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (312,928,539     $ (271,188,971
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 21.04       $ 16.05       $ 13.57       $ 15.04       $ 12.68   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.08         0.07         0.19         0.03         0.03   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.30         5.14         2.29         (1.31      2.51   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.38         5.21         2.48         (1.28      2.54   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.06      (0.22      0.00         (0.19      (0.18

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.85      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.91      (0.22      0.00         (0.19      (0.18
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.51       $ 21.04       $ 16.05       $ 13.57       $ 15.04   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     1.96         32.81         18.28         (8.70      20.15   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.77         0.76         0.77         0.77         0.78   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.76         0.74         0.76         0.77         0.78   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.38         0.37         1.29         0.17         0.22   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     135         46         46         48         11   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 646.7       $ 934.0       $ 892.7       $ 755.1       $ 580.3   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 20.89       $ 15.94       $ 13.51       $ 14.99       $ 12.64   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     0.03         0.02         0.14         (0.02      0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.30         5.11         2.29         (1.30      2.48   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.33         5.13         2.43         (1.32      2.50   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.01      (0.18      0.00         (0.16      (0.15

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.85      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.86      (0.18      0.00         (0.16      (0.15
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.36       $ 20.89       $ 15.94       $ 13.51       $ 14.99   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     1.72         32.45         17.99         (8.98      19.90   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.02         1.01         1.02         1.02         1.03   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     1.01         0.99         1.01         1.02         1.03   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     0.16         0.12         0.96         (0.11      0.15   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     135         46         46         48         11   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 531.9       $ 602.9       $ 517.8       $ 531.6       $ 640.1   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio) (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. On December 1, 2014, Delaware Investments Fund Advisers and Wells Capital Management Incorporated succeeded Third Avenue Management LLC as the subadvisers to the Portfolio and the name of the Portfolio was changed from the Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio to the MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions and real estate investment trust (REIT) adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $55,275,416, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the periods April 22, 2014 through April 29, 2014 and November 20, 2014 through December 4, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $207,808,268 and $109,192,913, respectively, in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized losses in the amount of $3,134,265 which are shown under Net realized loss on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 1,669,183,206       $ 0       $ 2,065,573,894   

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $9,924,283 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$9,627,269      0.750   First $1 billion
     0.700   Over $1 billion

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Effective December 1, 2014, Delaware Investments Fund Advisers and Wells Capital Management Incorporated are compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio. Prior to December 1, 2014, Third Avenue Management LLC was compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets  
0.050%    Over $ 1 billion   

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$2,798,208    $ 16,135,239       $ 60,671,403       $       $ 63,469,611       $ 16,135,239   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$43,397,961    $ 358,806,688       $ 11,585,399       $       $ 413,790,048   

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio), one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio)

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio (formerly, Third Avenue Small Cap Value Portfolio). At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the renewal of the Advisory Agreement relating to the Portfolio. The existing Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Portfolio was not up for renewal at the November Meeting because the Sub-Adviser that had provided advisory services to the Portfolio pursuant to that Agreement had just been terminated. Rather, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved Sub-Advisory Agreements with two new Sub-Advisers at the November Meeting: Delaware Investments Fund Advisers (“Delaware”) and Wells Capital Management Incorporated (“WellsCap”). Delaware and WellsCap were proposed to succeed the Portfolio’s Sub-Adviser, Third Avenue Management LLC (“Third Avenue”) on or about December 1, 2014. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser, Delaware and WellsCap regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Value Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance. The Board also noted the proposed Sub-Adviser changes would be effective on or about December 1, 2014, and that the Adviser would oversee the investment activities of two Sub-Advisers.

With respect to Delaware, the Board considered the performance of Delaware’s proprietary small cap value mutual fund (the “Delaware Fund”). Among other data relating specifically to the Delaware Fund, the Board noted that the Delaware Fund had outperformed its benchmark index, the Russell 2000 Value Index, for the one-, five- and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and had outperformed the Portfolio for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also noted that the Delaware Fund had outperformed its benchmark index for the one-, five- and ten-year periods ended September 30, 2014 and that the Delaware Fund’s Morningstar percentile rankings for those periods were favorable. The Board considered Delaware’s small cap value investment strategy and took into account that the portfolio managers of the Delaware Fund were expected to manage the Portfolio.

With respect to WellsCap, the Board considered the performance of WellsCap’s proprietary Special Small Cap Value Fund (the “Wells Fargo Fund”). Among other data relating specifically to the Wells Fargo Fund, the Board noted that the Wells Fargo Fund had outperformed its benchmark index, the Russell 2000 Value Index, for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and had outperformed the Portfolio for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also noted that the Wells Fargo Fund had outperformed its benchmark index for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended September 30, 2014 and that the Wells Fargo Fund’s Morningstar percentile rankings for those periods were favorable (no lower than the 41 percentile). The Board considered WellsCap’s small cap value investment strategy and took into account that the portfolio managers of the Wells Fargo Fund were expected to manage the Portfolio.

With respect to the MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio, the Board considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

MetLife Small Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

The Board noted that the combined Delaware and Wells Capital fee schedules are lower than the fee schedule for Third Avenue. The Board noted the Adviser’s undertaking to pay in 2015 the legal costs associated with the Sub-Adviser changes and the Adviser’s commitment to consider a voluntary waiver of a portion of its fees after 2015. The Board further observed that the Portfolio’s advisory fee and sub-advisory fee each contains breakpoints that reduce the advisory fee rate on assets above certain specified asset levels.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio returned -6.41% and -6.70%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index1, returned -2.19%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Early in the period, U.S. equities suffered what proved to be a temporary setback due to concerns over emerging markets as well as what was perceived at the time to be a pause in U.S. economic growth, partially caused by extreme weather conditions and a weak December 2013 labor market report. Markets soon recovered as the economic pause concluded and investors appeared to have become increasingly comfortable that newly-installed U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen would not make any substantial changes to the trajectory of the Fed’s monetary policy.

While geopolitical tensions flared in the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine, any market setbacks were short-lived as improving economic growth in the U.S., coupled with prospects for easier monetary policy in regions with slowing growth, such as Japan, Europe and China, supported risk assets. The European Central Bank cut policy interest rates into negative territory and, by the end of the period, expectations were for additional rate cuts and the announcement for non-conventional easing measures. Similarly, the Bank of Japan surprised markets late in the period with fresh stimulus measures given lackluster growth trends. The related decline in developed market government bond yields and credit spreads were also supportive for equity markets. At the end of the period, the U.S. equity market was trading close to all-time highs and U.S. Treasury yields were close to their lows for the period. However, credit markets did not fare as well in the second half of 2014, particularly U.S. high yield and emerging market debt. The higher weightings of oil and gas credits in these asset classes resulted in widening spreads and increased volatility as oil prices began to decline in an accelerated fashion in the fourth quarter.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Weak stock selection within the Industrials sector detracted from performance relative to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, led by the Portfolio’s positions in Brazilian specialty engineering services company Mills Estruturas e Servicos and shipping company Diana Shipping (Greece).

Stock selection in both the Telecommunication Services and Health Care sectors also hampered relative returns. Within the Telecommunication Services sector, an overweight position in Russian telecommunications company Mobile TeleSystems held back relative results. There were no individual stocks within the Health Care sector that were among the Portfolio’s top relative detractors during the period.

Weak security selection in the Financials sector was another factor that detracted from relative results. Within this sector, holdings of insurance and brokerage services provider Brasil Insurance Participaco (Brazil) and banking group Standard Chartered (United Kingdom) weighed on relative performance. Additionally, an overweight position in commercial banking firm Sberbank (Russia) also hurt relative results.

Stocks in other sectors that detracted from relative performance included pipe manufacturer OAO TMK (Russia), oil & gas exploration company Gran Tierra Energy (United States), food retailer Magnit (Russia), and South Korean LED device manufacturer Seoul Semiconductor.

An underweight allocation to the Energy sector helped relative results. Within this sector, an underweight position in Russian natural gas producer Gazprom OAO boosted relative returns.

Stocks in other sectors that contributed to relative performance included overweight positions in housing finance company Housing Development Finance (India), banking group Kasikornbank (Thailand), Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor, banking services providers Kotak Mahindra Bank (India) and BDO Unibank (Philippines), multinational media company Naspers (South Africa), natural health care products maker Dabur India (India), hotel operator Minor International (Thailand), and insurance company China Pacific Insurance Group (China).

During the year, the Portfolio’s relative currency exposure, resulting primarily from differences between the Portfolio’s and the benchmark’s exposures to holdings of securities denominated in foreign currencies, was another contributor to relative performance. All of MFS’ investment decisions are driven by the fundamentals of each individual opportunity and as such, it is common for our portfolios to have different currency exposure than the benchmark.

In 2014, emerging markets came under pressure early in the year on both macro fears and political instability. Central bankers did not sit by idly as aggressive responses in several of the most affected countries helped emerging markets rebound from where we started the year. Politics, however, took a front row seat as many of the larger countries in the region elected future leaders and others marred themselves in further controversy. Countries such as India posted solid gains after electing a new prime minister on a platform of economic reform. Brazilian equities rallied when polls showed incumbent president Rouseff falling to second place, however, they

ended sharply lower after later polls showed she had retaken the lead. Russian equities came under pressure due to an increase in tensions in the Ukraine and subsequent sanctions imposed by the West. The Russian economy has been battered by a painful combination of currency devaluation and falling oil prices. More recently, the divergence

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

within emerging markets has continued. Several emerging economies have posted stronger leading economic indicators during recent months, including India, Indonesia, Mexico and many in Eastern Europe. However, others are beset by deteriorating growth, weak currencies, and rising inflation. Major commodity exporters, such as Russia, Brazil, and South Africa continue to be hurt by falling commodity prices.

The Portfolio continues to favor a number of companies with exposure to the growth of domestic consumption. Our largest sector overweights in the Portfolio at the end of the period were in Retailing, Consumer Staples and Leisure, which is in line with our focus on the growing middle class and growing disposable income. Conversely, our largest underweights came from Utilities & Communication, Basic Materials and Energy.

During the course of the period, we significantly increased the Portfolio’s exposure to Consumer Staples. The Portfolio was underweight Consumer Staples at the beginning of the period and increased that exposure as time went on. We had historically admired this sector from afar because of lofty valuations, however, as investors became concerned with growth and domestic consumption in emerging markets, many of the names in the sector came back to what we believe were reasonable valuation levels. This provided us with an opportunity to purchase what we believe are high quality companies that have structural advantages relative to their peers at levels that matched up with our valuation discipline.

In Special Products & Services we have lowered the Portfolio’s exposure to some of the Brazilian education names. Historically, we have been fairly active in the for-profit education companies in Brazil because of favorable demographics and positive regulation. We had been trimming the Portfolio’s exposure to these names throughout the year on the back of positive price movements and rich valuations. We also concentrated the Portfolio’s exposure late in the period into names where our conviction was highest. Finally, changing regulation towards the latter part of the period created uncertainty with respect to how much the larger players would be able to grow. As we felt this had not been discounted, we took the opportunity to further pair back our exposure.

Jose Luis Garcia

Robert Lau

Portfolio Managers

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI EMERGING MARKETS (EM) INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio                 

Class A

       -6.41           1.47           1.91   

Class B

       -6.70           1.20           1.65   
MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index        -2.19           1.78           3.93   

1 The MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets.

2 Inception dates of the Class A and Class B shares is 5/1/2006. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      5.5   
Naspers, Ltd. - N Shares      3.6   
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.      3.6   
China Construction Bank Corp. - Class H      3.1   
MediaTek, Inc.      2.8   
Housing Development Finance Corp., Ltd.      2.4   
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A      2.4   
Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.      1.9   
Kia Motors Corp.      1.9   
LG Household & Health Care, Ltd.      1.9   

Top Countries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
China      12.4   
Taiwan      11.6   
South Korea      10.8   
Hong Kong      9.4   
Brazil      9.1   
South Africa      7.2   
India      7.0   
Mexico      5.5   
United States      4.2   
Thailand      3.5   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      1.00    $ 1,000.00         $ 893.20         $ 4.77   
   Hypothetical*      1.00    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.16         $ 5.09   

Class B(a)

   Actual      1.25    $ 1,000.00         $ 891.50         $ 5.96   
   Hypothetical*      1.25    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,018.90         $ 6.36   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—98.3% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Australia—0.3%

  

Iluka Resources, Ltd. (a)

    1,024,617      $ 4,925,509   
   

 

 

 

Brazil—9.1%

  

Alupar Investimento S.A.

    740,154        4,908,560   

Ambev S.A. (ADR) (a)

    2,691,525        16,741,286   

BM&FBovespa S.A.

    3,564,910        13,206,102   

Brasil Insurance Participacoes e Administracao S.A.

    2,041,631        2,586,053   

BRF S.A.

    244,559        5,717,634   

Estacio Participacoes S.A.

    1,415,810        12,529,470   

Fibria Celulose S.A. (b)

    553,093        6,715,100   

Gerdau S.A. (ADR) (a)

    1,614,738        5,732,320   

Iguatemi Empresa de Shopping Centers S.A.

    616,136        5,659,923   

Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. (ADR)

    779,621        10,142,869   

Kroton Educacional S.A.

    719,988        4,148,607   

Localiza Rent a Car S.A.

    405,256        5,398,215   

M Dias Branco S.A.

    230,144        7,874,503   

Mills Estruturas e Servicos de Engenharia S.A.

    1,325,646        4,760,257   

Odontoprev S.A.

    2,810,261        10,397,882   

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (ADR) (a)

    829,771        6,057,328   

Qualicorp S.A. (b)

    407,686        4,235,008   

Vale S.A. (ADR) (a)

    865,026        7,075,913   
   

 

 

 
      133,887,030   
   

 

 

 

Canada—0.9%

  

Gran Tierra Energy, Inc. (b)

    3,376,316        12,961,241   
   

 

 

 

Chile—0.4%

  

S.A.C.I. Falabella

    935,923        6,277,745   
   

 

 

 

China—12.4%

  

51job, Inc. (ADR) (b)

    327,252        11,731,984   

China Construction Bank Corp. - Class H

    56,003,060        45,436,593   

China Mobile, Ltd.

    1,644,500        19,361,669   

China Pacific Insurance Group Co., Ltd. - Class H

    5,575,000        27,761,410   

China Resources Gas Group, Ltd.

    2,362,000        6,109,929   

China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd. - Class H

    7,706,500        22,645,932   

Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. - Class H

    29,114,000        26,275,510   

Haitian International Holdings, Ltd.

    905,000        1,902,264   

Want Want China Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    10,606,000        13,913,465   

Wumart Stores, Inc. - Class H (a)

    9,616,000        8,211,981   
   

 

 

 
      183,350,737   
   

 

 

 

Colombia—0.4%

  

Bancolombia S.A. (ADR) (a)

    115,831        5,545,988   
   

 

 

 

Czech Republic—1.0%

  

Komercni Banka A/S

    68,958        14,206,320   
   

 

 

 

Greece—1.1%

  

Diana Shipping, Inc. (b)

    1,314,578        8,820,819   

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. (b)

    608,448        6,639,894   
   

 

 

 
      15,460,713   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—9.4%

  

Ajisen China Holdings, Ltd.

    9,090,000      6,919,374   

BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.

    4,364,500        14,503,196   

Dairy Farm International Holdings, Ltd.

    892,200        8,026,034   

First Pacific Co., Ltd.

    13,864,650        13,668,114   

Global Brands Group Holding, Ltd. (a) (b)

    60,040,000        11,735,721   

Hang Lung Properties, Ltd.

    4,845,000        13,502,474   

Li & Fung, Ltd. (a)

    10,482,000        9,802,780   

Pacific Basin Shipping, Ltd.

    13,350,752        5,363,765   

Sands China, Ltd.

    1,260,400        6,138,369   

Stella International Holdings, Ltd.

    7,772,500        20,395,084   

Techtronic Industries Co., Ltd.

    8,738,000        28,002,582   
   

 

 

 
      138,057,493   
   

 

 

 

India—7.0%

  

CESC, Ltd.

    1,351,744        14,257,975   

Dabur India, Ltd.

    5,455,698        20,267,501   

Housing Development Finance Corp., Ltd.

    1,980,754        35,343,776   

ITC, Ltd.

    1,132,255        6,592,246   

Kotak Mahindra Bank, Ltd.

    981,079        19,507,855   

Reliance Industries, Ltd.

    488,141        6,873,589   
   

 

 

 
      102,842,942   
   

 

 

 

Indonesia—1.2%

  

Bank Mandiri Persero Tbk PT

    7,507,500        6,480,093   

Gudang Garam Tbk PT

    1,334,000        6,542,291   

Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk PT

    1,974,500        802,812   

XL Axiata Tbk PT

    11,367,000        4,431,618   
   

 

 

 
      18,256,814   
   

 

 

 

Japan—1.6%

  

GLORY, Ltd. (a)

    378,600        10,118,158   

Inpex Corp. (a)

    1,171,000        12,992,646   
   

 

 

 
      23,110,804   
   

 

 

 

Luxembourg—0.5%

  

Samsonite International S.A.

    2,299,200        6,806,248   
   

 

 

 

Malaysia—1.2%

   

Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd

    12,203,400        10,541,295   

Top Glove Corp. Bhd

    5,140,600        6,649,050   
   

 

 

 
      17,190,345   
   

 

 

 

Mexico—5.5%

  

America Movil S.A.B. de C.V. - Class L (ADR)

    454,716        10,085,601   

Bolsa Mexicana de Valores S.A.B. de C.V.

    3,142,404        5,691,098   

Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. (ADR) (a) (b)

    838,249        8,541,757   

Compartamos S.A.B. de C.V. (a) (b)

    2,444,471        4,912,552   

Concentradora Fibra Danhos S.A. de C.V. (REIT)

    2,401,010        5,858,603   

Concentradora Fibra Hotelera Mexicana S.A. de C.V. (REIT) (a)

    4,704,236        7,206,014   

Genomma Lab Internacional S.A.B. de C.V. - Class B (a) (b)

    3,890,657        7,412,784   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description       
    
Shares
    Value  

Mexico—(Continued)

  

Grupo Financiero Banorte S.A.B. de C.V. - Class O

    1,677,793      $ 9,270,435   

Grupo Lala S.A.B. de C.V. (a) (b)

    2,297,569        4,441,357   

Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. - Series B (a)

    2,183,106        6,331,618   

Prologis Property Mexico S.A. de C.V. (REIT) (b)

    3,542,412        6,523,585   

Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura S.A.B. de C.V. (b)

    377,944        4,557,230   
   

 

 

 
      80,832,634   
   

 

 

 

Panama—0.5%

  

Copa Holdings S.A. - Class A (a)

    77,540        8,036,246   
   

 

 

 

Peru—1.2%

  

Credicorp, Ltd.

    105,580        16,911,804   
   

 

 

 

Philippines—1.4%

  

BDO Unibank, Inc.

    8,211,120        20,084,441   
   

 

 

 

Poland—0.4%

  

Orange Polska S.A.

    2,620,723        6,138,960   
   

 

 

 

Russia—2.4%

  

Magnit PJSC (b)

    81,116        13,018,617   

NovaTek OAO (GDR)

    174,249        13,532,529   

Sberbank of Russia (b)

    9,514,889        8,614,305   
   

 

 

 
      35,165,451   
   

 

 

 

South Africa—7.2%

  

AVI, Ltd.

    1,115,366        7,475,047   

Imperial Holdings, Ltd.

    433,918        6,879,080   

MTN Group, Ltd.

    964,622        18,305,425   

Naspers, Ltd. - N Shares

    413,512        53,238,857   

Woolworths Holdings, Ltd.

    3,122,945        20,644,607   
   

 

 

 
      106,543,016   
   

 

 

 

South Korea—10.8%

  

E-Mart Co., Ltd. (a) (b)

    72,845        13,420,514   

Kia Motors Corp.

    590,373        27,893,413   

LG Chem, Ltd. (b)

    45,134        7,365,751   

LG Household & Health Care, Ltd. (a) (b)

    49,209        27,885,242   

NAVER Corp. (b)

    20,424        13,194,321   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

    43,732        52,568,140   

Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd. (b)

    29,557        7,572,077   

Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (a) (b)

    249,584        4,538,107   

TK Corp. (a) (b)

    454,168        4,722,326   
   

 

 

 
      159,159,891   
   

 

 

 

Taiwan—11.6%

  

Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd.

    11,178,650        16,447,386   

E.Sun Financial Holding Co., Ltd.

    38,248,185        23,713,507   

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

    246,784        680,524   

MediaTek, Inc.

    2,780,000        40,471,036   

Siliconware Precision Industries Co.

    5,113,000        7,709,288   

Taiwan—(Continued)

  

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    18,330,842      80,889,069   
   

 

 

 
      169,910,810   
   

 

 

 

Thailand—3.5%

  

Bangkok Bank PCL

    593,400        3,499,076   

Kasikornbank PCL

    1,216,400        8,466,736   

Kasikornbank PCL (NVDR)

    3,701,400        25,558,981   

Minor International PCL (a)

    9,858,050        9,738,195   

PTT Global Chemical PCL (a)

    3,173,600        4,943,678   
   

 

 

 
      52,206,666   
   

 

 

 

Turkey—1.6%

  

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S (a)

    4,540,836        18,194,870   

Turkiye Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi A/S

    6,905,817        5,949,110   
   

 

 

 
      24,143,980   
   

 

 

 

United Arab Emirates—0.7%

   

Emaar Malls Group PJSC (b)

    2,152,920        1,570,854   

Lamprell plc (b)

    4,648,736        8,638,890   
   

 

 

 
      10,209,744   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—2.6%

  

SABMiller plc

    497,890        25,766,953   

Standard Chartered plc (a)

    841,306        12,523,399   
   

 

 

 
      38,290,352   
   

 

 

 

United States—2.4%

  

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (b)

    670,541        35,310,689   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,483,496,469)

      1,445,824,613   
   

 

 

 
Warrant—0.0%   

Thailand—0.0%

  

Minor International PCL
Expires 11/03/17 (b)
(Cost $0)

    945,828        139,718   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—9.7%   

Mutual Fund—7.9%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    116,248,471        116,248,471   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Paper—0.4%

   

HSBC Americas, Inc.

   

0.025%, 01/02/15

    6,421,000        6,420,991   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Repurchase Agreement—1.4%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14
at 0.000% to be repurchased at
$20,102,320 on 01/02/15,
collateralized by $20,480,000
U.S. Treasury Note at 0.250% due
08/15/15 with a value of
$20,505,600.

    20,102,320      $ 20,102,320   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $142,771,782)

      142,771,782   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—108.0%
(Cost $1,626,268,251) (d)

      1,588,736,113   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(8.0)%

      (117,791,242
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,470,944,871   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $127,867,111 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $116,248,471 and non-cash collateral with a value of $18,735,243. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,644,878,687. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $134,567,615 and $(190,710,189), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(56,142,574) for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(GDR)— A Global Depositary Receipt is a negotiable certificate issued by one country’s bank against a certain number of shares of a company’s stock held in its custody but traded on the stock exchange of another country.
(NVDR)— Non-Voting Depository Receipts
(REIT)— A Real Estate Investment Trust is a pooled investment vehicle that invests primarily in income-producing real estate or real estate related loans or interest.

 

Ten Largest Industries as of
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Banks

     18.3   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     9.1   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     5.1   

Media

     4.3   

Insurance

     3.7   

Automobiles

     3.7   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     3.6   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     3.3   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     3.2   

Food & Staples Retailing

     2.9   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks            

Australia

   $ —         $ 4,925,509       $ —         $ 4,925,509   

Brazil

     45,749,716         88,137,314         —           133,887,030   

Canada

     12,961,241         —           —           12,961,241   

Chile

     —           6,277,745         —           6,277,745   

China

     11,731,984         171,618,753         —           183,350,737   

Colombia

     5,545,988         —           —           5,545,988   

Czech Republic

     —           14,206,320         —           14,206,320   

Greece

     8,820,819         6,639,894         —           15,460,713   

Hong Kong

     —           138,057,493         —           138,057,493   

India

     —           102,842,942         —           102,842,942   

Indonesia

     —           18,256,814         —           18,256,814   

Japan

     —           23,110,804         —           23,110,804   

Luxembourg

     —           6,806,248         —           6,806,248   

Malaysia

     —           17,190,345         —           17,190,345   

Mexico

     80,832,634         —           —           80,832,634   

Panama

     8,036,246         —           —           8,036,246   

Peru

     16,911,804         —           —           16,911,804   

Philippines

     —           20,084,441         —           20,084,441   

Poland

     —           6,138,960         —           6,138,960   

Russia

     21,632,922         13,532,529         —           35,165,451   

South Africa

     —           106,543,016         —           106,543,016   

South Korea

     —           159,159,891         —           159,159,891   

Taiwan

     —           169,910,810         —           169,910,810   

Thailand

     26,647,685         25,558,981         —           52,206,666   

Turkey

     —           24,143,980         —           24,143,980   

United Arab Emirates

     1,570,854         8,638,890         —           10,209,744   

United Kingdom

     —           38,290,352         —           38,290,352   

United States

     35,310,689         —           —           35,310,689   

Total Common Stocks

     275,752,582         1,170,072,031         —           1,445,824,613   

Total Warrant*

     139,718         —           —           139,718   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

   $ 116,248,471       $ —        $ —         $ 116,248,471   

Commercial Paper

     —           6,420,991        —           6,420,991   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           20,102,320        —           20,102,320   

Total Short-Term Investments

     116,248,471         26,523,311        —           142,771,782   

Total Investments

   $ 392,140,771       $ 1,196,595,342      $ —         $ 1,588,736,113   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (116,248,471   $ —         $ (116,248,471

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 in the amount of $62,328,404 were due to the discontinuation of a systematic fair valuation model factor.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,588,736,113   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     1,137,955   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     3,325,764   

Fund shares sold

     307,033   

Dividends

     486,091   

Prepaid expenses

     4,329   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,593,997,285   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     116,248,471   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     1,306,926   

Fund shares redeemed

     625,620   

Foreign taxes

     2,968,130   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,079,684   

Distribution and service fees

     127,171   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     628,988   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     123,052,414   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,470,944,871   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,614,845,355   

Undistributed net investment income

     16,479,336   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (119,945,101

Unrealized depreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions (d)

     (40,434,719
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,470,944,871   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 873,832,491   

Class B

     597,112,380   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     90,835,788   

Class B

     62,646,306   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 9.62   

Class B

     9.53   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,626,268,251.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $127,867,111.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $1,126,327.
(d) Includes foreign capital gains tax of $2,889,797

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 37,181,062   

Interest

     9,555   

Securities lending income

     502,664   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     37,693,281   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     14,196,235   

Administration fees

     38,307   

Custodian and accounting fees

     2,022,684   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,600,401   

Audit and tax services

     56,590   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     129,907   

Insurance

     10,452   

Miscellaneous

     40,884   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     18,173,540   

Less management fee waiver

     (250,000
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     17,923,540   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     19,769,741   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Loss

  
Net realized loss on:   

Investments (b)

     (26,986,788

Foreign currency transactions

     (771,904
  

 

 

 

Net realized loss

     (27,758,692
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments (c)

     (87,274,182

Foreign currency transactions

     6,234   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (87,267,948
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (115,026,640
  

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Net Assets From Operations

   $ (95,256,899
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $4,049,674.
(b) Net of foreign capital gains tax of $1,222,336.
(c) Includes change in foreign capital gains tax of $(2,339,588).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 19,769,741      $ 17,401,196   

Net realized gain (loss)

     (27,758,692     873,278   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (87,267,948     (74,892,557
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from operations

     (95,256,899     (56,618,083
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (11,867,740     (12,814,992

Class B

     (5,331,917     (6,808,230
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (17,199,657     (19,623,222
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (137,354,849     577,571,030   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (249,811,405     501,329,725   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,720,756,276        1,219,426,551   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,470,944,871      $ 1,720,756,276   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 16,479,336      $ 12,945,352   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     8,738,255      $ 85,695,667        52,189,080      $ 548,218,608   

Reinvestments

     1,173,862        11,867,740        1,238,163        12,814,992   

Redemptions

     (22,600,851     (233,331,033     (2,255,649     (23,672,218
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (12,688,734   $ (135,767,626     51,171,594      $ 537,361,382   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     10,307,746      $ 103,639,530        11,637,181      $ 119,528,234   

Reinvestments

     531,067        5,331,917        662,924        6,808,230   

Redemptions

     (10,809,579     (110,558,670     (8,283,539     (86,126,816
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     29,234      $ (1,587,223     4,016,566      $ 40,209,648   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (137,354,849     $ 577,571,030   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.39       $ 11.04       $ 9.36       $ 11.65       $ 9.50   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.13         0.13         0.15         0.16         0.12   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.79      (0.64      1.63         (2.28      2.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.66      (0.51      1.78         (2.12      2.27   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.11      (0.14      (0.10      (0.17      (0.12
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.11      (0.14      (0.10      (0.17      (0.12
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 9.62       $ 10.39       $ 11.04       $ 9.36       $ 11.65   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     (6.41      (4.61      19.10         (18.42      24.00   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.01         1.02         1.07         1.09         1.12   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.99         1.01         1.07         1.09         1.12   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.30         1.28         1.50         1.50         1.19   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     49         33         29         40         35   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 873.8       $ 1,075.9       $ 578.1       $ 473.5       $ 596.0   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.30       $ 10.94       $ 9.27       $ 11.56       $ 9.44   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.11         0.10         0.13         0.14         0.09   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (0.80      (0.62      1.62         (2.28      2.13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.69      (0.52      1.75         (2.14      2.22   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.08      (0.12      (0.08      (0.15      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.08      (0.12      (0.08      (0.15      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 9.53       $ 10.30       $ 10.94       $ 9.27       $ 11.56   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     (6.70      (4.80      18.90         (18.70      23.65   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.26         1.27         1.32         1.34         1.37   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     1.24         1.26         1.32         1.34         1.37   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.05         0.95         1.25         1.30         0.90   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     49         33         29         40         35   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 597.1       $ 644.8       $ 641.3       $ 544.3       $ 576.5   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, foreign capital gains tax reclasses, and passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $20,102,320, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 794,589,918       $ 0       $ 945,857,760   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company that amounted to $434,612 in purchases and $8,377,593 in sales of investments, which are included above.

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
Metlife Advisers
for the year ended

December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$14,196,235      1.050   First $250 million
     1.000   $250 million to $500 million
     0.850   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.750   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Massachusetts Financial Services Company is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.050%    $500 million to $1 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

6. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

7. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-
Term Capital Gain
     Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$17,199,657    $ 19,623,222       $       $       $ 17,199,657       $ 19,623,222   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards     Other
Accumulated
Capital Losses
    Total  
$28,066,348    $       $ (59,048,938   $ (78,185,166   $ (34,665,303   $ (143,833,059

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had short-term post-enactment accumulated capital losses of $9,421,632, long-term post-enactment accumulated capital losses of $25,243,671, and the pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards expiring on December 31, 2017 were $78,185,166.

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

MFS Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Massachusetts Financial Services Company regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one- and three-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the five-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board noted that the Portfolio underperformed its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ending June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board also took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the MFS Research International Portfolio returned -6.74%, -6.95%, and -6.83%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmarks, the MSCI EAFE Index1 and the MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index2, returned -4.90% and -3.87%, respectively.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Early in the period, U.S. equities suffered what proved to be a temporary setback due to concerns over emerging markets as well as what was perceived at the time to be a pause in U.S. economic growth, partially caused by extreme weather conditions and a weak December 2013 labor market report. Markets soon recovered as the economic pause concluded and investors appeared to have become increasingly comfortable that newly-installed U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) Chair Janet Yellen would not make any substantial changes to the trajectory of the Fed’s monetary policy.

While geopolitical tensions flared in the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine, any market setbacks were short-lived as improving economic growth in the U.S., coupled with prospects for easier monetary policy in regions with slowing growth, such as Japan, Europe and China, supported risk assets. The European Central Bank cut policy interest rates into negative territory and, by the end of the period, expectations were for additional rate cuts and the announcement for non-conventional easing measures. Similarly, the Bank of Japan surprised markets late in the period with fresh stimulus measures given lackluster growth trends. The related decline in developed market government bond yields and credit spreads were also supportive for equity markets. At the end of the period, the U.S. equity market was trading close to all-time highs and U.S. Treasury yields were close to their lows for the period. However, credit markets did not fare as well in the second half of 2014, particularly U.S. high yield and emerging market debt. The higher weightings of oil and gas credits in these asset classes resulted in widening spreads and increased volatility as oil prices began to decline in an accelerated fashion in the fourth quarter.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Weak stock selection within the Industrials sector detracted from the Portfolio’s performance relative to the MSCI EAFE Index, led by the Portfolio’s overweight position in poor-performing global engineering company JGC Corp. (Japan).

Weak stock selection in both the Consumer Discretionary and Financials sectors also hurt relative returns. Within Consumer Discretionary, overweight positions in automotive manufacturer Honda Motor (Japan) and casino resort operator Sands China (Hong Kong) weighed on relative results. Within Financials, overweight positions in banking and financial services firm Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (Japan) and commercial banking firm Sberbank (Russia) hampered relative returns.

Elsewhere, overweight positions in steel producer Gerdau (Brazil), financial services company Erste Group Bank (Austria), mining company Iluka Resources (Australia), pharmaceutical and diagnostic company Roche Holding (Switzerland) and real estate business Mitsubishi Estate (Japan) were among the Portfolio’s top relative detractors.

An overweight allocation to the Information Technology (“IT”) sector strengthened relative performance as this sector outpaced the benchmark during the reporting period. Most notably, owning shares of semiconductor manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor (Taiwan) supported relative returns.

Strong stock selection in both the Energy and Telecommunication Services sectors also boosted relative performance. There were no individual securities within the Energy sector that were among the Portfolio’s top relative detractors. Within Telecommunication Services, an overweight position in telecommunications company KDDI (Japan) aided relative returns as the stock outperformed the benchmark during the period.

Elsewhere, the Portfolio’s overweight position in pharmaceutical companies Novartis (Switzerland) and Santen Pharmaceutical (Japan), hotel and restaurant operator Whitbread (United Kingdom), banking firm HDFC (India), automotive safety parts manufacturer Autoliv (Sweden), financial services firm DBS Group Holdings (Singapore) and commercial banking company Kasikornbank Public (Thailand) benefited relative performance. Avoiding shares of poor-performing mining giant BHP Billiton (Australia) also aided relative results.

During the reporting period, the Portfolio’s relative currency exposure, resulting primarily from differences between the Portfolio’s and the benchmark’s exposure to holdings of securities denominated in foreign currencies, contributed to relative performance. All of MFS’ investment decisions are driven by the fundamentals of each individual opportunity and as such, it is common for our portfolios to have different currency exposure than the benchmark.

For close to three years we had questioned whether the tight range in the oil price of $100-120/barrel was too high, arguing that $70-$80 was a more appropriate level. As our conviction in this view was starting to wane, the third quarter of 2014 saw the first signs of weakness. This barely prepared us for the violent fall in the fourth quarter however – a period in which the price fell 40% in a straight line, to a year-end close of $57. That said, we now believe oil prices are materially below the level where supply could keep up with even flat demand over the long term, so the natural inclination is to feel more positively inclined towards the sector. However, just as overly-high oil prices took some time to correct, the current period of low oil prices may also prove a little more ‘sticky’. During this period, we are mindful of stocks which carry high degrees of balance sheet leverage going into this decline and of those which have a severe cash flow

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

shortfall in a period of lower oil prices, given that operating costs remain stickier at higher levels. We will look to increase exposure to names which can survive an extended (12-24 month) period of lower oil prices, and ultimately benefit from their recovery back to a higher incentive price, closer to $80/barrel, once current surpluses have been worked off.

In Consumer Cyclicals, we try to find companies that have superior long term sustainable growth while providing lower risk characteristics than average. We believe risk for companies in this sector comes from four sources: geography in which they are located, sustainability of the business model, valuation at which stocks are trading and the strength, or lack thereof, of the balance sheet. Overall, we are cautious on pure play retailers because of disintermediation, consumers moving to on-line shopping and away from physical stores. The traditional retailers are left with massive infrastructure which is being underutilized, and even though many have on-line formats, the growth in that segment does not offset the negative leverage from the physical stores. This has been a key issue in U.K. food retail where space expansion by both the new and existing players and increased online shopping has resulted in massive oversupply and price wars, resulting in structural pressure on many of the players. At period end, our holdings were more concentrated in Apparel Manufacturers, Restaurants, Publishers and Broadcasters where we saw better prospects and more sustainable returns. We continued to avoid Airlines. Despite the fall in oil prices, we are concerned about rising industry capacity and elevated margins which may prove unsustainable.

We believe Financials are being buffeted by two broad themes – potential direction of U.S. rates and the quantitative easing programs being put into effect by both the Japanese and European authorities. Our positioning is not based on any of these macro themes but remains driven by bottom up fundamentals. We took advantage of a bounce in the Japanese market to sell out of a real estate company in Japan that had become quite expensive. Part of the proceeds was invested in a Japanese bank but the net effect was that we are now slightly underweight Japan. The rest of the proceeds were used to add to laggards in Europe and to start a new position in a Hong Kong based bank. We also took minor trims in a couple of emerging market names that had been quite strong.

Following the re-rating in Pharma over the last several years, it has been difficult to find strong value in general, with many names trading at close to 18x-19x current year price/earnings. While there has been some innovation in pharma Research & Development in recent years, the sector is exposed to tougher payers (government), there are generic/bio-similar risks, and without pipeline productivity the longevity of cash flow streams remains challenging and/or less visible for many companies. We have attempted to position ourselves in names that deserve these valuations in a relative context (growth with and without pipelines, upside options, sensible management that will not destroy shareholder value, etc.), as we have always done. That said, the Portfolio’s positioning continues to be driven by our bottom up stock-picking.

In Staples, top line growth rates decelerated throughout the year, driven surprisingly by a weak U.S. consumer, Europe, which had also been weak although not getting worse, and emerging markets which continued to slow. On the flipside, we have witnessed a big change in the currency environment, especially for our European holdings. Euro weakness against the U.S. dollar and emerging market currency stability relative to the euro have driven improved earnings momentum for European Staples although we believe this has not been fully reflected in consensus estimates. We have also witnessed input costs continue to improve from the fall in both agricultural, and more recently, oil and oil based commodities.

The Research International strategy is a sector-neutral Portfolio that emphasizes bottom-up fundamental analysis. The focus is on high quality companies whose growth rates and fundamentals are not properly reflected in their valuation. Our sector-neutral approach relies on stock picking to drive alpha, therefore regional and industry allocation is strictly a by-product of where our analysts are finding attractive investment opportunities. That said, on a regional basis, market valuations and opportunity have combined to slightly increase our investment for the period in distinct sectors in Asia Pacific ex-Japan, Europe ex-U.K. and North America. Conversely, we have decreased exposure in the strategy to Japan, Emerging Markets and the United Kingdom.

Jose Luis Garcia

Thomas Melendez

Portfolio Managers

Massachusetts Financial Services Company

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI EAFE INDEX & THE MSCI AC WORLD (EX-U.S.) INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
MFS Research International Portfolio                 

Class A

       -6.74           5.46           5.28   

Class B

       -6.95           5.20           5.01   

Class E

       -6.83           5.31           5.13   
MSCI EAFE Index        -4.90           5.33           4.43   
MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index        -3.87           4.43           5.13   

1 The MSCI Europe, Australasia and Far East Index (“MSCI EAFE Index”) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada.

2 The MSCI AC World (ex-U.S.) Index is an unmanaged free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global developed and emerging markets, excluding the U.S. The index returns shown above were calculated with net dividends: they reflect the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of the maximum possible withholding taxes.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Roche Holding AG

     3.3   

Novartis AG

     3.1   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - A Shares

     3.0   

Nestle S.A.

     2.7   

HSBC Holdings plc

     2.3   

Bayer AG

     2.2   

Rio Tinto plc

     2.0   

Denso Corp.

     2.0   

KDDI Corp.

     1.9   

Schneider Electric SE

     1.8   

Top Countries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

United Kingdom

     18.4   

Japan

     17.9   

Switzerland

     14.5   

France

     10.4   

Germany

     8.0   

United States

     4.7   

Netherlands

     4.3   

Hong Kong

     4.0   

Australia

     3.5   

Sweden

     2.9   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

MFS Research International Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 905.60         $ 3.36   
   Hypothetical*      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.68         $ 3.57   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.95    $ 1,000.00         $ 904.80         $ 4.56   
   Hypothetical*      0.95    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.42         $ 4.84   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.85    $ 1,000.00         $ 905.20         $ 4.08   
   Hypothetical*      0.85    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.92         $ 4.33   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—98.9% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Australia—3.5%

  

APA Group (a)

    1,804,967      $ 10,989,989   

Computershare, Ltd.

    1,071,899        10,251,355   

Iluka Resources, Ltd. (a)

    1,945,289        9,351,337   

Oil Search, Ltd.

    761,071        4,917,149   

Westpac Banking Corp.

    1,345,771        36,179,335   
   

 

 

 
      71,689,165   
   

 

 

 

Austria—0.6%

  

Erste Group Bank AG

    494,901        11,346,307   
   

 

 

 

Belgium—1.2%

  

KBC Groep NV (b)

    446,381        24,774,377   
   

 

 

 

Brazil—1.4%

  

Gerdau S.A. (ADR) (a)

    1,411,307        5,010,140   

Lojas Renner S.A.

    221,408        6,315,164   

M Dias Branco S.A.

    266,839        9,130,042   

Odontoprev S.A.

    1,288,193        4,766,276   

Telefonica Brasil S.A. (ADR)

    245,397        4,338,619   
   

 

 

 
      29,560,241   
   

 

 

 

Canada—0.8%

  

Canadian Utilities, Ltd. - Class A (a)

    309,931        10,913,477   

Cenovus Energy, Inc.

    240,981        4,971,866   
   

 

 

 
      15,885,343   
   

 

 

 

China—0.5%

  

China Resources Gas Group, Ltd. (a)

    3,648,424        9,437,600   
   

 

 

 

France—10.4%

  

BNP Paribas S.A.

    480,676        28,246,582   

Danone S.A.

    501,025        32,960,676   

Dassault Systemes S.A.

    178,427        10,858,784   

GDF Suez

    874,185        20,416,854   

L’Oreal S.A.

    130,047        21,833,214   

Legrand S.A.

    128,431        6,723,218   

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. (a)

    133,302        21,079,588   

Pernod-Ricard S.A.

    245,307        27,198,894   

Schneider Electric SE

    519,089        37,717,970   

Technip S.A.

    104,080        6,214,999   
   

 

 

 
      213,250,779   
   

 

 

 

Germany—8.0%

  

Bayer AG

    325,312        44,473,214   

Brenntag AG

    130,728        7,355,981   

Deutsche Wohnen AG

    420,902        10,000,731   

Infineon Technologies AG

    1,221,588        13,096,701   

Linde AG

    177,237        33,058,204   

ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG

    213,012        8,973,951   

Siemens AG

    296,947        33,676,823   

Symrise AG

    217,700        13,202,182   
   

 

 

 
      163,837,787   
   

 

 

 

Greece—0.3%

  

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. (b)

    572,086        6,243,082   
   

 

 

 

Hong Kong—4.0%

  

AIA Group, Ltd.

    6,331,428      34,742,567   

BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.

    1,824,000        6,061,136   

Esprit Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    4,595,497        5,492,574   

Global Brands Group Holding, Ltd. (a) (b)

    27,038,920        5,285,164   

Hutchison Whampoa, Ltd.

    1,510,431        17,311,702   

Li & Fung, Ltd. (a)

    4,050,920        3,788,426   

Sands China, Ltd.

    2,118,107        10,315,553   
   

 

 

 
      82,997,122   
   

 

 

 

India—0.7%

  

HDFC Bank, Ltd. (ADR)

    158,646        8,051,284   

Reliance Industries, Ltd.

    502,268        7,072,514   
   

 

 

 
      15,123,798   
   

 

 

 

Italy—1.1%

  

Telecom Italia S.p.A. - Risparmio Shares

    9,127,006        7,628,670   

UniCredit S.p.A.

    2,293,557        14,618,006   
   

 

 

 
      22,246,676   
   

 

 

 

Japan—17.9%

  

AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd. (a)

    437,299        8,548,805   

Denso Corp.

    865,770        40,349,726   

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

    993,731        28,897,397   

Inpex Corp.

    787,786        8,740,756   

Japan Tobacco, Inc.

    768,331        21,096,897   

JGC Corp.

    596,290        12,288,987   

JSR Corp.

    1,468,777        25,221,574   

KDDI Corp.

    632,460        39,573,165   

Mitsubishi Corp.

    625,954        11,479,916   

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    4,740,474        25,983,216   

Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.

    331,184        10,169,315   

Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.

    52,900        6,536,509   

Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

    563,709        30,167,388   

Sony Financial Holdings, Inc.

    482,844        7,120,017   

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

    603,082        21,790,862   

Sundrug Co., Ltd. (a)

    262,270        10,615,333   

Terumo Corp.

    509,400        11,601,427   

Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.

    3,060,963        16,517,455   

Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd. (a)

    1,569,166        30,897,529   
   

 

 

 
      367,596,274   
   

 

 

 

Netherlands—4.3%

  

Akzo Nobel NV (a)

    462,810        32,093,408   

ING Groep NV (b)

    2,329,451        30,160,825   

Koninklijke KPN NV

    2,831,733        8,927,834   

Reed Elsevier NV

    742,771        17,751,290   
   

 

 

 
      88,933,357   
   

 

 

 

Philippines—0.3%

  

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.

    90,325        5,828,854   
   

 

 

 

Portugal—0.2%

  

Galp Energia SGPS S.A.

    494,404        5,001,856   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares

    Value  

Russia—0.3%

  

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (b)

    881,167      $ 2,462,191   

Sberbank of Russia (ADR) (a)

    845,237        3,396,396   
   

 

 

 
      5,858,587   
   

 

 

 

Singapore—1.1%

  

DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.

    1,496,979        23,116,999   
   

 

 

 

Sweden—2.9%

  

Atlas Copco AB - A Shares (a)

    1,185,912        33,012,386   

Hennes & Mauritz AB - B Shares

    109,012        4,522,015   

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - B Shares

    1,784,599        21,613,168   
   

 

 

 
      59,147,569   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—14.5%

  

Julius Baer Group, Ltd. (b)

    364,890        16,651,771   

Nestle S.A.

    748,887        54,894,572   

Novartis AG

    682,174        62,737,826   

Roche Holding AG

    247,482        67,077,636   

Schindler Holding AG (Participation Certificate)

    158,330        22,845,890   

Sonova Holding AG

    38,830        5,692,210   

UBS Group AG (b)

    2,076,142        35,688,259   

Zurich Insurance Group AG (b)

    101,000        31,627,424   
   

 

 

 
      297,215,588   
   

 

 

 

Taiwan—2.5%

  

MediaTek, Inc.

    1,794,845        26,129,222   

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    5,611,468        24,761,897   
   

 

 

 
      50,891,119   
   

 

 

 

Thailand—0.4%

  

Kasikornbank PCL (NVDR)

    1,147,442        7,923,339   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—18.4%

  

BG Group plc

    1,138,007        15,147,706   

BT Group plc

    1,528,042        9,485,418   

Cairn Energy plc (b)

    1,021,920        2,805,222   

Centrica plc

    2,451,826        10,552,557   

Compass Group plc

    930,500        15,859,750   

Hiscox, Ltd.

    848,281        9,524,396   

HSBC Holdings plc

    4,928,846        46,579,973   

Indivior plc (b)

    245,963        572,737   

Intu Properties plc (a)

    1,730,890        8,950,792   

Prudential plc

    807,069        18,572,399   

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

    278,127        22,436,894   

Rio Tinto plc

    887,253        40,878,016   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (b)

    4,103,152        24,908,275   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - A Shares

    1,871,479        62,032,968   

Standard Chartered plc

    1,113,144        16,693,825   

Vodafone Group plc

    6,500,645        22,274,208   

Whitbread plc

    363,956        26,858,851   

WPP plc

    1,115,195        23,136,052   
   

 

 

 
      377,270,039   
   

 

 

 

United States—3.6%

  

Autoliv, Inc. (a)

    210,031      22,288,490   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (b)

    377,094        19,857,770   

Joy Global, Inc. (a)

    294,825        13,715,259   

Yum! Brands, Inc.

    239,034        17,413,627   
   

 

 

 
      73,275,146   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,884,798,738)

      2,028,451,004   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—6.2%   

Mutual Fund—5.1%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    104,609,980        104,609,980   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—1.1%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $21,378,600 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $21,780,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.250% due 08/15/15 with a value of $21,807,225.

    21,378,600        21,378,600   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $125,988,580)

      125,988,580   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—105.1%
(Cost $2,010,787,318) (d)

      2,154,439,584   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(5.1)%

      (103,986,927
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 2,050,452,657   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $98,966,746 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $104,609,980. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,037,007,319. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $251,972,644 and $(134,540,379), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $117,432,265 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(NVDR)— Non-Voting Depository Receipts

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

Ten Largest Industries as of
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Banks

     16.1   

Pharmaceuticals

     10.0   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     5.4   

Chemicals

     5.1   

Insurance

     5.0   

Food Products

     4.7   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     3.4   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     3.4   

Machinery

     3.4   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     3.1   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Australia

   $ —         $ 71,689,165      $ —         $ 71,689,165   

Austria

     —           11,346,307        —           11,346,307   

Belgium

     —           24,774,377        —           24,774,377   

Brazil

     9,348,759         20,211,482        —           29,560,241   

Canada

     15,885,343         —          —           15,885,343   

China

     —           9,437,600        —           9,437,600   

France

     —           213,250,779        —           213,250,779   

Germany

     —           163,837,787        —           163,837,787   

Greece

     —           6,243,082        —           6,243,082   

Hong Kong

     —           82,997,122        —           82,997,122   

India

     8,051,284         7,072,514        —           15,123,798   

Italy

     —           22,246,676        —           22,246,676   

Japan

     —           367,596,274        —           367,596,274   

Netherlands

     —           88,933,357        —           88,933,357   

Philippines

     —           5,828,854        —           5,828,854   

Portugal

     —           5,001,856        —           5,001,856   

Russia

     —           5,858,587        —           5,858,587   

Singapore

     —           23,116,999        —           23,116,999   

Sweden

     —           59,147,569        —           59,147,569   

Switzerland

     35,688,259         261,527,329        —           297,215,588   

Taiwan

     —           50,891,119        —           50,891,119   

Thailand

     —           7,923,339        —           7,923,339   

United Kingdom

     572,737         376,697,302        —           377,270,039   

United States

     73,275,146         —          —           73,275,146   

Total Common Stocks

     142,821,528         1,885,629,476        —           2,028,451,004   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     104,609,980         —          —           104,609,980   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           21,378,600        —           21,378,600   

Total Short-Term Investments

     104,609,980         21,378,600        —           125,988,580   

Total Investments

   $ 247,431,508       $ 1,907,008,076      $ —         $ 2,154,439,584   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (104,609,980   $ —         $ (104,609,980

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 2,154,439,584   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     1,141,725   

Dividends

     4,227,874   

Prepaid expenses

     5,948   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     2,159,815,131   

Liabilities

  

Due to bank cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     2,478,808   

Collateral for securities loaned

     104,609,980   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     60,251   

Fund shares redeemed

     261,150   

Foreign taxes

     126,095   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,122,937   

Distribution and service fees

     154,650   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     481,179   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     109,362,474   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,050,452,657   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 2,087,666,879   

Undistributed net investment income

     56,307,391   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (236,763,528

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions (d)

     143,241,915   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,050,452,657   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 1,332,180,833   

Class B

     708,891,936   

Class E

     9,379,888   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     121,848,096   

Class B

     65,448,665   

Class E

     861,546   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 10.93   

Class B

     10.83   

Class E

     10.89   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $2,010,787,318.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $98,966,746.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies due to bank was $2,470,337.
(d) Includes foreign capital gains tax of $126,095.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 80,667,264   

Securities lending income

     1,532,201   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     82,199,465   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     15,854,571   

Administration fees

     53,515   

Custodian and accounting fees

     1,194,054   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,953,189   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     15,957   

Audit and tax services

     56,140   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     176,151   

Insurance

     14,816   

Miscellaneous

     48,087   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     19,444,560   

Less management fee waiver

     (1,408,396
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     18,036,164   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     64,163,301   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments (b)

     144,289,258   

Futures contracts

     (176,705

Foreign currency transactions

     (457,529
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     143,655,024   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:   

Investments (c)

     (355,972,390

Foreign currency transactions

     (392,109
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (356,364,499
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (212,709,475
  

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Net Assets From Operations

   $ (148,546,174
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $5,825,079.
(b) Net of foreign capital gains tax of $84,727.
(c) Includes change in foreign capital gains tax of $(126,095).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 64,163,301      $ 50,083,881   

Net realized gain

     143,655,024        187,148,477   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (356,364,499     212,438,924   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     (148,546,174     449,671,282   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (41,393,345     (44,608,151

Class B

     (17,466,175     (20,387,657

Class E

     (246,156     (305,107
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (59,105,676     (65,300,915
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (311,458,219     (401,376,154
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (519,110,069     (17,005,787

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     2,569,562,726        2,586,568,513   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 2,050,452,657      $ 2,569,562,726   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 56,307,391      $ 50,117,760   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     5,502,504      $ 63,699,228        12,376,143      $ 134,933,713   

Reinvestments

     3,590,056        41,393,345        4,301,654        44,608,151   

Redemptions

     (31,596,854     (370,025,452     (46,440,369     (509,482,802
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (22,504,294   $ (264,932,879     (29,762,572   $ (329,940,938
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     3,741,072      $ 42,962,189        4,666,911      $ 50,934,808   

Reinvestments

     1,525,430        17,466,175        1,981,308        20,387,657   

Redemptions

     (9,125,413     (105,690,150     (12,899,858     (141,028,101
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (3,858,911   $ (45,261,786     (6,251,639   $ (69,705,636
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     37,680      $ 437,242        30,536      $ 339,355   

Reinvestments

     21,405        246,156        29,507        305,107   

Redemptions

     (167,780     (1,946,952     (217,118     (2,374,042
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (108,695   $ (1,263,554     (157,075   $ (1,729,580
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (311,458,219     $ (401,376,154
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.01       $ 10.34       $ 9.03       $ 10.28       $ 9.38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.34         0.23         0.25         0.22         0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (1.13      1.75         1.27         (1.26      0.90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.79      1.98         1.52         (1.04      1.08   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.29      (0.31      (0.21      (0.21      (0.18
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.29      (0.31      (0.21      (0.21      (0.18
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.93       $ 12.01       $ 10.34       $ 9.03       $ 10.28   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     (6.74      19.58         16.97         (10.44      11.65   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.76         0.75         0.75         0.77         0.78   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.70         0.70         0.70         0.73         0.75   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.89         2.08         2.59         2.24         1.91   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28         34         36         39         50   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,332.2       $ 1,733.3       $ 1,800.5       $ 1,804.3       $ 1,707.5   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.90       $ 10.25       $ 8.95       $ 10.20       $ 9.31   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.30         0.20         0.22         0.20         0.15   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (1.11      1.73         1.26         (1.26      0.90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.81      1.93         1.48         (1.06      1.05   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.26      (0.28      (0.18      (0.19      (0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.26      (0.28      (0.18      (0.19      (0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.83       $ 11.90       $ 10.25       $ 8.95       $ 10.20   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     (6.95      19.26         16.71         (10.71      11.40   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.01         1.00         1.00         1.02         1.03   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.95         0.95         0.95         0.98         1.00   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.56         1.81         2.29         2.02         1.65   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28         34         36         39         50   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 708.9       $ 824.6       $ 774.5       $ 720.7       $ 775.8   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.96       $ 10.30       $ 8.99       $ 10.24       $ 9.34   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.31         0.21         0.23         0.21         0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     (1.11      1.74         1.27         (1.27      0.90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     (0.80      1.95         1.50         (1.06      1.06   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.27      (0.29      (0.19      (0.19      (0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.27      (0.29      (0.19      (0.19      (0.16
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.89       $ 11.96       $ 10.30       $ 8.99       $ 10.24   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     (6.83      19.36         16.83         (10.62      11.54   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.91         0.90         0.90         0.92         0.93   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.85         0.85         0.85         0.88         0.90   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.67         1.92         2.42         2.14         1.79   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     28         34         36         39         50   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 9.4       $ 11.6       $ 11.6       $ 12.3       $ 17.4   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is MFS Research International Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, foreign capital gains tax reclasses, and passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $21,378,600, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over- the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 24, 2014 through April 29, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $194,376,496 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized losses in the amount of $176,705 which are shown under Net realized loss on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 630,776,601       $ 0       $ 942,508,565   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company that amounted to $8,832,987 in purchases and $2,457,571 in sales of investments, which are included above.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $61,653,489 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
Metlife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$15,854,571      0.800   First $200 million
     0.750   $200 million to $500 million
     0.700   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.650   Over $1 billion

 

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Massachusetts Financial Services Company is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.100%    First $200 million
0.050%    $200 million to $1 billion
0.100%    Over $1.5 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period December 1, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-
Term Capital Gain
     Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$59,105,676    $ 65,300,915       $       $       $ 59,105,676       $ 65,300,915   

 

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards     Total  
$58,627,023    $       $ 117,021,918       $ (212,795,739   $ (37,146,798

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards $130,517,908.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses. The pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards and expiration dates were as follows:

 

Expiring
12/31/16

   Expiring
12/31/17
     Expiring
12/31/18
     Total  
$20,731,805    $ 169,884,123       $ 22,179,811       $ 212,795,739   

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of MFS Research International Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of MFS Research International Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also include examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of MFS Research International Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

MFS Research International Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

MFS Research International Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Massachusetts Financial Services Company regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one- and three-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the five-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board noted that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI EAFE Index, for the one- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed the MSCI EAFE Index for the three-year period ended October 31, 2014. The Board further noted that the Portfolio outperformed its other benchmark, the MSCI All Country World (ex.-U.S.) Index, for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed this benchmark for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio returned 1.29%, 1.01%, and 1.13%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell Midcap Growth Index1, returned 11.90%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

U.S. stocks enjoyed strong performance during the year ended December 31, 2014. The Russell Midcap Growth Index (the “Index”) advanced 11.90% for the period, led by gains in the Health Care sector. The Telecommunication Services and Utilities sectors were the second and third best-performing groups in the Index, respectively, but they are also the Index’s two smallest sectors and had zero representation in the Portfolio during the year. The Energy sector was, by far, the weakest performer, down by double-digits for the period and the only Index sector with a negative return. The Information Technology (“IT”) and Consumer Discretionary sectors performed nearly in line with the Index’s overall return.

A notable event during the period was a widespread sell-off in high growth and high valuation multiple stocks that began in March and continued on through April. Generally, we believe the sell-off was not due to company-specific fundamentals but rather driven by a broad rotation out of such names. Although the share prices of several of the Portfolio’s holdings (IT stocks, in particular) took a hit during this downturn, these companies’ fundamentals remained largely robust. Overall, we used the sell-off as an opportunity to trade up the Portfolio in quality, and we remain optimistic about the long-term outlook for the companies owned.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The largest detractor for the year was stock selection in the IT sector. Holdings in internet software & services and in software were especially detrimental – global microblogging platform Twitter and cyber security firm FireEye were the two largest detractors in the Portfolio overall – as these names were negatively affected by the high growth and high multiple sell-off during the spring.

Stock selection in the Consumer Discretionary sector dampened relative results, driven primarily by unfavorable results in internet & catalog retail holdings. Daily deals and local advertising leader Groupon was the main detractor in the sector and third-largest detractor in the overall Portfolio. The company reported disappointing results, characterized by slowing growth in its North American business. In February, Groupon also announced a senior executive was leaving the company, which contributed to share price volatility. The March-April sell-off in high-growth stocks also put downward pressure on Groupon shares.

Other positions performed more favorably. The Portfolio’s significant underweight position in Energy, the worst-performing sector during the period, benefited relative performance.

Both an overweight position and stock selection in the Health Care sector also added to returns. The top two contributors to the Portfolio’s overall performance during the period were health care names: Illumina, a leader in genetic testing and analysis, and Intuitive Surgical, a surgical robotics systems maker.

We have been attracted to Illumina because we believe the company provides best-in-class genomic tools for academic and industry researchers to generate valuable medical information that can enhance drug discovery and clinical research, allowing diseases to be detected earlier and facilitating better drug choices for individual patients. The company has made progress in lowering the cost of genome mapping, which could allow for more full genomes to be sequenced over time.

At year end, we continued to like Intuitive Surgical because we believe it has a leading position in the rapidly emerging field of robotics-assisted surgery, due to its control of the core patents and intellectual property for use of robotics in prostatectomies and hysterectomies. We also like its attractive razor/razor blade model, which offers greater business visibility. We believe the company has a substantial opportunity to grow its installed base globally by entering new markets, introducing new products, and applying its existing products to new procedures.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio’s largest sector weights, which are a result of our bottom-up stock selection process, were in IT, Health Care, and Consumer Discretionary. The Portfolio had no exposure to the Energy, Materials, Telecommunication Services, or Utilities sectors.

Dennis P. Lynch

David S. Cohen

Sam G. Chainani

Alexander T. Norton

Jason C. Yeung

Armistead Nash

Portfolio Managers

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL MIDCAP GROWTH INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception2  
Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio                      

Class A

       1.29           13.82           8.52             

Class B

       1.01           13.54           8.26             

Class E

       1.13                               12.36   
Russell Midcap Growth Index        11.90           16.94           9.43             

1 The Russell Midcap Growth Index is an unmanaged measure of performance of those Russell Midcap companies (the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index) with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

2 Inception dates of the Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 5/1/2001, 2/12/2001 and 4/27/2010, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Illumina, Inc.

     5.5   

LinkedIn Corp. - Class A

     4.9   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

     4.8   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

     3.6   

Tesla Motors, Inc.

     3.4   

athenahealth, Inc.

     3.4   

Twitter, Inc.

     3.3   

Splunk, Inc.

     2.9   

Workday, Inc. - Class A

     2.9   

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

     2.8   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Information Technology

     34.8   

Health Care

     19.5   

Consumer Discretionary

     17.7   

Industrials

     10.3   

Consumer Staples

     7.4   

Financials

     5.2   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,005.50         $ 3.44   
   Hypothetical*      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.78         $ 3.47   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,004.40         $ 4.70   
   Hypothetical*      0.93    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.52         $ 4.74   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,005.00         $ 4.19   
   Hypothetical*      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.02         $ 4.23   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—92.5% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—2.5%

  

TransDigm Group, Inc.

    159,965      $ 31,409,128   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—3.4%

  

Tesla Motors, Inc. (a) (b)

    191,592        42,611,977   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—1.0%

  

Monster Beverage Corp. (a)

    113,839        12,334,456   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—1.9%

  

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    70,125        6,802,125   

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    8,145        1,270,620   

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    586,149        8,979,803   

Pharmacyclics, Inc. (a) (b)

    29,828        3,646,771   

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (a) (b)

    88,403        2,840,388   
   

 

 

 
      23,539,707   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—1.1%

  

Stericycle, Inc. (a)

    99,634        13,060,025   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—1.0%

  

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (a)

    100,913        12,368,906   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—5.2%

  

McGraw Hill Financial, Inc.

    376,052        33,461,107   

MSCI, Inc.

    648,576        30,768,445   
   

 

 

 
      64,229,552   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.5%

  

SolarCity Corp. (a) (b)

    119,998        6,417,493   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—6.4%

  

Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.

    262,978        34,816,972   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

    439,173        44,154,454   
   

 

 

 
      78,971,426   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—4.8%

  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)

    112,604        59,560,760   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Technology—3.4%

  

athenahealth, Inc. (a) (b)

    286,399        41,728,334   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—5.0%

  

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (a)

    9,122        6,244,100   

Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc.

    649,247        27,690,385   

Panera Bread Co. - Class A (a) (b)

    161,560        28,240,688   
   

 

 

 
      62,175,173   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—4.0%

  

Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (ADR) (a)

    213,636        9,720,438   

Groupon, Inc. (a) (b)

    994,636        8,215,693   

TripAdvisor, Inc. (a)

    170,704        12,744,761   

Zalando SE (a)

    262,384        8,061,971   

zulily, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    440,473        10,307,068   
   

 

 

 
      49,049,931   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—15.8%

  

Autohome, Inc. (ADR) (a) (b)

    294,372      10,703,366   

Dropbox, Inc. (a) (c) (d)

    460,161        8,789,627   

LendingClub Corp. (a)

    189,456        4,793,237   

LinkedIn Corp. - Class A (a)

    263,123        60,441,984   

MercadoLibre, Inc. (b)

    67,164        8,574,828   

Pandora Media, Inc. (a) (b)

    624,233        11,130,074   

SurveyMonkey, Inc. (a) (c) (d)

    303,799        4,997,494   

Twitter, Inc. (a)

    1,133,186        40,647,382   

Yelp, Inc. (a) (b)

    112,573        6,161,120   

Youku Tudou, Inc. (ADR) (a) (b)

    584,657        10,412,741   

Zillow, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    273,130        28,921,736   
   

 

 

 
      195,573,589   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—4.9%

  

FleetCor Technologies, Inc. (a)

    205,414        30,547,116   

Gartner, Inc. (a)

    361,911        30,476,525   
   

 

 

 
      61,023,641   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—5.5%

  

Illumina, Inc. (a)

    368,034        67,931,716   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—1.7%

  

Colfax Corp. (a) (b)

    397,997        20,524,705   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—3.9%

  

Endo International plc (a)

    471,489        34,003,787   

Zoetis, Inc.

    326,597        14,053,469   
   

 

 

 
      48,057,256   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—4.6%

  

IHS, Inc. - Class A (a)

    229,051        26,084,328   

Verisk Analytics, Inc. - Class A (a)

    477,758        30,600,400   
   

 

 

 
      56,684,728   
   

 

 

 

Software—10.7%

  

FireEye, Inc. (a) (b)

    641,216        20,249,601   

NetSuite, Inc. (a) (b)

    112,536        12,285,555   

ServiceNow, Inc. (a)

    245,045        16,626,303   

Splunk, Inc. (a)

    611,662        36,057,475   

Tableau Software, Inc. - Class A (a)

    92,996        7,882,341   

Workday, Inc. - Class A (a)

    439,485        35,866,371   

Zynga, Inc. - Class A (a)

    1,506,873        4,008,282   
   

 

 

 
      132,975,928   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—0.9%

  

3D Systems Corp. (a) (b)

    178,902        5,880,509   

Stratasys, Ltd. (a) (b)

    57,935        4,814,978   
   

 

 

 
      10,695,487   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—4.3%

  

lululemon athletica, Inc. (a) (b)

    275,360        15,362,334   

Michael Kors Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    416,994        31,316,250   

Under Armour, Inc. - Class A (a)

    94,638        6,425,920   
   

 

 

 
      53,104,504   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $965,807,766)

      1,144,028,422   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Preferred Stocks—1.6%

 

Security Description   Shares/
Notional
Amount*
    Value  

Internet & Catalog Retail—0.9%

  

Flipkart Online Pvt., Ltd. - Series D (a) (c) (d)

    98,557      $ 11,803,186   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.1%

  

Dropbox, Inc. - Series A (a) (c) (d)

    51,888        991,123   

Peixe Urbano, Inc. - Series C (a) (c) (d)

    71,709        30,835   
   

 

 

 
      1,021,958   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.6%

  

Palantir Technologies, Inc. - Series G (a) (c) (d)

    541,563        4,343,335   

Palantir Technologies, Inc. - Series H (a) (c) (d)

    174,289        1,397,798   

Palantir Technologies, Inc. - Series H-1 (a) (c) (d)

    174,289        1,397,798   
   

 

 

 
      7,138,931   
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $7,854,829)

      19,964,075   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stock—0.8%   

Internet Software & Services—0.8%

  

Airbnb, Inc. - Series D (a) (c) (d)
(Cost $7,659,587)

    188,136        9,483,936   
   

 

 

 
Purchased Options—0.1%   

Call Options—0.1%

  

USD Currency, Strike Price CNY 6.62 Expires 06/19/15 (Counterparty - Royal Bank of Scotland plc)

    227,746,784        389,219   

USD Currency, Strike Price CNY 6.65 Expires 11/23/15 (Counterparty - Royal Bank of Scotland plc)

    196,277,507        995,127   
   

 

 

 

Total Purchased Options
(Cost $1,277,599)

      1,384,346   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—24.6%   

Mutual Fund—19.4%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (e)

    240,661,118        240,661,118   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—5.2%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $63,852,221 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $65,050,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.250% due 08/15/15 with a value of $65,131,313.

    63,852,221      63,852,221   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $304,513,339)

      304,513,339   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—119.6%
(Cost $1,287,113,120) (f)

      1,479,374,118   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(19.6)%

      (242,659,293
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,236,714,825   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal and notional amounts stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $239,057,287 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $240,661,118 and non-cash collateral with a value of $3,753,191. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 3.5% of net assets.
(d) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $43,235,132, which is 3.5% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
(e) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(f) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,287,310,305. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $279,556,514 and $(87,492,701), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $192,063,813 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(CNY)— Chinese Yuan

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Shares      Cost      Value  

Airbnb, Inc. - Series D

     04/16/14         188,136       $ 7,659,587       $ 9,483,936   

Dropbox, Inc.

     05/01/12         460,161         4,165,241         8,789,627   

Dropbox, Inc. - Series A

     05/25/12         51,888         470,124         991,123   

Flipkart Online Pvt., Ltd. - Series D

     10/04/13         98,557         2,264,087         11,803,186   

Palantir Technologies, Inc. - Series G

     07/19/12         541,563         1,657,183         4,343,335   

Palantir Technologies, Inc. - Series H

     10/25/13         174,289         611,754         1,397,798   

Palantir Technologies, Inc. - Series H-1

     10/25/13         174,289         611,754         1,397,798   

Peixe Urbano, Inc. - Series C

     12/02/11         71,709         2,239,927         30,835   

SurveyMonkey, Inc.

     11/25/14         303,799         4,997,494         4,997,494   
           

 

 

 
            $ 43,235,132   
           

 

 

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 31,409,128       $ —        $ —         $ 31,409,128   

Automobiles

     42,611,977         —          —           42,611,977   

Beverages

     12,334,456         —          —           12,334,456   

Biotechnology

     23,539,707         —          —           23,539,707   

Commercial Services & Supplies

     13,060,025         —          —           13,060,025   

Communications Equipment

     12,368,906         —          —           12,368,906   

Diversified Financial Services

     64,229,552         —          —           64,229,552   

Electrical Equipment

     6,417,493         —          —           6,417,493   

Food Products

     78,971,426         —          —           78,971,426   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     59,560,760         —          —           59,560,760   

Health Care Technology

     41,728,334         —          —           41,728,334   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     62,175,173         —          —           62,175,173   

Internet & Catalog Retail

     40,987,960         8,061,971        —           49,049,931   

Internet Software & Services

     181,786,468         —          13,787,121         195,573,589   

IT Services

     61,023,641         —          —           61,023,641   

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     67,931,716         —          —           67,931,716   

Machinery

     20,524,705         —          —           20,524,705   

Pharmaceuticals

     48,057,256         —          —           48,057,256   

Professional Services

     56,684,728         —          —           56,684,728   

Software

     132,975,928         —          —           132,975,928   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     10,695,487         —          —           10,695,487   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     53,104,504         —          —           53,104,504   

Total Common Stocks

     1,122,179,330         8,061,971        13,787,121         1,144,028,422   

Total Preferred Stocks*

     —           —          19,964,075         19,964,075   

Total Convertible Preferred Stock*

     —           —          9,483,936         9,483,936   

Total Purchased Options*

     —           1,384,346        —           1,384,346   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     240,661,118         —          —           240,661,118   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           63,852,221        —           63,852,221   

Total Short-Term Investments

     240,661,118         63,852,221        —           304,513,339   

Total Investments

   $ 1,362,840,448       $ 73,298,538      $ 43,235,132       $ 1,479,374,118   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $       $ (240,661,118   $       $ (240,661,118

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

   Balance as of
December 31,
2013
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Purchases      Balance as of
December 31,
2014
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation from
Investments Still Held at
December 31, 2014
 
Common Stocks               

Internet Software & Services

   $ 6,322,612       $ 2,467,015       $ 4,997,494       $ 13,787,121       $ 2,467,015   
Convertible Preferred Stocks               

Internet Software & Services

             1,824,349         7,659,587         9,483,936         1,824,349   
Preferred Stocks               

Internet & Catalog Retail

     2,334,816         9,468,370                 11,803,186         9,468,370   

Internet Software & Services

     799,709         222,249                 1,021,958         222,249   

Software

     3,124,394         4,014,537                 7,138,931         4,014,537   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 12,581,531       $ 17,996,520       $ 12,657,081       $ 43,235,132       $ 17,996,520   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

    Fair Value at
December 31,
2014
    Valuation
Technique(s)
  Unobservable
Input
  Range     Weighted
Average
    Relationship Between
Fair Value and Input;
If Input Value Increases
Then Fair  Value:
Common Stock              

Internet Software & Services

  $ 8,789,627      Market Transaction Method   Precedent Transaction   $ 19.10      $ 19.10      $ 19.10      Increase
    4,997,494      Market Transaction Method   Precedent Transaction   $ 16.45      $ 16.45      $ 16.45      Increase
Preferred Stocks              

Internet & Catalog Retail

    11,803,186      Market Transaction Method   Precedent Transaction   $ 119.76      $ 119.76      $ 119.76      Increase

Internet Software

& Services

    991,123      Market Transaction Method   Precedent Transaction   $ 19.10      $ 19.10      $ 19.10      Increase
    30,835      Merger & Acquisition Transaction   Sale/Merger Scenerio   $ 0.86      $ 0.86      $ 0.86      Increase
      Discount for Lack of Marketability     50.00     50.00     50.00   Decrease

Software

    7,138,931      Market Transaction Method   Pending Transaction   $ 8.89      $ 8.89      $ 8.89      Increase
      Precedent Transaction   $ 6.13      $ 6.13      $ 6.13      Increase
    Discounted Cash Flow   Weighted Average Cost of
Capital
    16.00     18.00     17.00   Decrease
      Perpetual Growth Rate     2.50     3.50     3.00   Increase
    Market Comparable Companies   Enterprise Value / Revenue     10.2x        13.1x        11.2x      Increase
      Discount for Lack of Marketability     15.00     15.00     15.00   Decrease

Convertible Preferred Stocks Internet Software & Services

    9,483,936      Market Transaction Method   Precedent Transaction   $ 50.41      $ 50.41      $ 50.41      Increase

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,479,374,118   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     536,087   

Dividends

     175,839   

Prepaid expenses

     3,080   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,480,089,124   

Liabilities

  

Cash collateral for options contracts

     1,470,000   

Collateral for securities loaned

     240,661,118   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     158,409   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     666,688   

Distribution and service fees

     87,921   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     72,102   

Other expenses

     258,061   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     243,374,299   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,236,714,825   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,173,148,791   

Accumulated net investment loss

     (72,102

Accumulated net realized loss

     (128,622,862

Unrealized appreciation on investments

     192,260,998   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,236,714,825   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 816,499,222   

Class B

     404,673,293   

Class E

     15,542,310   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     49,442,655   

Class B

     25,401,221   

Class E

     962,937   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 16.51   

Class B

     15.93   

Class E

     16.14   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,287,113,120.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $239,057,287.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 6,278,559   

Securities lending income

     1,857,363   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     8,135,922   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     8,214,595   

Administration fees

     29,972   

Custodian and accounting fees

     159,383   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,030,264   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     24,932   

Audit and tax services

     39,131   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,842   

Shareholder reporting

     232,721   

Insurance

     7,591   

Miscellaneous

     14,346   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     9,831,097   

Less management fee waiver

     (100,000
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     9,731,097   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

     (1,595,175
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     167,676,713   

Foreign currency transactions

     (17,278
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     167,659,435   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:   

Investments

     (155,151,349

Foreign currency transactions

     (50
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation      (155,151,399
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     12,508,036   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 10,912,861   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $237,306.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ (1,595,175   $ 1,102,227   

Net realized gain

     167,659,435        94,629,291   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (155,151,399     297,439,118   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     10,912,861        393,170,636   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (498,712     (6,497,822

Class B

     0        (2,272,736

Class E

     0        (112,563
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (498,712     (8,883,121
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (143,562,820     5,489,561   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (133,148,671     389,777,076   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,369,863,496        980,086,420   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,236,714,825      $ 1,369,863,496   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income (loss)

    

End of period

   $ (72,102   $ 975,527   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     5,479,308      $ 84,543,464        8,104,680      $ 106,443,709   

Reinvestments

     32,405        498,712        517,755        6,497,822   

Redemptions

     (13,099,294     (204,382,117     (6,562,107     (91,389,007
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (7,587,581   $ (119,339,941     2,060,328      $ 21,552,524   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     2,310,455      $ 35,991,855        3,163,679      $ 41,636,207   

Reinvestments

     0        0        186,903        2,272,736   

Redemptions

     (3,669,759     (58,016,482     (4,190,310     (56,715,853
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (1,359,304   $ (22,024,627     (839,728   $ (12,806,910
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     77,398      $ 1,252,314        32,882      $ 458,276   

Reinvestments

     0        0        9,151        112,563   

Redemptions

     (217,001     (3,450,566     (283,192     (3,826,892
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (139,603   $ (2,198,252     (241,159   $ (3,256,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (143,562,820     $ 5,489,561   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011     2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 16.31       $ 11.81       $ 10.78       $ 11.91      $ 9.01   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     (0.01      0.02         0.12         0.03        0.07   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.22         4.59         0.91         (0.75     2.85   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.21         4.61         1.03         (0.72     2.92   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.01      (0.11      0.00         (0.09     (0.02

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00         0.00         0.00         (0.32     0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.01      (0.11      0.00         (0.41     (0.02
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 16.51       $ 16.31       $ 11.81       $ 10.78      $ 11.91   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     1.29         39.30         9.55         (6.67     32.41   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.69         0.69         0.72         0.72        0.80   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.68         0.68         0.71         0.71        0.78   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     (0.04      0.17         1.07         0.22        0.63   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     42         56         36         34        48   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 816.5       $ 930.3       $ 649.3       $ 539.5      $ 567.5   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011     2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 15.77       $ 11.42       $ 10.45       $ 11.57      $ 8.76   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     (0.05      (0.01      0.09         (0.00 )(d)      0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.21         4.44         0.88         (0.73     2.79   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.16         4.43         0.97         (0.73     2.81   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.08      0.00         (0.07     (0.00 )(e) 

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00         0.00         0.00         (0.32     0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     0.00         (0.08      0.00         (0.39     (0.00 )(e) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 15.93       $ 15.77       $ 11.42       $ 10.45      $ 11.57   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     1.01         39.02         9.28         (6.92     32.09   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.94         0.94         0.97         0.97        1.05   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.93         0.93         0.96         0.96        1.03   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     (0.29      (0.08      0.80         (0.03     0.24   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     42         56         36         34        48   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 404.7       $ 421.9       $ 315.3       $ 251.4      $ 237.9   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010(f)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 15.96       $ 11.56       $ 10.56       $ 11.69       $ 9.71   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     (0.03      0.00 (d)       0.10         0.01         0.04   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.21         4.49         0.90         (0.74      1.94   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.18         4.49         1.00         (0.73      1.98   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.09      0.00         (0.08      0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00         0.00         0.00         (0.32      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     0.00         (0.09      0.00         (0.40      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 16.14       $ 15.96       $ 11.56       $ 10.56       $ 11.69   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     1.13         39.06         9.47         (6.87      20.39 (g) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.84         0.84         0.87         0.87         0.95 (h) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.83         0.83         0.86         0.86         0.93 (h) 

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     (0.18      0.03         0.87         0.06         0.50 (h) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     42         56         36         34         48   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 15.5       $ 17.6       $ 15.5       $ 16.0       $ 20.8   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(d) Net investment income (loss) was less than $0.01.
(e) Distributions from net investment income were less than $0.01.
(f) Commencement of operations was April 27, 2010.
(g) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(h) Computed on an annualized basis.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, net operating losses and distributions in excess of current earnings. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $63,852,221, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Foreign Exchange

   Investments at market value (a)    $ 1,384,346   
     

 

 

 

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
     Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   $ 1,384,346       $       $ (1,384,346   $   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Foreign
Exchange
 

Investments (a)

   $ (1,278,457
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Foreign
Exchange
 

Investments (a)

   $ 791,066   
  

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 486,122,353   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of investments as shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 523,424,281       $ 0       $ 697,647,819   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. that amounted to $5,801,095 in purchases and $15,373,874 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
Metlife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$8,214,594      0.700   First $200 million
     0.650   $200 million to $500 million
     0.625   Over $500 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.050%    First $200 million

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Affiliated Broker - During the year ended December 31, 2014 the Portfolio paid brokerage commissions to affiliated broker/dealer:

 

Affiliate

   Commission  
Morgan Stanley    $ 1,681   

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$498,712    $ 8,883,121       $       $       $ 498,712       $ 8,883,121   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards     Total  

$—

   $       $ 192,063,810       $ (128,425,674   $ 63,638,136   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $167,823,751.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and the pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards and expiration dates were as follows:

 

Expiring
12/31/16
 
$ 128,425,674

 

  * The Portfolio acquired capital losses in the merger with FI Mid Cap Opportunities Portfolio, a series of Metropolitan Series Fund, on April 30, 2010.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Morgan Stanley Mid Cap Growth Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also noted that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Growth Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance, including a recent trend toward improved performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further considered that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio returned 2.30%, 2.03%, and 2.13%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index)1, returned 4.16%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Global equity markets were choppy in 2014. U.S. equities were among the top performing asset classes during the year, outperforming foreign equities, including those domiciled in Europe, Japan and emerging markets.

In the U.S., the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) began tapering its most recent quantitative easing (“QE”) program in January 2014 and completed the process (thereby ending the program’s purchases) at the end of October. The Fed reduced its monthly bond purchases in steady $10 billion increments, which helped reduced market volatility and enabled investors to prepare for a post-QE market environment. While the U.S. equity market faced volatility early in 2014 due to weak first quarter data partially attributed to cold weather effects across much of the country, and again in September, it generally produced positive results and ended the year at record levels. Economic data in the U.S. was positive in the second and third quarters of 2014, with Gross Domestic Product (“GDP”) growing at 4.6% and an estimated 5.0%, respectively.

Outside of the U.S., the positive data points that had emerged in Europe in 2013 and early 2014 largely reversed themselves later in the reporting period and the European Central Bank (the “ECB”) came under even greater pressure to provide a credible plan to boost growth and avoid deflation. In response, the ECB adopted a number of policies designed to stimulate growth. In Japan, which has been mired in economic weakness for years, the Abe administration has adopted even more aggressive economic policies with the Bank of Japan executing a massive QE program. However, the results have not been particularly impressive, with that economy slipping back into recession in the third quarter of 2014 following the consumption tax increase. Emerging markets’ economic growth was mixed, as certain regions like Eastern Europe and the Middle East remained burdened by geopolitical turmoil. Many commodity producing emerging market economies also struggled as prices for most commodities fell. Countries like India and Indonesia have benefited from business-friendly new administrations.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The most significant detractors from performance in 2014 for the Portfolio included Airbus Group NV (Industrials) (France), Deutsche Bank AG (Financials) (Germany), Technip S.A. (Energy) (France), Tod’s SpA (Consumer Discretionary) (Italy) and SAP SE (Information Technology) (Germany). Airbus Group along with Boeing constitutes a global duopoly in the large jet airplane market. It has a product refresh scheduled with the re-engining of both its single aisle A320 and dual aisle A330 products. The newest Airbus product, the Airbus A350, is currently scheduled to be in commercial service by the first quarter of 2015. Concerns about the near-term impact on margins of these developments led to a pullback in the shares after a strong run of performance. A muted earnings outlook also detracted from its performance. Continued prosecutorial activism and litigation activity has led to the financial industry paying significant fines for past transgressions. Heightened concerns about the persistence of such fines and their increasing magnitude have led to worries about the adequacy of capital at global investment banks in particular. This, combined with low levels of market activity that detracted from profits, led to Deutsche Bank’s underperformance. During the reporting period, Deutsche Bank raised over $10 billion in fresh capital, increasing its equity level significantly. Technip is a supplier of critical parts and services to the oil & gas industry. It is one of the three world leaders in underwater construction of oil & gas production facilities; it is the world’s largest manufacturer of flexible pipe; and it is the world leader in the liquefaction of natural gas. Technip’s share price has been buffeted by a number of things in the 2014, including developments in Russia, where it has a meaningful project underway, concerns about the capital spending plans of the major oil companies, and lower margin guidance for its subsea segment. However, the company has a very substantial backlog of projects, and we did not see this changing. Technip is a supplier of critical services to key areas of the oil & gas industry and is positioned to benefit from the world’s demand for energy. A slowdown in growth for luxury goods in China and Asia Pacific has affected the share performance of luxury shoemaker Tod’s. SAP is the leading provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software used to integrate back-office functions such as distribution, accounting, human resources, and manufacturing. The company experienced declines after cutting its full-year earnings forecast.

Top contributors to performance in 2014 included ICICI Bank, Ltd. (Financials) (India), Allergan, Inc. (Health Care) (United States), Anthem, Inc. (Health Care) (United States), Shire plc (Health Care) (United Kingdom), Walt Disney Co. (Consumer Discretionary) (United States) and Facebook, Inc. (Information Technology) (United States). ICICI Bank is the largest private sector bank in India, a country where about half the banking sector is state-owned. In an environment where the public sector banks are inadequately capitalized for the level of non-performing loans on their books and the government’s ability to continually inject new capital is impaired as a result of its financial position, ICICI has the potential to grow faster with less competition. Additionally, the election of Narendra Modi as the new Prime Minister of India was greeted with great optimism and boosted Indian equities this reporting period. Allergan is a leading maker of eye care, skin care and aesthetic products, including Botox. Allergan’s stock price jumped after Actavis announced plans to acquire the company. Anthem is a health benefit company that had a strong reporting period. The company also announced plans to acquire Simply Healthcare Holdings toward the end of the year. Shire is a pharmaceutical company that focuses on attention deficit

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

and hyperactivity disorders as well as gastrointestinal and renal diseases. During the reporting period, AbbVie, a U.S. pharmaceuticals company, offered to buy Shire at a significant premium to the share price and the shares rallied. Subsequent to the fiscal year end, the offer was withdrawn, resulting in Shire shares dropping. Walt Disney Co. produces movies, television programs, musical recordings, books, magazines and merchandise for entertainment and education. It also operates distribution channels such as television networks, theme parks, hotels, cruise lines, retail stores and classrooms. It has iconic intellectual property assets, many channels through which to monetize them and high optionality potential to create more of both. The stock performed well during the reporting period as investors focused on the “content is king” theme in the broadcast and Internet segments of the consumer discretionary sector. Facebook, the world’s number one social network, delivered strong evidence that it can thrive on smartphones and tablets, with increases in mobile advertising revenue.

At period end, the Portfolio had its largest overweight positions in Information Technology, Health Care, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials. The Portfolio had its most significant underweight positions in Energy, Materials and Consumer Staples. On a country basis, the Portfolio had its largest overweight positions in Germany, France, Japan and Sweden, with its most significant underweight positions in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Despite being underweight the United States relative to the Index, the Portfolio had its largest allocation to that country on an absolute basis at period end.

Rajeev Bhaman

Portfolio Manager

OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI ACWI (ALL COUNTRY WORLD INDEX)

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio                 

Class A

       2.30           11.04           7.38   

Class B

       2.03           10.77           7.11   

Class E

       2.13           10.88           7.23   
MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index)        4.16           9.17           6.09   

1 The MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of 24 developed and 21 emerging market indices. The index returns shown above were calculated with net dividends: they reflect the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of the maximum possible withholding taxes.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - B Shares      2.6   
McGraw Hill Financial, Inc.      2.5   
Walt Disney Co. (The)      2.3   
eBay, Inc.      2.3   
Citigroup, Inc.      2.1   
Colgate-Palmolive Co.      2.0   
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.      1.9   
Altera Corp.      1.9   
Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG      1.9   
Anthem, Inc.      1.9   

Top Countries

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
United States      46.6   
Japan      10.5   
Germany      10.0   
Switzerland      5.2   
France      5.1   
Sweden      4.2   
United Kingdom      4.2   
Spain      3.4   
Brazil      3.2   
India      1.8   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 978.40         $ 3.49   
   Hypothetical*      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.68         $ 3.57   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.95    $ 1,000.00         $ 976.80         $ 4.73   
   Hypothetical*      0.95    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.42         $ 4.84   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.85    $ 1,000.00         $ 977.30         $ 4.24   
   Hypothetical*      0.85    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.92         $ 4.33   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—96.4% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Brazil—3.2%

  

Ambev S.A. (ADR)

    1,219,370      $ 7,584,482   

BM&FBovespa S.A.

    1,839,700        6,815,113   

Embraer S.A. (ADR)

    289,230        10,661,018   

Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. (ADR)

    824,606        10,728,124   

Vale S.A. (ADR) (a)

    364,600        2,982,428   
   

 

 

 
      38,771,165   
   

 

 

 

China—0.6%

  

Alibaba Group Holding, Ltd. (ADR) (b)

    23,700        2,463,378   

JD.com, Inc. (ADR) (a) (b)

    219,628        5,082,192   
   

 

 

 
      7,545,570   
   

 

 

 

Denmark—0.4%

  

FLSmidth & Co. A/S (a)

    115,252        5,055,729   
   

 

 

 

France—5.1%

   

Hermes International (a)

    6,188        2,206,480   

Kering

    101,295        19,474,736   

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. (a)

    126,871        20,062,628   

Societe Generale S.A.

    208,860        8,776,570   

Technip S.A.

    201,141        12,010,867   
   

 

 

 
      62,531,281   
   

 

 

 

Germany—8.1%

  

Allianz SE

    126,041        20,942,177   

Bayer AG

    142,721        19,511,305   

Deutsche Bank AG

    320,997        9,702,377   

Linde AG

    66,802        12,459,894   

SAP SE

    315,242        22,289,341   

Siemens AG

    120,202        13,632,134   
   

 

 

 
      98,537,228   
   

 

 

 

India—1.8%

  

ICICI Bank, Ltd. (ADR)

    1,876,250        21,670,687   
   

 

 

 

Ireland—0.6%

   

Shire plc

    105,649        7,475,012   
   

 

 

 

Italy—1.5%

   

Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A. (a)

    34,807        780,386   

Gtech S.p.A. (a)

    272,566        6,097,863   

Prysmian S.p.A.

    234,019        4,259,427   

Tod’s S.p.A. (a)

    75,156        6,522,037   
   

 

 

 
      17,659,713   
   

 

 

 

Japan—10.5%

  

Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (The)

    949,700        14,411,421   

FANUC Corp.

    48,800        8,053,885   

KDDI Corp.

    313,970        19,645,174   

Keyence Corp.

    42,400        18,780,566   

Kyocera Corp.

    272,500        12,489,710   

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    216,600        23,659,980   

Nidec Corp.

    254,100        16,481,565   

Seibu Holdings, Inc. (a)

    155,000        3,162,304   

Japan—(Continued)

  

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

    296,300      10,706,061   
   

 

 

 
      127,390,666   
   

 

 

 

Mexico—0.7%

  

Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (ADR)

    100,354        8,834,163   
   

 

 

 

Netherlands—1.7%

   

Airbus Group NV

    416,393        20,681,080   
   

 

 

 

Russia—0.3%

   

Alrosa AO (b)

    3,607,049        3,799,424   
   

 

 

 

Spain—3.4%

   

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.

    1,437,396        13,528,079   

Inditex S.A.

    698,986        20,028,007   

Repsol S.A.

    410,136        7,623,672   
   

 

 

 
      41,179,758   
   

 

 

 

Sweden—4.2%

  

Assa Abloy AB - Class B

    365,045        19,291,496   

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - B Shares

    2,636,267        31,927,666   
   

 

 

 
      51,219,162   
   

 

 

 

Switzerland—5.2%

  

Credit Suisse Group AG (b)

    567,232        14,219,839   

Nestle S.A.

    170,076        12,466,833   

Roche Holding AG

    53,327        14,453,775   

UBS Group AG (b)

    1,282,089        22,038,726   
   

 

 

 
      63,179,173   
   

 

 

 

United Kingdom—4.2%

  

Circassia Pharmaceuticals plc (b)

    1,199,998        5,181,041   

Earthport plc (a) (b)

    2,765,209        1,887,136   

Prudential plc

    976,912        22,480,853   

Unilever plc

    514,714        20,908,075   
   

 

 

 
      50,457,105   
   

 

 

 

United States—44.9%

  

3M Co.

    115,080        18,909,946   

Adobe Systems, Inc. (b)

    307,600        22,362,520   

Aetna, Inc.

    256,100        22,749,363   

Allergan, Inc.

    54,010        11,481,986   

Altera Corp.

    623,700        23,039,478   

Anthem, Inc.

    181,230        22,775,174   

Biogen Idec, Inc. (b)

    30,990        10,519,555   

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc. (b)

    96,860        8,756,144   

Bluebird Bio, Inc. (b)

    35,040        3,213,869   

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    531,010        9,690,932   

Citigroup, Inc.

    481,360        26,046,389   

Clovis Oncology, Inc. (a) (b)

    117,170        6,561,520   

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

    359,160        24,850,280   

eBay, Inc. (b)

    495,640        27,815,317   

Emerson Electric Co.

    173,990        10,740,403   

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (b)

    241,470        18,839,489   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares         
Value
 

United States—(Continued)

  

FNF Group

    271,740      $ 9,361,443   

FNFV Group (b)

    35,442        557,857   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (b)

    163,410        15,403,027   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    102,490        19,865,637   

Google, Inc. - Class A (b)

    31,870        16,912,134   

Google, Inc. - Class C (b)

    31,870        16,776,368   

Intuit, Inc.

    240,810        22,200,274   

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

    652,940        20,809,198   

McDonald’s Corp.

    107,670        10,088,679   

McGraw Hill Financial, Inc.

    342,380        30,464,972   

Medivation, Inc. (b)

    61,200        6,096,132   

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

    122,520        7,967,476   

Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (a) (b)

    70,625        1,053,725   

Theravance, Inc. (a)

    286,900        4,059,635   

Tiffany & Co. (a)

    184,380        19,702,847   

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B

    142,590        15,851,730   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (b)

    141,450        16,804,260   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

    301,910        28,436,903   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

    129,250        14,659,535   
   

 

 

 
      545,424,197   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $911,614,943)

      1,171,411,113   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stock—1.9%   

Germany—1.9%

  

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG
(Cost $15,915,110)

    278,371        22,846,280   
   

 

 

 
Rights—0.0%   

Italy—0.0%

  

Gtech S.p.A., Expires 01/09/15 (b)

    272,566        0   
   

 

 

 

Spain—0.0%

  

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., Expires 01/07/15 (a) (b)

    1,437,396        137,407   

Repsol S.A., Expires 01/08/15 (a) (b)

    410,136        226,802   
   

 

 

 
      364,209   
   

 

 

 

Total Rights
(Cost $377,311)

      364,209   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—8.6%   

Mutual Fund—6.9%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    83,999,736        83,999,736   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—1.7%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $20,085,929 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $20,285,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 2.125% due 05/31/15 with a value of $20,487,850.

    20,085,929      20,085,929   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $104,085,665)

      104,085,665   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—106.9%
(Cost $1,031,993,029) (d)

      1,298,707,267   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(6.9)%

      (83,977,415
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,214,729,852   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $81,803,462 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $83,999,736 and non-cash collateral with a value of $1,246,618. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,037,993,341. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $286,934,720 and $(26,220,794), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $260,713,926 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

 

Ten Largest Industries as of
December 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

% of
Net Assets

 

Banks

     7.5   

Internet Software & Services

     6.8   

Biotechnology

     6.8   

Insurance

     5.5   

Software

     5.5   

Capital Markets

     5.4   

Pharmaceuticals

     4.8   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

     4.5   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     4.0   

Health Care Providers & Services

     3.8   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Brazil

   $ 31,956,052       $ 6,815,113      $ —         $ 38,771,165   

China

     7,545,570         —          —           7,545,570   

Denmark

     —           5,055,729        —           5,055,729   

France

     —           62,531,281        —           62,531,281   

Germany

     —           98,537,228        —           98,537,228   

India

     21,670,687         —          —           21,670,687   

Ireland

     —           7,475,012        —           7,475,012   

Italy

     —           17,659,713        —           17,659,713   

Japan

     —           127,390,666        —           127,390,666   

Mexico

     8,834,163         —          —           8,834,163   

Netherlands

     —           20,681,080        —           20,681,080   

Russia

     3,799,424         —          —           3,799,424   

Spain

     —           41,179,758        —           41,179,758   

Sweden

     —           51,219,162        —           51,219,162   

Switzerland

     22,038,726         41,140,447        —           63,179,173   

United Kingdom

     —           50,457,105        —           50,457,105   

United States

     545,424,197         —          —           545,424,197   

Total Common Stocks

     641,268,819         530,142,294        —           1,171,411,113   

Total Preferred Stock*

     —           22,846,280        —           22,846,280   

Total Rights*

     364,209         —          —           364,209   
Short-Term Investments           

Mutual Fund

     83,999,736         —          —           83,999,736   

Repurchase Agreement

     —           20,085,929        —           20,085,929   

Total Short-Term Investments

     83,999,736         20,085,929        —           104,085,665   

Total Investments

   $ 725,632,764       $ 573,074,503      $ —         $ 1,298,707,267   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (83,999,736   $ —         $ (83,999,736

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,298,707,267   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     277,446   

Fund shares sold

     388,235   

Dividends

     804,985   

Prepaid expenses

     3,298   

Other assets

     150,178   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,300,331,409   

Liabilities

  

Due to bank cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     216,641   

Collateral for securities loaned

     83,999,736   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     288,317   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     651,893   

Distribution and service fees

     92,335   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     98,423   

Other expenses

     254,212   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     85,601,557   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,214,729,852   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 908,776,110   

Undistributed net investment income

     12,147,807   

Accumulated net realized gain

     27,120,373   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     266,685,562   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,214,729,852   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 774,985,319   

Class B

     410,126,087   

Class E

     29,618,446   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     38,102,860   

Class B

     20,270,757   

Class E

     1,461,887   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 20.34   

Class B

     20.23   

Class E

     20.26   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,031,993,029.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $81,803,462.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies due to bank was $216,247.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 23,828,633   

Securities lending income

     1,041,212   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     24,869,845   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     7,654,341   

Administration fees

     26,698   

Custodian and accounting fees

     431,860   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     1,074,693   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     48,817   

Audit and tax services

     55,742   

Legal

     38,296   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     47,231   

Shareholder reporting

     192,485   

Insurance

     7,107   

Miscellaneous

     52,454   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     9,629,724   

Less management fee waiver

     (444,799
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     9,184,925   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     15,684,920   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments (b)

     51,054,868   

Net increase from payments by affiliates (c)

     150,178   

Futures contracts

     (189,406

Foreign currency transactions

     285,228   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     51,300,868   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:   

Investments

     (38,598,537

Foreign currency transactions

     (33,680
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (38,632,217
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     12,668,651   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 28,353,571   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $2,028,702.
(b) Net of foreign capital gains tax of $208,152.
(c) See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013(a)
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 15,684,920      $ 9,689,837   

Net realized gain

     51,300,868        32,614,284   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (38,632,217     160,258,347   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     28,353,571        202,562,468   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (4,844,037     (9,136,910

Class B

     (3,553,255     (4,727,843

Class E

     (302,590     (224,300

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (14,077,273     0   

Class B

     (13,014,584     0   

Class E

     (996,293     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (36,788,032     (14,089,053
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     255,528,948        105,993,366   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     247,094,487        294,466,781   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     967,635,365        673,168,584   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,214,729,852      $ 967,635,365   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 12,147,807      $ 4,616,104   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013(a)
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     16,952,467      $ 337,033,874        1,859,981      $ 33,562,921   

Shares issued through acquisition

     0        0        198,591        3,526,980   

Reinvestments

     969,329        18,921,310        513,887        9,136,910   

Redemptions

     (3,181,917     (65,105,126     (3,920,137     (71,901,182
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     14,739,879      $ 290,850,058        (1,347,678   $ (25,674,371
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     1,416,455      $ 28,710,970        1,597,800      $ 29,555,954   

Shares issued through acquisition

     0        0        8,955,697        158,515,826   

Reinvestments

     851,817        16,567,839        266,808        4,727,843   

Redemptions

     (3,737,349     (76,107,889     (4,247,073     (78,496,333
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (1,469,077   $ (30,829,080     6,573,232      $ 114,303,290   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     99,035      $ 2,017,044        226,958      $ 4,089,110   

Shares issued through acquisition

     0        0        1,102,678        19,528,426   

Reinvestments

     66,746        1,298,883        12,651        224,300   

Redemptions

     (381,587     (7,807,957     (349,048     (6,477,389
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (215,806   $ (4,492,030     993,239      $ 17,364,447   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 255,528,948        $ 105,993,366   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) See Note 9 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013(a)      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 20.73       $ 16.63       $ 13.91       $ 15.44       $ 13.48   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (b)

     0.30         0.24         0.26         0.25         0.20   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.14         4.24         2.71         (1.48      1.97   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.44         4.48         2.97         (1.23      2.17   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.21      (0.38      (0.25      (0.30      (0.21

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.62      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.83      (0.38      (0.25      (0.30      (0.21
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.34       $ 20.73       $ 16.63       $ 13.91       $ 15.44   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     2.30         27.32         21.52         (8.24      16.23   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.74         0.71         0.62         0.62         0.61   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.70         0.69         0.62         0.62         0.61   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.48         1.27         1.74         1.65         1.45   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     22         11         13         12         18   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 775.0       $ 484.4       $ 411.0       $ 378.6       $ 458.8   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013(a)      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 20.63       $ 16.54       $ 13.83       $ 15.36       $ 13.42   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (b)

     0.24         0.18         0.22         0.21         0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.15         4.23         2.70         (1.47      1.96   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.39         4.41         2.92         (1.26      2.12   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.17      (0.32      (0.21      (0.27      (0.18

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.62      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.79      (0.32      (0.21      (0.27      (0.18
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.23       $ 20.63       $ 16.54       $ 13.83       $ 15.36   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     2.03         27.01         21.17         (8.40      15.93   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.99         0.96         0.87         0.87         0.86   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.95         0.94         0.87         0.87         0.86   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.18         0.99         1.49         1.40         1.19   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     22         11         13         12         18   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 410.1       $ 448.6       $ 250.9       $ 236.1       $ 265.5   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013(a)      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 20.66       $ 16.56       $ 13.85       $ 15.38       $ 13.43   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (b)

     0.26         0.20         0.24         0.23         0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.15         4.25         2.69         (1.48      1.96   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.41         4.45         2.93         (1.25      2.14   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.19      (0.35      (0.22      (0.28      (0.19

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.62      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.81      (0.35      (0.22      (0.28      (0.19
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 20.26       $ 20.66       $ 16.56       $ 13.85       $ 15.38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     2.13         27.19         21.35         (8.39      16.08   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.89         0.86         0.77         0.77         0.76   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.85         0.84         0.77         0.77         0.76   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.28         1.07         1.60         1.51         1.30   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     22         11         13         12         18   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 29.6       $ 34.7       $ 11.3       $ 11.0       $ 14.6   

 

(a) See Note 9 of the Notes to Financial Statements.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. As of close of business April 26, 2013, the Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio of the Metropolitan Series Fund (“MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor”) merged with and into the Portfolio (see Note 9). The MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor was the accounting survivor of the merger with and into the Portfolio. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), return of capital adjustments and capital gains tax. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $20,085,929, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 29, 2014 through May 2, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $184,218,993 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized losses in the amount of $189,406 which are shown under Net realized loss on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 473,893,140       $ 0       $ 249,445,820   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc. that amounted to $56,493 in sales of investments, which are included above.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $96,409,644 in purchases of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$7,654,341      0.700   First $100 million
     0.680   $100 million to $250 million
     0.670   $250 million to $500 million
     0.660   $500 million to $750 million
     0.650   Over $750 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. OppenheimerFunds, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.040%    $462.5 million to $500 million
0.030%    $500 million to $550 million
0.070%    $550 million to $750 million
0.060%    $750 million to $1.05 billion
0.085%    Over $1.05 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Advisor voluntarily reimbursed the Portfolio for foreign capital gains taxes. This reimbursement is reflected as net increase from payments by affiliates in the Statement of Operations. This reimbursement had no impact on total return.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The income tax information in this note does not reflect the acquisition which took place on April 26, 2013. (See Note 9 for further information)

The tax character of distributions paid by the Portfolio and the MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor, the accounting survivor, for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gains      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$8,699,882    $ 14,089,053       $ 28,088,150       $       $ 36,788,032       $ 14,089,053   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$15,816,964    $ 29,549,950       $ 260,685,250       $       $ 306,052,164   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $21,250,669.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Acquisition

At the close of business on April 26, 2013, the Portfolio with aggregate Class A, Class B and Class E net assets of $3,526,980, $158,515,826 and $19,528,426, respectively, acquired all the assets and liabilities of the Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio of the Metropolitan Series Fund (the “MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor”). The MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor was the accounting survivor of the merger for financial reporting purposes, therefore, the financial statements presented for the Portfolio reflect the historical results of MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor prior to the acquisition and the combined results thereafter. The number and value of shares issued by the Portfolio were in amounts equal to the number and value of shares held by MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor shareholders as of the acquisition date. The Met/Templeton Growth Portfolio was the tax survivor.

The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 427,378 Class A shares of the Portfolio (valued at $3,526,980) for 198,591 Class A shares of MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor, 19,311,254 Class B shares of the Portfolio (valued at $158,515,826) for 8,955,697 Class B shares of MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor and 2,366,957 Class E shares of the Portfolio (valued at $19,528,426) for 1,102,678 Class E shares of MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor. Each shareholder of MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor received shares of the Portfolio with the same class designation and at the respective Class NAV, as determined at the close of business on April 26, 2013. The transaction was part of a restructuring designed to eliminate the offering of overlapping Portfolios in the MetLife, Inc. families of funds with similar investment objectives and similar investment strategies that serve as funding vehicles for insurance contracts that are offered by affiliates of MetLife. Some of the investments held by the Portfolio may have been purchased or sold prior to the acquisition for the purpose of complying with the anticipated investment policies or limitations of the Portfolio after the acquisition. If such purchases or sales occurred, the transaction costs were borne by the Portfolio. All other costs associated with the merger were not borne by the shareholders of either portfolio.

MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor’s net assets on April 26, 2013, were $435,783,822, $262,590,705 and $11,704,411 for Class A, Class B and Class E shares, respectively, including investments valued at $707,687,652 with a cost basis of $519,329,715. For financial reporting purposes, assets received, liabilities assumed and shares issued by the Portfolio were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments received by the Portfolio from MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor were carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Portfolio’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes. The Portfolio acquired $79,245,462 in capital loss carryforwards from MSF Oppenheimer Global Equity Predecessor.

The aggregate net assets of the Portfolio immediately after the acquisition were $891,650,170, which included $3,849,213 of acquired net unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions.

Assuming the acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2013, the Portfolio’s pro-forma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

Net Investment income

   $ 11,992,249 (a) 

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

   $ 224,594,228 (b) 
  

 

 

 

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 236,586,477   
  

 

 

 

Because the combined investment portfolios have been managed as a single integrated portfolio since the acquisition was completed, it is not practicable to separate the amounts of revenue and earnings of the pre-merger Portfolio that have been included in the Portfolio’s Statement of Operations since April 26, 2013.

 

(a) $9,689,837 net investment income as reported December 31, 2013, plus $2,384,382 Portfolio pre-merger net investment income, minus $183,706 in higher net advisory fees, plus $101,736 of pro-forma eliminated other expenses.
(b) $305,317,779 Unrealized appreciation as reported December 31, 2013, minus $176,142,538 pro-forma December 31, 2012 Unrealized appreciation, plus $32,614,284 Net realized gain as reported December 31, 2013, plus $62,804,703 in Net realized gain from the Portfolio pre-merger.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust, as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Oppenheimer Global Equity Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and OppenheimerFunds, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its Lipper Index for the one- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed its Lipper Index for the three-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index, for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year. The Board also noted that the Adviser was in the final stages of negotiating reductions to the Portfolio’s sub-advisory fee schedule, and that the Adviser intended to waive a corresponding portion of its advisory fees in order for contractholders to benefit from the lower sub-advisory fees and that those changes would be presented to the Board in February 2015 to be effective later in 2015.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Managed by PanAgora Asset Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

Since its inception on April 14, 2014, the Class B shares of the PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio returned 5.40%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 4.43%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

During the period from April 14 through December 31, 2014, U.S. equity markets delivered strong, positive performance, a welcome surprise given the general malaise of the global economy as well as expectations for limited performance following a banner 2013 that saw the S&P 500 Index up over 30%. Fears that periodically swayed equity market performance over the period included geopolitical tension in Russia, outbreak of the Ebola virus, increased Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) activity, debate over the end of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (the “Fed”) stimulus, and ongoing concerns over global growth or lack thereof. Despite periodic worries from headlines around the world, U.S. large and small cap stocks continued to benefit from a gradually growing American economy and improvements in employment and consumer confidence. For the period, the S&P 500 Index and Russell 2000 Index gained 14.1% and 9.1%, respectively. Non-U.S. developed equity markets fared much worse than the U.S. as the MSCI World ex-U.S. Index declined by -4.1% for the period, reflecting a divergent path overseas. Emerging markets equities also performed poorly for the period with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index declining -3.5%.

Bond markets generally delivered positive performance for the period. U.S. Treasuries and non-U.S. government bonds displayed strong performance as the Citigroup U.S. Treasury Index and Citigroup World Government Bond Index ex-U.S. (Hedged) gained 3.1% and 6.9%, respectively, for the period. The broad gains realized by European government debt investors were further boosted by the pledge of European Central Bank (the “ECB”) president Mario Draghi to implement economic stimulus across all assets. The decline in longer-term yields also helped drive the performance of inflation linked bonds well into positive territory for the period. The Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Bond Index (Hedged) finished the period up 5.7%. Investment grade credit rallied in the fourth quarter after a dismal finish to the prior quarter to end the period with strong positive performance as the Barclays U.S. Credit Index gained 3.5% for the period.

Commodities continued to plummet to end the year led by the spiraling downward performance of the energy sector and the S&P Goldman Sachs Commodity Index declined by approximately -36.0% for the period. Commodity prices were dragged down during the second half of 2014 as diminished demand for energy, minerals, and agricultural products reflected slower growth globally, as well as by the rapid appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the major currencies. However, energy prices in particular, experienced the most significant declines. An increased oil supply effectively saturated the world energy market stemmed in part from further energy production in the U.S. with new hydraulic fracturing methods and technology, and OPEC’s refusal to cut production.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio’s investment philosophy is centered on the belief that risk diversification is the key to generating better risk-adjusted returns and avoiding risk concentration within a portfolio is the best way to achieve true diversification. PanAgora seeks to accomplish this by evaluating risk across and within asset classes using proprietary risk assessment and management techniques, including an approach to active risk management called Dynamic Risk Allocation. The Portfolio targets a neutral risk allocation of 40% equities, 40% fixed income and 20% inflation protection.

The primary drivers of positive, absolute performance for the period were exposure to nominal fixed income and U.S. equities. Inflation protected investments detracted from Portfolio performance, more specifically exposure to commodities.

Since the Portfolio’s inception, U.S. equities largely outperformed non-U.S. developed and emerging markets equities. The U.S. appeared to be the lone bright spot in a troubled world economy as the Fed signaled higher rates and the U.S. dollar significantly appreciated relative to other major currencies. With Europe and Japan dealing with stagnant economies, the ECB and Bank of Japan committed to stimulating growth and defending against deflation by expanding easing programs. U.S. Treasuries delivered positive performance for the period as the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note continued to fall, finishing the year at 2.17%. Despite a consensus view that interest rates would surely rise over 2014, diminished inflation expectations and the relative attractiveness of U.S. yields to global investors pushed the price of Treasuries higher. Government bonds also continued to rally in the developed markets of Europe as yields reached all-time lows. Inflation protected assets, most notably commodities, declined for the period led by the continued negative performance of the energy sector. Oil prices plummeted due to a global supply/demand imbalance and OPEC’s November announcement that it would not cut oil production.

On average, the Portfolio maintained an overweight position in equities and inflation protected investments relative to the Portfolio’s strategic (neutral) risk targets while maintaining an underweight position in nominal fixed income. Since inception, this active positioning has been a positive contributor to overall Portfolio performance.

The Portfolio invests in derivatives, such as exchange-traded futures within the equity, fixed income and commodities asset classes, and swaps on futures within fixed income and commodities. The Portfolio invests in derivatives in order to gain exposure to certain asset classes and to enhance returns. All derivatives used during the period from April 14 through December 31, 2014 performed as expected.

At year end, the Portfolio continued to overweight equities and inflation protected investments at the expense of nominal fixed income.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Managed by PanAgora Asset Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Within equities, the Portfolio was overweight U.S. large cap and developed non-U.S. equities and underweight U.S. small cap and emerging markets equities. Within inflation protected investments, the Portfolio was overweight commodities and slightly underweight inflation linked bonds. Within nominal fixed income, the Portfolio was underweight both U.S. and international government debt as well as underweight investment grade credit.

Edward Qian

Bryan Belton

Portfolio Managers

PanAgora Asset Management, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

CUMULATIVE RETURNS (%) (FOR THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        Since Inception2  
PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio       

Class B

       5.40   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        4.43   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Portfolio and Class B shares is 4/14/2014. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Risk Exposures by Asset Class*

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Global Developed Bonds      165.1   
Global Developed Equities      37.9   
Commodities - Production Weighted      26.1   
Global Inflation-Linked Bonds      8.0   
Global Emerging Equities      5.9   

 

* The percentages noted above are based on the notional exposures by asset class as a percentage of net assets.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)(b)(c)

   Actual      1.30    $ 1,000.00         $ 993.40         $ 6.53   
   Hypothetical*      1.30    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,018.65         $ 6.61   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) Commencement of operations was April 14, 2014.

(b) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(c) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects an expense limitation agreement between MetLife Advisers, LLC and the Portfolio as described in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—18.4% of Net Assets

 

Security Description  

Shares/

Principal

Amount*

    Value  

U.S. Treasury—18.4%

  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond
3.875%, 04/15/29

    1,025,538      $ 1,467,802   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes
0.125%, 04/15/17

    1,020,349        1,021,146   

0.125%, 01/15/23

    596,658        576,940   

0.375%, 07/15/23

    787,702        778,780   

1.250%, 07/15/20

    272,200        285,682   
   

 

 

 
      4,130,350   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $4,187,549)

      4,130,350   
   

 

 

 
Investment Company Security—9.1%   

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
(Cost $2,032,876)

    17,163        2,049,434   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—53.8%   

Federal Agencies—4.2%

  

Federal Home Loan Bank
0.250%, 01/16/15

    940,000        940,024   
   

 

 

 

Mutual Funds—17.9%

  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds T-Fund Portfolio, Institutional Class 0.030% (a)

    3,000,000        3,000,000   

UBS Select Treasury Institutional Fund, Institutional Class 0.010% (a)

    1,000,000        1,000,000   
   

 

 

 
      4,000,000   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—4.5%

  

U.S. Treasury Bill
0.015%, 01/15/15 (b) (c)

    1,000,000      999,991   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—27.2%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $6,090,509 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $6,305,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $6,216,957.

    6,090,509        6,090,509   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $12,031,386)

      12,030,524   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—81.3%
(Cost $18,251,811) (d)

      18,210,308   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—18.7%

      4,194,228   
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 22,404,536   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) The rate shown represents the annualized seven-day yield as of December 31, 2014.
(b) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(c) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $309,997.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $18,272,867. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $16,558 and $(79,117), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(62,559) for federal income tax purposes.
(ETF)— Exchange Traded Fund

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Australian 10 Year Treasury Bond Futures

     03/16/15         21         AUD         2,669,504       $ 17,587   

Bloomberg Commodity Index Futures

     03/18/15         31         USD         343,576         (20,866

Brent Crude Oil Futures

     02/12/15         2         USD         123,045         (6,626

Canada Government 10 Year Bond Futures

     03/20/15         27         CAD         3,671,402         59,079   

Cattle Feeder Futures

     03/26/15         5         USD         555,782         (12,470

Cocoa Futures

     07/16/15         5         USD         142,818         1,632   

Coffee “C” Futures

     03/19/15         1         USD         72,454         (9,979

Corn Futures

     05/14/15         4         USD         78,712         2,438   

Cotton No. 2 Futures

     05/06/15         6         USD         180,662         2,548   

E-Mini Copper Futures

     02/25/15         6         USD         222,070         (10,120

E-Mini Natural Gas Futures

     01/27/15         24         USD         266,338         (92,998

Euro Buxl 30 Year Bond Futures

     03/06/15         2         EUR         295,483         17,518   

Euro-BTP Futures

     03/06/15         19         EUR         2,547,528         34,937   

Euro-Bobl Futures

     03/06/15         8         EUR         1,035,691         7,925   

Euro-Bund Futures

     03/06/15         3         EUR         458,704         10,777   

Euro-Schatz Futures

     03/06/15         28         EUR         3,105,378         6,222   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Futures Contracts—(Continued)

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Gasoil Futures

     02/12/15         1         USD         71,028       $ (18,903

Gasoline RBOB Futures

     02/27/15         1         USD         66,117         (2,945

Gold Mini Futures

     02/25/15         13         USD         500,435         (5,540

Interest Rate Swap 10 Year Futures

     03/16/15         27         USD         2,831,899         29,257   

Interest Rate Swap 2 Year Futures

     03/16/15         104         USD         10,437,619         3,819   

Interest Rate Swap 5 Year Futures

     03/16/15         39         USD         3,956,764         14,533   

Japanese Government 10 Year Bond Mini Futures

     03/10/15         64         JPY         940,404,480         48,184   

Lean Hogs Futures

     04/15/15         21         USD         771,533         (72,023

Live Cattle Futures

     04/30/15         17         USD         1,098,057         6,263   

MSCI EAFE Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         45         USD         3,884,101         71,174   

MSCI Emerging Markets Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         28         USD         1,265,685         75,095   

NY Harbor ULSD Futures

     02/27/15         1         USD         78,439         (2,117

Nickel Futures

     03/16/15         2         USD         199,989         (18,321

Primary Aluminum Futures

     03/16/15         7         USD         350,194         (26,663

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         10         USD         1,137,961         62,739   

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         33         USD         3,272,775         113,685   

Silver Mini Futures

     03/27/15         13         USD         212,426         (9,639

Soybean Futures

     05/14/15         4         USD         209,212         (3,112

Soybean Meal Futures

     05/14/15         7         USD         239,652         (1,022

Soybean Oil Futures

     03/13/15         5         USD         101,842         (5,422

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         19         USD         2,684,807         61,881   

United Kingdom Long Gilt Bond Futures

     03/27/15         20         GBP         2,327,858         97,790   

Wheat Futures

     07/14/15         1         USD         30,478         (603

Zinc Futures

     03/16/15         5         USD         280,012         (7,949
              

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 417,765   
              

 

 

 

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(USD)— United States Dollar

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $ —        $ 4,130,350       $ —         $ 4,130,350   

Total Investment Company Security

     2,049,434        —           —           2,049,434   
Short-Term Investments           

Federal Agencies

     —          940,024         —           940,024   

Mutual Funds

     4,000,000        —           —           4,000,000   

U.S. Treasury

     —          999,991         —           999,991   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          6,090,509         —           6,090,509   

Total Short-Term Investments

     4,000,000        8,030,524         —           12,030,524   

Total Investments

   $ 6,049,434      $ 12,160,874       $ —         $ 18,210,308   
Futures Contracts           

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 745,083      $ —         $ —         $ 745,083   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (327,318     —           —           (327,318

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 417,765      $ —         $ —         $ 417,765   

 

* See Consolidated Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 12,119,799   

Repurchase Agreement

     6,090,509   

Cash

     3,510,581   

Cash collateral for futures contracts

     1,239,270   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     9,863   

Interest

     13,147   

Due from investment adviser

     39,303   

Prepaid expenses

     17   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     23,022,489   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     698   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     430,530   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     11,994   

Distribution and service fees

     4,613   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     14,019   

Other expenses

     156,099   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     617,953   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 22,404,536   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 22,210,931   

Undistributed net investment income

     195,616   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (358,281

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts and foreign currency transactions

     356,270   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 22,404,536   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 22,404,536   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     2,173,623   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.31   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement, was $12,161,302.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Period Ended December 31, 2014(a)

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 45,269   

Interest

     11,767   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     57,036   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     65,775   

Administration fees

     19,694   

Custodian and accounting fees

     22,710   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     25,298   

Audit and tax services

     89,757   

Legal

     107,345   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     28,769   

Shareholder reporting

     7,502   

Insurance

     23   

Miscellaneous

     3,167   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     370,040   

Less management fee waiver

     (6,559

Less expenses reimbursed by the Adviser

     (231,931
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     131,550   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

     (74,514
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     1,301   

Futures contracts

     113,935   

Foreign currency transactions

     (614
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     114,622   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (41,503

Futures contracts

     417,765   

Foreign currency transactions

     (19,992
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     356,270   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     470,892   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 396,378   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 14, 2014.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Period Ended
December 31,
2014(a)
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

  

From Operations

  

Net investment loss

   $ (74,514

Net realized gain

     114,622   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     356,270   
  

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     396,378   
  

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

  

Net investment income

  

Class B

     (59,437

Net realized capital gains

  

Class B

     (430,917
  

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (490,354
  

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     22,498,512   
  

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     22,404,536   

Net Assets

  

Beginning of period

     0   
  

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 22,404,536   
  

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

  

End of period

   $ 195,616   
  

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Period Ended
December 31, 2014(a)
 
     Shares     Value  

Class B

    

Sales

     2,305,033      $ 23,893,592   

Reinvestments

     47,377        490,354   

Redemptions

     (178,787     (1,885,434
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     2,173,623      $ 22,498,512   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 22,498,512   
    

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 14, 2014.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class B  
     Period Ended
December 31,
2014(a)
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.00   
  

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

  

Net investment loss (b)

     (0.06

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.60   
  

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.54   
  

 

 

 

Less Distributions

  

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.03

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.20
  

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.23
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.31   
  

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     5.40  (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

  

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     3.66  (e) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (f)

     1.30  (e) 

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets (%)

     (0.74 )(e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     9  (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 22.4   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 14, 2014.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Includes the effects of management fee waivers and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) (commenced operations on April 14, 2014), which is non-diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered one class of shares: Class B shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary—PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the PanAgora Global Risk Diversified Risk Portfolio, Ltd., which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies.

The Portfolio has obtained an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio should constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court could disagree with the legal opinion obtained by the Portfolio.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures, but it may also invest in other commodity related instruments and other investments intended to serve as margin or collateral for the Subsidiary’s derivative positions. Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by the PanAgora Asset Management, Inc. (the “Subadviser”), making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio include the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

      Inception Date
of Subsidiary
     Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

PanAgora Global Risk Diversified Risk Portfolio, Ltd

     4/14/2014       $ 4,412,716         19.3

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to futures transactions, foreign currency transactions, premium amortization adjustments, controlled foreign corporation and distribution and service fees. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

 

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $6,090,509, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Commodity Futures Contracts and Swaps on Commodity Futures Contracts - The Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts*    $ 409,508         
Equity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts*      322,694         
Commodity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts*      12,881       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts *    $ 327,318   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 745,083          $ 327,318   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the period ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Commodity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 811,874       $ (415,080   $ (282,859   $ 113,935   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Commodity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 409,508       $ 322,694      $ (314,437   $ 417,765   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the period ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 26,048,352   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the period ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$4,300,068    $ 2,326,767       $ 101,491       $ 295,757   

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the period ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum   Average Daily Net Assets
$65,775        0.650 %   First $250 million
       0.640 %   $250 million to $750 million
       0.630 %   $750 million to $1 billion
       0.600 %   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. The Subadviser is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Management Fee Waiver - The Subadviser voluntarily agreed to waive its entire subadvisory fee through July 14, 2014. Also through July 14, 2014, the Adviser voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of the management fee in an amount equal to the subadvisory fees waived. Amounts waived for the period ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Expense Limitation Agreement - The Adviser has entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) in the interest of limiting expenses of the Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Portfolio until April 30, 2015. Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Portfolio other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized or expensed in accordance with GAAP, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Portfolio’s business and acquired fund fees and expenses but including amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, are limited to the following expense ratio as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Maximum Expense Ratio under Current
Expense Limitation Agreement
Class B

   Expenses Deferred in 2014
Subject to repayment until
December 31, 2017
1.30%    $231,931

Amounts waived for the period ended December 31, 2014 are shown as expenses reimbursed by the Adviser in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

If, in any year in which the Management Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate operating expenses of the Portfolio for the fiscal year are less than the Maximum Expense Ratio for that year, subject to approval by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Portfolio to the extent that the charge does not cause the expenses in such subsequent year to exceed the Maximum Expense Ratio as stated above. The Portfolio is not obligated to repay any expense paid by the Adviser more than three years after the end of the fiscal year in which such expense was incurred. As of December 31, 2014, there was $231,931 in expense deferrals eligible for recoupment by the Adviser.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the period ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the period ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

   Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  
$231,379    $ 258,975       $ 490,354   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$317,260    $ 162,502       $ (272,138   $       $ 207,624   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio and subsidiary, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations, consolidated statement of changes in net assets and the consolidated financial highlights for the period April 14, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedure. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PanAgora Global Diversified Risk Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets, and the consolidated financial highlights for the period April 14, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio returned 3.18%, 2.89%, and 3.09%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Barclays U.S. TIPS Index1, returned 3.64%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Both uncertainty and volatility increased at the start of 2014 amid geopolitical tensions and weak economic data. An uncharacteristically cold winter took a toll on economic data in the U.S., resulting in a weak first quarter U.S. gross domestic product rate of -2.9%. On the global front, rising geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine at the outset of the year led to volatile swings in financial markets, particularly in equities. The situation calmed in the months following as Russia acknowledged the legitimacy of the newly elected Ukrainian President and continued to engage in cease-fire negotiations.

Central banks across the globe continued their accommodative stance during the first half of the year. Despite the weak first quarter, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) continued tapering its asset purchases and remained on track to conclude its purchases by year-end. The Fed also took considerable steps to strengthen its forward guidance on the policy rate. In Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s first statement in March, the Fed dropped references to a 6.5% unemployment target and placed greater emphasis on inflation and other “measures of labor market conditions” as more appropriate barometers for determining the timing of the first interest rate hike. In Europe, the European Central Bank (the “ECB”) announced new easing measures, including a historic negative rate on deposits, policy rate cut, and targeted long-term refinancing operations to spur business lending.

Financial markets, despite the volatility early on, ended the first half of the year in positive territory. Improving global economic data in the second quarter, supportive central banks, and easing of global political risks led to sizable market gains overall with the S&P 500 Index hitting an all-time high. Global fixed income markets also posted strong returns with the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index returning 5.97%, benefitting from rate declines across most maturities and investors beginning to embrace the view that policy rates would remain lower than historical norms suggested.

Far from the typical summer lull, the third quarter was marked by geopolitical tension and diverging markets. Most developed market government yields were led lower by easy central bank policies, while credit market yields backed up. Equity markets somersaulted their way to modest gains in the U.S., but were flat or slightly negative in many other regions as economic data varied. U.S. growth became more sure-footed, but the eurozone recovery sputtered and growth decelerated in parts of Asia. In addition to headline volatility around central bank actions and the Scottish independence referendum, geopolitical tensions flared in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Evidence of global growth divergence was further borne out in the final quarter of 2014, but the most defining event of the quarter was the sharp decline in oil prices and accompanying market volatility. Growth in the U.S. exceeded expectations and handily outpaced its peers in the developed world, especially Japan and Europe, which continued to struggle. Meanwhile, oil prices plunged nearly 40% as still weak global growth brought concerns about oil demand and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)’s decision not to cut production led to a supply glut. The uneven growth and drop in oil led to bouts of market volatility that dissipated quickly but still managed to leave certain risk sectors bruised. Core bonds in developed markets rallied over the quarter as weak growth and lower oil prices kept many central banks in easing mode.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Positioning in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities including a focus on longer maturities relative to the benchmark for most of the year contributed to the Portfolio’s performance as the real yield curve flattened during the calendar year. However, tactical use of pay-fixed interest rate swaps on the long end of the U.S. nominal yield curve detracted from performance, as rates rallied on longer-dated nominal Treasuries over the period. Exposure to Investment Grade Corporate bonds added slightly to performance despite unfavorable market behavior; as yield capture and security selection outweighed the impact of general spread widening. An allocation to non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities was positive for performance as the sector continued to benefit from the ongoing housing recovery. Exposure to non-U.S. developed Inflation-Linked Bonds (“ILBs”), particularly Australia and New Zealand, added to Portfolio performance as real yields fell in both countries during the year. The Portfolio’s exposure to emerging market local debt denominated in Brazilian real, partially achieved through zero coupon swaps, contributed to Portfolio performance as rates fell in the region.

At period end, the Portfolio was largely underweight U.S. interest rate risk, focusing on placement along the real and nominal yield curves and exposure outside of the U.S. The Portfolio also focused on the belly of the real yield curve where we see superior opportunities for roll-down and price appreciation. In terms of spread exposure, the Portfolio maintained a modest exposure to non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities as a source of additional yield. With regard to credit, the Portfolio also maintained small exposures to well-capitalized U.S. financial companies.

The Portfolio continued to hold Australian and New Zealand ILBs, as they present attractive real yields and policy maneuverability. In Europe, at year end we held Italian ILBs and Spanish nominal bonds, as the ECB is likely to expand the scope of its monetary accommodation. Additionally, the Portfolio held short-to-intermediate German and French ILBs with an offsetting underweight to the long end of the eurodollar yield curve, given relatively low breakeven levels. Within currencies, the Portfolio maintained a long dollar bias

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

as divergent monetary policy is likely to mean continued strength in the U.S. dollar, particularly against the euro and yen.

Mihir P. Worah

Portfolio Manager

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. TIPS INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception2  
PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio                      

Class A

       3.18           4.33           4.48             

Class B

       2.89           4.06           4.22             

Class E

       3.09           4.17                     4.99   
Barclays U.S. TIPS Index        3.64           4.11           4.37             

1 The Barclays U.S. TIPS Index is an unmanaged market index comprised of all U.S. Treasury Inflation Protected Securities rated investment grade (Baa3 or better), have at least one year to final maturity, and at least $250 million par amount outstanding.

2 Inception dates of Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 5/1/2003, 5/1/2003 and 5/1/2006, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      101.1   
Foreign Government      16.8   
Corporate Bonds & Notes      8.6   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      3.2   
Asset-Backed Securities      2.3   
Floating Rate Loans      0.2   
Purchased Options      0.1   
Convertible Preferred Stock      0.1   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
     Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.58    $ 1,000.00         $ 968.30       $ 2.88   
   Hypothetical*      0.58    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.28       $ 2.96   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 966.20       $ 4.11   
   Hypothetical*      0.83    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.02       $ 4.23   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.73    $ 1,000.00         $ 967.20       $ 3.62   
   Hypothetical*      0.73    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.53       $ 3.72   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—101.1% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—1.0%

  

Fannie Mae ARM Pool

   

1.313%, 09/01/44 (a)

    43,368      $ 44,402   

1.315%, 07/01/44 (a)

    23,949        24,449   

2.485%, 11/01/34

    1,106,129        1,183,179   

Fannie Mae REMICS (CMO)

   

0.215%, 12/25/36 (a)

    91,310        90,000   

0.230%, 07/25/37 (a)

    929,372        902,102   

0.320%, 08/25/34 (a)

    144,174        144,287   

0.520%, 07/25/37 (a)

    39,363        39,499   

0.550%, 07/25/37 (a)

    261,965        263,309   

0.850%, 02/25/41 (a)

    3,658,818        3,704,209   

2.192%, 05/25/35 (a)

    610,897        629,031   

Fannie Mae Whole Loan (CMO)

   

0.520%, 05/25/42 (a)

    78,709        78,814   

Freddie Mac ARM Non-Gold Pool

   

2.371%, 01/01/34

    109,469        116,780   

Freddie Mac REMICS (CMO)

   

0.311%, 10/15/20 (a)

    475,618        476,483   

0.391%, 02/15/19 (a)

    1,020,993        1,022,218   

0.611%, 08/15/33 (a)

    3,079,291        3,093,256   

Freddie Mac Strips (CMO)

   

0.611%, 09/15/42 (a)

    10,426,294        10,505,664   

Freddie Mac Structured Pass-Through Securities(CMO)

   

0.430%, 08/25/31 (a)

    62,034        60,658   

1.315%, 10/25/44 (a)

    3,636,587        3,670,047   

1.315%, 02/25/45 (a)

    1,094,574        1,121,669   

Ginnie Mae (CMO)

   

0.466%, 03/20/37 (a)

    4,363,982        4,374,316   
   

 

 

 
      31,544,372   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—100.1%

  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds (k)

   

0.625%, 02/15/43 (b)

    36,320,064        34,146,526   

0.750%, 02/15/42 (c)

    3,572,924        3,471,600   

1.375%, 02/15/44

    80,285,380        90,866,752   

1.750%, 01/15/28 (b) (c)

    161,515,946        182,853,656   

2.000%, 01/15/26 (b)

    88,686,066        101,628,733   

2.125%, 02/15/40 (b)

    26,121,928        33,860,549   

2.125%, 02/15/41 (c)

    975,870        1,274,120   

2.375%, 01/15/25 (b) (c)

    189,815,043        222,854,629   

2.375%, 01/15/27 (b) (c)

    126,398,813        151,273,720   

2.500%, 01/15/29 (b)

    50,511,753        62,677,963   

3.625%, 04/15/28 (b)

    38,603,807        53,059,119   

3.875%, 04/15/29 (b)

    98,054,022        140,339,819   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes (k)

   

0.125%, 04/15/16 (b)

    156,499,113        156,022,261   

0.125%, 04/15/17 (b) (c) (d)

    13,899,784        13,910,639   

0.125%, 04/15/18 (b) (c) (d)

    29,044,160        28,935,244   

0.125%, 04/15/19 (b) (c)

    174,819,437        172,893,626   

0.125%, 01/15/22 (b) (c) (d) (e)

    70,766,867        68,831,818   

0.125%, 07/15/22 (b) (c)

    315,624,163        307,511,675   

0.125%, 01/15/23 (b) (c)

    241,790,371        233,799,925   

0.125%, 07/15/24 (b)

    39,663,079        38,197,409   

0.375%, 07/15/23 (b) (d) (e)

    117,151,919        115,824,822   

U.S. Treasury—(Continued)

  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes (k)

  

 

0.500%, 04/15/15 (c) (d)

    4,054,090      4,001,196   

0.625%, 07/15/21 (b) (c)

    295,301,508        299,015,810   

1.125%, 01/15/21 (b) (d)

    45,243,916        47,000,647   

1.250%, 07/15/20 (b) (c) (d)

    190,577,659        200,017,162   

1.375%, 01/15/20 (b) (c) (d)

    132,173,004        138,729,974   

1.625%, 01/15/18 (d)

    19,370,490        20,283,014   

1.875%, 07/15/15 (b)

    82,595,354        82,853,465   

1.875%, 07/15/19 (d)

    15,902,887        17,068,267   

2.000%, 01/15/16 (c)

    18,184,824        18,453,341   

2.375%, 01/15/17 (d)

    641,716        673,250   

2.625%, 07/15/17

    17,758,195        19,037,336   
   

 

 

 
      3,061,368,067   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $3,259,744,500)

      3,092,912,439   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—16.8%   

Provincial—0.9%

   

New South Wales Treasury Corp.

   

2.750%, 11/20/25 (AUD)

    11,100,000        13,155,905   

Province of Ontario Canada

   

3.450%, 06/02/45 (CAD)

    16,100,000        14,317,747   
   

 

 

 
      27,473,652   
   

 

 

 

Sovereign—15.9%

   

Brazil Letras do Tesouro Nacional

   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/17 (BRL)

    55,300,000        16,313,791   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/18 (BRL)

    42,800,000        11,239,243   

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional

   

10.000%, 01/01/21 (BRL)

    100,567,000        32,339,306   

10.000%, 01/01/25 (BRL)

    21,200,000        6,597,120   

Bundesrepublik Deutschland Bundesobligation Inflation Linked Bond

   

0.750%, 04/15/18 (EUR) (k)

    140,089,290        174,102,150   

Colombian TES

   

3.000%, 03/25/33 (COP) (k)

    7,461,655,510        2,728,457   

France Government Bond OAT

   

0.250%, 07/25/18 (EUR) (k)

    9,784,366        12,053,397   

0.700%, 07/25/30 (EUR) (k)

    1,003,670        1,314,189   

Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro

   

1.700%, 09/15/18 (EUR) (k)

    8,904,280        11,180,807   

2.100%, 09/15/16 (EUR) (k)

    2,357,278        2,913,923   

2.100%, 09/15/17 (EUR) (k)

    14,540,625        18,282,477   

2.100%, 09/15/21 (EUR) (k)

    10,301,515        13,470,057   

2.250%, 04/22/17 (EUR) (k)

    5,687,346        7,107,551   

2.350%, 09/15/24 (144A) (EUR) (k)

    35,104,165        47,221,213   

2.550%, 10/22/16 (EUR) (k)

    9,379,132        11,720,238   

2.550%, 09/15/41 (EUR) (k)

    3,914,820        5,244,286   

3.100%, 09/15/26 (EUR) (k)

    636,864        919,093   

5.000%, 09/01/40 (EUR)

    1,600,000        2,556,304   

Mexican Bonos

   

4.750%, 06/14/18 (MXN)

    65,252,000        4,412,899   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Sovereign—(Continued)

   

Mexican Udibonos

   

4.000%, 11/15/40 (MXN) (k)

    33,730,355      $ 2,571,662   

4.000%, 11/08/46 (MXN) (k)

    111,204,765        8,604,541   

4.500%, 12/04/25 (MXN) (k)

    32,676,282        2,612,444   

New Zealand Government Bond

   

3.000%, 09/20/30 (NZD) (f)

    11,600,000        10,192,955   

Republic of Greece Government Bonds

   

3.800%, 08/08/17 (JPY)

    150,000,000        1,028,978   

4.500%, 07/03/17 (JPY)

    300,000,000        2,007,276   

Slovenia Government International Bond

   

4.700%, 11/01/16 (144A) (EUR)

    6,400,000        8,285,254   

Spain Government Bonds

   

3.800%, 04/30/24 (144A) (EUR)

    15,500,000        22,438,850   

5.400%, 01/31/23 (144A) (EUR)

    29,800,000        47,157,527   
   

 

 

 
      486,615,988   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $570,163,103)

      514,089,640   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—8.6%   

Banks—6.5%

  

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A.

   

4.875%, 09/15/16 (EUR)

    1,000,000        1,291,287   

Banco Santander S.A.

   

6.250%, 09/11/21 (EUR) (a)

    700,000        819,718   

Bankia S.A.

   

3.500%, 12/14/15 (EUR)

    7,800,000        9,706,744   

3.500%, 01/17/19 (EUR)

    3,100,000        4,047,850   

Barclays plc

   

2.010%, 12/21/20 (MXN) (f) (g)

    12,500,000        873,789   

6.500%, 09/15/19 (EUR) (a)

    800,000        947,711   

8.000%, 12/15/20 (EUR) (a)

    800,000        1,007,488   

BBVA Bancomer S.A.

   

6.500%, 03/10/21 (144A)

    5,000,000        5,414,500   

BNP Paribas S.A.

   

0.542%, 11/07/15 (a)

    23,200,000        23,164,666   

BPCE S.A.

   

0.802%, 11/18/16 (a)

    13,300,000        13,309,283   

BPE Financiaciones S.A.

   

2.500%, 02/01/17 (EUR)

    2,700,000        3,333,027   

2.875%, 05/19/16 (EUR)

    5,600,000        6,920,995   

China Construction Bank Corp.

   

1.700%, 04/16/15

    4,000,000        4,011,524   

CIT Group, Inc.

   

4.750%, 02/15/15 (144A)

    3,100,000        3,102,325   

Citigroup, Inc.

   

0.752%, 05/01/17 (a)

    33,800,000        33,714,013   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA

   

0.563%, 04/28/17 (a)

    33,700,000        33,676,241   

Credit Agricole S.A.

   

7.875%, 01/23/24 (a)

    200,000        203,507   

Depfa ACS Bank

   

3.875%, 11/14/16 (EUR)

    600,000        773,848   

Eksportfinans ASA

   

2.375%, 05/25/16

    4,100,000        4,109,594   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.

   

3.125%, 01/15/16

    3,200,000      3,250,576   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   

0.784%, 04/25/18 (a)

    33,700,000        33,622,726   

Lloyds Banking Group plc

   

7.625%, 06/27/23 (GBP) (a)

    2,000,000        3,106,236   

Rabobank Nederland

   

4.000%, 09/10/15 (GBP)

    5,160,000        8,211,513   

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S

   

2.731%, 04/20/16 (144A) (a)

    1,600,000        1,596,000   
   

 

 

 
      200,215,161   
   

 

 

 

Electric—0.4%

  

Electricite de France S.A.

   

0.691%, 01/20/17 (144A) (a)

    9,000,000        9,024,498   

1.150%, 01/20/17 (144A)

    2,800,000        2,798,258   
   

 

 

 
      11,822,756   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—0.2%

  

D.R. Horton, Inc.

   

5.250%, 02/15/15

    7,500,000        7,537,500   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.3%

  

California Resources Corp.

   

5.500%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    8,000,000        6,840,000   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   

3.481%, 04/15/19 (a)

    800,000        784,000   
   

 

 

 
      7,624,000   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—1.1%

  

BellSouth Corp.

   

4.182%, 04/26/15 (144A) (h)

    32,600,000        32,920,849   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.1%

  

Hellenic Railways Organization S.A.

   

4.028%, 03/17/17 (EUR)

    3,900,000        3,827,268   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $271,470,829)

      263,947,534   
   

 

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities—3.2%   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—2.3%

  

Banc of America Funding Trust

   

2.641%, 02/20/36 (a)

    1,518,274        1,506,718   

Banc of America Mortgage Trust

   

2.315%, 11/25/34 (a)

    80,174        76,001   

2.680%, 06/25/35 (a)

    361,147        346,024   

2.691%, 09/25/35 (a)

    218,486        200,784   

6.500%, 09/25/33

    57,867        59,625   

BCAP LLC Trust

   

5.041%, 03/26/37 (144A) (a)

    2,195,083        2,161,006   

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust

   

2.190%, 08/25/35 (a)

    164,523        166,283   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust

   

2.515%, 03/25/35 (a)

    6,143      $ 6,198   

2.580%, 03/25/35 (a)

    715,997        723,273   

2.656%, 03/25/35 (a)

    630,163        613,199   

2.970%, 01/25/35 (a)

    2,346,668        2,364,723   

Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust

   

0.330%, 02/25/34 (a)

    266,432        238,580   

2.612%, 09/25/35 (a)

    1,989,158        1,695,692   

Chase Mortgage Finance Trust

   

2.474%, 02/25/37 (a)

    155,083        153,977   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.

   

2.230%, 09/25/35 (a)

    237,871        237,133   

2.280%, 09/25/35 (a)

    226,971        227,074   

2.540%, 05/25/35 (a)

    59,964        59,406   

2.540%, 10/25/35 (a)

    4,156,717        4,113,126   

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust

   

0.346%, 02/20/47 (a)

    1,443,701        1,066,371   

0.350%, 05/25/47 (a)

    469,077        388,254   

0.450%, 12/25/35 (a)

    39,774        34,731   

5.500%, 06/25/35

    1,011,160        1,009,640   

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage Pass-Through Trust

  

 

0.460%, 04/25/35 (a)

    1,101,877        973,256   

0.510%, 06/25/35 (144A) (a)

    161,226        143,301   

2.323%, 11/20/34 (a)

    550,237        516,262   

2.399%, 11/19/33 (a)

    40,931        40,161   

2.589%, 08/25/34 (a)

    287,129        252,179   

Deutsche ALT-B Securities Mortgage Loan Trust

 

0.270%, 10/25/36 (a)

    43,165        26,975   

5.869%, 10/25/36

    762,353        628,300   

5.886%, 10/25/36

    762,353        628,896   

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust

 

2.207%, 06/25/34 (a)

    347,718        340,567   

Granite Mortgages plc

 

0.940%, 09/20/44 (GBP) (a)

    473,870        735,693   

GreenPoint Mortgage Funding Trust

 

0.440%, 11/25/45 (a)

    204,837        160,407   

GreenPoint MTA Trust

 

0.610%, 06/25/45 (a)

    443,603        386,300   

GSR Mortgage Loan Trust

 

2.617%, 05/25/35 (a)

    759,472        701,183   

2.669%, 09/25/35 (a)

    547,300        549,465   

2.814%, 01/25/35 (a)

    451,757        445,420   

4.824%, 11/25/35 (a)

    1,072,272        981,485   

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust

 

0.384%, 05/19/35 (a)

    119,808        99,446   

0.444%, 02/19/36 (a)

    246,020        184,213   

Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust

 

2.750%, 11/25/35 (a)

    1,115,414        1,000,411   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust

 

2.140%, 07/27/37 (144A) (a)

    1,251,729        1,078,725   

2.527%, 08/25/35 (a)

    713,264        696,677   

2.551%, 08/25/35 (a)

    498,079        491,655   

2.552%, 07/25/35 (a)

    369,801        374,283   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust

 

2.581%, 07/25/35 (a)

    351,669      351,750   

2.636%, 02/25/35 (a)

    628,243        615,085   

5.025%, 09/25/35 (a)

    166,413        163,751   

5.070%, 06/25/35 (a)

    1,106,089        1,092,681   

Master Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust

 

2.165%, 12/25/33 (a)

    207,887        208,708   

2.639%, 11/21/34 (a)

    387,539        394,332   

Mellon Residential Funding Corp.

 

0.601%, 12/15/30 (a)

    52,286        49,782   

0.861%, 11/15/31 (a)

    366,206        354,651   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust

 

0.420%, 11/25/35 (a)

    194,706        183,794   

1.156%, 10/25/35 (a)

    366,384        346,836   

1.582%, 10/25/35 (a)

    1,215,989        1,180,073   

5.401%, 12/25/35 (a)

    339,665        315,070   

National Credit Union Administration Guaranteed Notes

 

0.607%, 10/07/20 (a)

    3,177,337        3,196,410   

0.717%, 12/08/20 (a)

    4,996,076        5,044,178   

RBSSP Resecuritization Trust

 

2.090%, 07/26/45 (144A) (a)

    8,626,853        8,692,400   

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.

 

0.470%, 08/25/35 (a)

    187,047        144,095   

1.473%, 09/25/45 (a)

    201,998        163,476   

Sequoia Mortgage Trust

 

0.366%, 07/20/36 (a)

    1,806,457        1,681,411   

0.864%, 10/19/26 (a)

    104,296        102,796   

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust

 

1.515%, 01/25/35 (a)

    153,706        122,657   

2.573%, 02/25/34 (a)

    236,466        235,963   

2.586%, 12/25/34 (a)

    475,223        461,494   

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust

 

0.360%, 06/25/36 (a)

    117,418        96,478   

0.380%, 05/25/46 (a)

    53,395        40,035   

0.414%, 07/19/35 (a)

    294,274        267,943   

0.824%, 10/19/34 (a)

    135,508        127,612   

Structured Asset Securities Corp.

   

2.619%, 10/28/35 (144A) (a)

    121,787        116,603   

Swan Trust

   

3.940%, 04/25/41 (AUD) (a)

    263,209        217,407   

TBW Mortgage Backed Pass-Through Certificates

   

6.015%, 07/25/37

    351,209        263,344   

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust

   

6.038%, 09/25/37 (a)

    1,752,341        1,809,594   

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust

   

0.430%, 11/25/45 (a)

    210,160        192,775   

0.460%, 10/25/45 (a)

    1,281,120        1,173,922   

0.883%, 05/25/47 (a)

    545,849        465,749   

0.923%, 12/25/46 (a)

    125,524        117,554   

1.113%, 02/25/46 (a)

    218,235        205,683   

1.113%, 08/25/46 (a)

    8,982,413        7,552,314   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust

   

1.313%, 11/25/42 (a)

    26,277      $ 25,466   

2.163%, 07/25/46 (a)

    811,818        729,655   

2.163%, 11/25/46 (a)

    266,715        242,452   

2.374%, 12/25/35 (a)

    261,638        239,597   

5.142%, 08/25/35 (a)

    144,889        137,515   

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust

   

2.577%, 03/25/36 (a)

    186,203        180,175   

2.600%, 04/25/36 (a)

    1,098,731        1,073,790   

2.605%, 10/25/35 (a)

    23,338        23,417   

2.615%, 11/25/34 (a)

    255,868        259,036   

2.618%, 09/25/34 (a)

    466,823        475,350   

5.588%, 04/25/36 (a)

    422,276        422,941   
   

 

 

 
      70,440,878   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—0.9%

  

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

5.547%, 06/10/49 (a)

    1,100,000        1,179,983   

5.754%, 02/10/51 (a)

    855,317        932,367   

Banc of America Re-REMIC Trust

   

5.588%, 06/24/50 (144A) (a)

    1,596,839        1,696,354   

5.649%, 02/17/51 (144A) (a)

    918,742        966,994   

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates

   

3.156%, 07/10/46 (144A)

    2,125,134        2,147,484   

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates

   

5.383%, 02/15/40 (144A)

    1,182,310        1,230,640   

5.467%, 09/18/39 (144A) (a)

    1,523,260        1,587,156   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust

   

4.592%, 08/10/43 (144A)

    25,000        27,548   

Indus Eclipse plc

   

0.727%, 01/25/20 (GBP) (a)

    448,178        687,004   

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust

   

5.794%, 02/12/51 (a)

    1,500,000        1,625,475   

ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

5.700%, 09/12/49

    5,400,000        5,839,949   

RBSCF Trust

   

6.040%, 12/16/49 (144A) (a)

    2,362,010        2,497,377   

Vornado DP LLC

   

4.004%, 09/13/28 (144A)

    7,000,000        7,557,074   

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

0.241%, 06/15/20 (144A) (a)

    376,742        375,868   
   

 

 

 
      28,351,273   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $91,911,444)

      98,792,151   
   

 

 

 
Asset-Backed Securities—2.3%   
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Home Equity—0.2%

  

Asset Backed Funding Certificates

   

0.870%, 06/25/34 (a)

    561,286      $ 523,274   

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I Trust

   

1.170%, 10/25/37 (a)

    2,681,592        2,499,211   

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust

   

0.830%, 10/25/32 (a)

    17,231        16,342   

First NLC Trust

   

0.240%, 08/25/37 (144A) (a)

    1,423,028        798,916   

HSBC Home Equity Loan Trust

   

0.316%, 03/20/36 (a)

    1,137,466        1,128,563   

HSI Asset Securitization Corp. Trust

   

0.220%, 10/25/36 (a)

    8,080        4,417   

Soundview Home Loan Trust

   

0.230%, 11/25/36 (144A) (a)

    59,062        22,601   
   

 

 

 
      4,993,324   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Manufactured Housing—0.0%

  

Conseco Finance Securitizations Corp.

   

6.681%, 12/01/33 (a)

    32,096        32,092   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Other—1.6%

  

Aquilae CLO II plc

   

0.546%, 01/17/23 (EUR) (a)

    1,470,526        1,768,928   

Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust

   

0.490%, 10/25/35 (a)

    54,319        54,154   

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates

   

0.350%, 07/25/36 (a)

    3,055,727        2,993,751   

0.405%, 04/25/36 (a)

    134,740        133,389   

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC

   

0.289%, 07/25/37 (144A) (a)

    155,559        101,683   

CSAB Mortgage Backed Trust

   

5.720%, 09/25/36

    899,531        687,923   

Elm CLO, Ltd.

   

1.635%, 01/17/23 (144A) (a)

    300,000        299,700   

Equity One Mortgage Pass-Through Trust

   

0.470%, 04/25/34 (a)

    114,318        93,882   

Hillmark Funding, Ltd.

   

0.481%, 05/21/21 (144A) (a)

    12,051,717        11,916,943   

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust

   

0.230%, 03/25/47 (a)

    149,875        146,031   

Magi Funding plc

   

0.429%, 04/11/21 (144A) (EUR) (a)

    476,690        573,469   

Morgan Stanley IXIS Real Estate Capital Trust

   

0.220%, 11/25/36 (a)

    814        423   

Nautique Funding, Ltd.

   

0.481%, 04/15/20 (144A) (a)

    439,351        436,430   

NYLIM Flatiron CLO, Ltd.

   

0.452%, 08/08/20 (144A) (a)

    283,280        281,594   

OneMain Financial Issuance Trust

   

2.470%, 09/18/24 (144A)

    14,800,000        14,858,016   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*/
Notional
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

  

Park Place Securities, Inc.

   

0.430%, 09/25/35 (a)

    10,937      $ 10,890   

1.190%, 12/25/34 (a)

    929,901        931,346   

Penta CLO S.A.

   

0.398%, 06/04/24 (EUR) (a)

    3,138,152        3,761,828   

Small Business Administration Participation Certificates

   

5.510%, 11/01/27

    3,158,117        3,542,401   

Structured Asset Securities Corp. Trust

   

0.310%, 05/25/47 (a)

    3,200,000        3,067,274   

1.656%, 04/25/35 (a)

    460,319        443,613   

Symphony CLO, Ltd.

   

0.472%, 05/15/19 (144A) (a)

    2,850,795        2,830,785   

Wood Street CLO B.V.

   

0.433%, 03/29/21 (144A) (EUR) (a)

    265,817        319,763   
   

 

 

 
      49,254,216   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Student Loan—0.5%

  

College Loan Corp. Trust

   

0.484%, 01/25/24 (a)

    900,000        878,843   

North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority

   

0.684%, 10/26/20 (a)

    680,274        681,022   

SLM Student Loan Trust

   

0.244%, 10/25/17 (a)

    217,641        217,338   

0.734%, 10/25/17 (a)

    220,676        220,910   

1.734%, 04/25/23 (a)

    13,612,200        13,980,505   
   

 

 

 
      15,978,618   
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $67,702,680)

      70,258,250   
   

 

 

 
Floating Rate Loan (l)—0.2%   

Healthcare-Services—0.2%

   

Iasis Healthcare LLC

   

Term Loan B2, 4.500%, 05/03/18
(Cost $7,017,536)

    7,028,805        6,976,089   
   

 

 

 
Purchased Options—0.1%   

Interest Rate Swaptions—0.1%

   

Put - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap, Exercise Rate 2.683%, Expires 12/11/17 (Counterparty - Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC) (f)

    19,000,000        2,380,225   

Put - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap, Exercise Rate 3.045%, Expires 03/20/15 (Counterparty - Deutsche Bank AG) (f)

    82,800,000        465,584   
   

 

 

 

Total Purchased Options
(Cost $3,519,110)

      2,845,809   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stock—0.1%   
Security Description       
Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—0.1%

   

Wells Fargo & Co., Series L
7.500%, 12/31/49
(Cost $900,000)

    900      $ 1,085,400   
   

 

 

 
Municipals—0.0%                

Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority

   

7.467%, 06/01/47
(Cost $712,455)

    745,000        638,987   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—15.1%   

Commercial Paper—1.9%

   

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.

   

0.983%, 10/23/15 (i)

    33,750,000        33,748,183   

1.081%, 05/16/16 (i)

    14,000,000        14,000,000   

Itau Unibanco S.A. New York

   

1.150%, 06/04/15 (i)

    10,800,000        10,800,000   
   

 

 

 
      58,548,183   
   

 

 

 

Discount Note—0.0%

   

Federal Home Loan Bank

   

0.151%, 04/15/15 (i)

    500,000        499,783   
   

 

 

 

Foreign Government—3.4%

   

Greece Treasury Bills

  

 

1.607%, 01/16/15 (EUR) (i)

    1,400,000        1,692,693   

1.828%, 01/09/15 (EUR) (i)

    8,900,000        10,767,821   

Japan Treasury Bill

   

0.020%, 02/09/15 (JPY) (i)

    10,810,000,000        90,248,789   
   

 

 

 
      102,709,303   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—0.2%

   

U.S. Treasury Bills

   

0.031%, 02/19/15 (c) (i)

    70,000        69,998   

0.040%, 03/05/15 (c) (i) (j)

    253,000        252,982   

0.041%, 03/12/15 (c)( i)

    19,000        18,998   

0.045%, 04/23/15 (c) (d) (i) (j)

    1,575,000        1,574,780   

0.048%, 05/21/15 (c) (i) (j)

    1,306,000        1,305,760   

0.051%, 05/07/15 (c) (i) (j)

    121,000        120,979   

0.053%, 04/30/15 (c) (i)

    702,000        701,878   

0.062%, 05/14/15 (c) (i) (j)

    391,000        390,911   

0.066%, 05/28/15 (c) (i) (j)

    760,000        759,796   
   

 

 

 
      5,196,082   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Short-Term Investments—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Repurchase Agreements—9.6%

   

Barclays Capital, Inc. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/30/14 at 0.100% to be repurchased at $290,334,839 on 01/05/15 collateralized by $255,689,816 U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds with rates ranging from 1.375% - 3.875%, maturity dates ranging from 07/15/15 - 04/15/29 with a value of $294,211,930.

    290,330,000      $ 290,330,000   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/2014 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $1,341,596 on 01/02/15 collateralized by $1,390,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $1,370,590.

    1,341,596        1,341,596   
   

 

 

 
      291,671,596   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $463,673,374)

      458,624,947   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—147.5%
(Cost $4,736,815,031) (m)

      4,510,171,246   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(47.5)%

      (1,451,772,735
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 3,058,398,511   
   

 

 

 

 

  * Principal and notional amounts stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
  (a) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
  (b) All or a portion of this security has been transferred in a secured-borrowing transaction. (See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements)
  (c) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open swap contracts and open forward foreign currency exchange contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $19,129,747.
  (d) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open centrally cleared swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $16,475,033.
  (e) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $989,341.
  (f) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.5% of net assets.
  (g) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent less than 0.05% of net assets.
  (h) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $32,920,849, which is 1.1% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
  (i) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
  (j) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open secured borrowing transactions. As of December 31, 2014, the value of securities pledged amounted to $3,353,305.
  (k) Principal amount of security is adjusted for inflation.
  (l) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.
  (m) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $4,870,491,590. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $17,307,786 and $(377,628,130), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(360,320,344) for federal income tax purposes.
  (144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $249,517,704, which is 8.2% of net assets.
  (ARM)— Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
  (AUD)— Australian Dollar
  (BRL)— Brazilian Real
  (CAD)— Canadian Dollar
  (CLO)— Collateralized Loan Obligation
  (CMO)— Collateralized Mortgage Obligation
  (COP)— Colombian Peso
  (EUR)— Euro
  (GBP)— British Pound
  (JPY)— Japanese Yen
  (MXN)— Mexican Peso
  (NZD)— New Zealand Dollar
  (OTC)— Over the Counter
(REMIC)— Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

BellSouth Corp.

     04/16/14       $ 32,600,000       $ 33,776,534       $ 32,920,849   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

      

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     4,903,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15         $ 4,166,645       $ (163,837
AUD     15,654,000        

UBS AG Stamford

       01/05/15           12,801,215         (21,292
BRL     54,429,623        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           20,508,524         (32,404
BRL     83,295,026        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           31,358,718         (23,594
BRL     204,129,405        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           79,335,175         (2,542,832
BRL     2,375,372        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           913,253         (19,651
BRL     51,223,690        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           19,284,576         (14,510
BRL     5,370,038        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           2,021,699         (1,521
BRL     36,424,382        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           13,928,485         (225,836
BRL     59,193,465        

UBS AG Stamford

       01/05/15           22,285,018         (16,767
BRL     43,592,545        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/03/15           16,852,571         (580,997
BRL     29,046,613        

Credit Suisse International

       02/03/15           11,398,875         (556,789
BRL     36,424,382        

UBS AG Stamford

       07/02/15           13,197,240         (166,298
EUR     23,689,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           29,531,110         (866,231
EUR     437,361,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           536,029,642         (6,800,880
EUR     1,893,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           2,322,309         (31,684
GBP     9,814,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           15,246,049         50,062   
INR     3,904,647,832        

Citibank N.A.

       01/20/15           62,590,232         (928,135
JPY     8,731,800,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           72,313,043         585,605   
MXN     2,760,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       02/05/15           189,041         (2,321
MXN     1,471,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           107,869         (8,353
MXN     1,528,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           112,669         (9,297
MXN     1,682,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           123,316         (9,525
MXN     1,743,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           119,228         (1,310
MXN     2,463,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           182,202         (15,575
MXN     1,967,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/05/15           143,537         (10,465
MXN     1,689,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           115,024         (760
MXN     1,730,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           126,875         (9,837
MXN     2,068,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           150,917         (11,012
MXN     2,432,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           165,483         (953
MXN     6,186,000        

UBS AG Stamford

       02/05/15           435,683         (17,187
MXN     1,448,000        

Westpac Banking Corp.

       02/05/15           105,960         (8,000
MYR     61,606,419        

UBS AG Stamford

       01/20/15           18,990,881         (1,392,615
NZD     11,745,000        

Societe Generale Paris

       01/05/15           9,122,063         39,625   
PLN     39,076,577        

Societe Generale Paris

       01/30/15           11,637,272         (613,137

Contracts to Deliver

        
AUD     20,557,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15         $ 17,582,207       $ 799,475   
AUD     15,654,000        

UBS AG Stamford

       02/03/15           12,774,118         21,144   
BRL     32,981,061        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           12,416,633         9,342   
BRL     21,448,562        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           8,255,321         186,492   
BRL     25,047,395        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           10,525,000         1,102,310   
BRL     16,401,375        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           5,975,000         (195,106
BRL     14,671,733        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           6,169,000         649,576   
BRL     13,766,792        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           5,724,000         545,010   
BRL     10,794,993        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           4,579,000         517,984   
BRL     2,612,738        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           1,124,000         141,102   
BRL     166,101,158        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           62,533,378         47,050   
BRL     19,298,760        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           7,120,000         (140,086
BRL     18,729,488        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           6,775,000         (270,929
BRL     26,809,511        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           11,239,000         1,153,412   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

      

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
BRL     26,789,551        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15         $ 11,241,000         $ 1,162,920   
BRL     41,794,420        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           17,744,839           2,022,011   
BRL     36,424,382        

UBS AG Stamford

       01/05/15           13,918,373           215,724   
BRL     18,389,036        

UBS AG Stamford

       01/05/15           7,737,865           820,012   
BRL     4,380,046        

UBS AG Stamford

       01/05/15           1,886,000           238,251   
BRL     54,429,623        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       02/03/15           20,334,600           17,923   
BRL     18,575,000        

Citibank N.A.

       04/02/15           7,567,733           748,513   
BRL     204,129,405        

Deutsche Bank AG

       07/02/15           75,241,211           2,213,249   
BRL     2,375,372        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       07/02/15           866,134           16,337   
CAD     12,012,000        

Citibank N.A.

       03/03/15           10,355,080           29,692   
CAD     4,547,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       03/03/15           3,899,758           (8,795
COP     5,070,964,788        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       06/03/15           2,203,330           91,685   
EUR     10,038,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           12,478,780           332,296   
EUR     12,749,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           15,765,192           338,262   
EUR     11,676,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           14,445,302           316,756   
EUR     3,274,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           4,075,112           113,408   
EUR     425,206,000        

UBS AG Stamford

       01/05/15           528,193,019           13,672,417   
EUR     437,361,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/03/15           536,178,344           6,785,928   
GBP     563,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           882,143           4,651   
GBP     8,319,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           13,059,000           92,998   
GBP     932,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           1,462,593           9,977   
GBP     9,814,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/03/15           15,243,007           (49,615
HUF     4,393,604,300        

Credit Suisse International

       01/30/15           18,061,515           1,278,313   
JPY     5,368,500,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           45,366,583           546,914   
JPY     3,363,300,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           28,482,515           403,537   
JPY     8,731,800,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/03/15           72,331,014           (584,843
JPY     10,810,000,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/09/15           94,393,992           4,119,275   
MXN     72,988,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           5,354,520           416,726   
MXN     7,976,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           547,032           7,439   
MXN     5,604,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           411,439           32,316   
MXN     18,068,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/05/15           1,292,825           70,486   
MXN     42,049,000        

Credit Suisse International

       02/05/15           2,973,026           128,321   
MXN     36,451,000        

Credit Suisse International

       02/05/15           2,640,363           174,375   
MXN     129,957,914        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           9,189,825           397,895   
MYR     61,099,622        

UBS AG Stamford

       02/26/15           18,548,762           1,149,456   
NZD     11,745,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           9,165,899           4,211   
NZD     11,745,000        

Societe Generale Paris

       02/03/15           9,096,197           (40,328
                     

 

 

 
Net Unrealized Appreciation         $ 27,427,156   
                     

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         142        USD         20,482,186      $ 45,689   

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         603        USD         71,720,300        (5,698

Futures Contracts—Short

                                

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     06/15/15         (300     USD         (74,673,462     (288

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     09/14/15         (854     USD         (212,138,449     26,199   

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     12/14/15         (6     USD         (1,486,310     35   

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     03/14/16         (342     USD         (84,496,300     5,200   

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     06/13/16         (342     USD         (84,276,805     (545

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     09/19/16         (342     USD         (84,070,160     (6,265

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     12/19/16         (336     USD         (82,417,840     (11,360

Euro-Bund 10 Year Bond Futures

     03/06/15         (163     EUR         (24,974,721     (522,849

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         (597     USD         (75,637,255     (60,479
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Depreciation

  

  $ (530,361
            

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Written Options

 

Foreign Currency
Written Options

  Strike
Price
 

Counterparty

 

Expiration Date

  Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Call - OTC - USD vs BRL

  BRL2.68   Deutsche Bank AG   07/01/15     (9,530,000   $ (227,100   $ (581,406   $ (354,306

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

  INR64.50   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   03/09/15     (12,600,000     (144,270     (124,324     19,946   

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

  INR65.00   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   03/10/15     (10,500,000     (123,112     (82,352     40,760   

Put - OTC - USD vs INR

  INR58.50   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   03/09/15     (12,600,000     (20,790     (542     20,248   
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (515,272   $ (788,624   $ (273,352
         

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Inflation Capped Options

  Strike
Index
  Counterparty  

Exercise Index

  Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Cap - CPI-U Index

  4.000   JPMorgan Chase
Bank N.A.
  Maximum of [(Final Index/Initial Index) - (1 + 4.000%)10]or 0     04/22/24      $ (35,000,000   $ (254,625   $ (68,764   $ 185,861   

Cap - CPI-U Index

  4.000   JPMorgan Chase
Bank N.A.
  Maximum of [(Final Index/Initial Index) - (1 + 4.000%)10]or 0     05/16/24        (2,800,000     (19,460     (5,701     13,759   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  0.000   Deutsche Bank
AG
  Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)10 - [(Final Index/Initial Index)] or 0     01/22/18        (4,500,000     (43,650     (30,433     13,217   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  0.000   BNP Paribas
S.A.
  Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)10 - [(Final Index/Initial Index)] or 0     03/01/18        (3,500,000     (30,100     (13,783     16,317   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  216.687   Citibank N.A.   Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)10 - [(Final Index/Initial Index)] or 0     04/07/20        (49,000,000     (436,720     (11,515     425,205   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  217.965   Citibank N.A.   Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)10 - [(Final Index/Initial Index)] or 0     09/29/20        (4,700,000     (60,630     (1,325     59,305   
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (845,185   $ (131,521   $ 713,664   
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate
Swaptions

  Strike
Rate
 

Counterparty

 

Floating Rate
Index

  Pay/
Receive
Floating
Rate
  Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Put - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.750%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     02/18/15        USD        (41,000,000   $ (218,423   $ (23,903   $ 194,520   

Put - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.750%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     02/18/15        USD        (73,800,000     (391,480     (43,025     348,455   

Call - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.300%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Receive     02/18/15        USD        (41,000,000     (186,275     (347,803     (161,528

Call - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.300%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Receive     02/18/15        USD        (73,800,000     (352,495     (626,045     (273,550

Call - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.545%   Deutsche Bank AG   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Receive     03/20/15        USD        (82,800,000     (1,057,419   $ (1,048,082     9,337   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.500%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     12/11/17        USD        (79,800,000     (2,660,000     (2,563,575     96,425   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (4,866,092   $ (4,652,433   $ 213,659   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Credit Default
Swaptions

  Strike
Rate
 

Counterparty

 

Reference
Obligation

  Buy/Sell
Protection
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.200%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        01/21/15        EUR        (7,000,000)      $ (17,344)      $ (42)      $ 17,302   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.100%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        01/21/15        EUR        (2,900,000)        (7,317)        (55)        7,262   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.900%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit CDX North America Investment Grade, Series 22     Sell        01/21/15        USD        (5,100,000)        (7,497)        (75)        7,422   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.000%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        01/21/15        EUR        (5,400,000)        (14,866)        (298)        14,568   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.900%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        01/21/15        EUR        (3,300,000)        (5,153)        (517)        4,636   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Written Options—(Continued)

 

Credit Default
Swaptions

  Strike
Rate
 

Counterparty

 

Floating Rate Index

  Buy/Sell
Protection
    Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.000%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        01/21/15        EUR        (9,500,000)      $ (26,668)      $ (525)      $ 26,143   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.900%   BNP Paribas S.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        01/21/15        EUR        (5,200,000)        (8,797)        (815)        7,982   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.550%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Buy        02/18/15        EUR        (2,500,000)        (2,194)        (2,356)        (162)   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.850%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        02/18/15        EUR        (2,500,000)        (5,014)        (2,369)        2,645   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Buy        01/21/15        EUR        (3,300,000)        (5,874)        (3,888)        1,986   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.550%   Citibank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Buy        02/18/15        EUR        (5,300,000)        (3,989)        (4,995)        (1,006)   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.850%   Citibank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        02/18/15        EUR        (5,300,000)        (10,804)        (5,022)        5,782   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   BNP Paribas S.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Buy        01/21/15        EUR        (5,200,000)        (10,100)        (6,127)        3,973   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.550%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Buy        02/18/15        EUR        (6,600,000)        (7,917)        (6,220)        1,697   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.850%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Sell        02/18/15        EUR        (6,600,000)        (12,008)        (6,253)        5,755   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Buy        01/21/15        EUR        (5,400,000)        (6,569)        (6,362)        207   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22     Buy        01/21/15        EUR        (9,500,000)        (13,334)        (11,193)        2,141   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (165,445)      $ (57,112)      $ 108,333   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Options on Exchange-Traded Futures Contracts

   Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
     Number
of Contracts
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Put - U.S. Treasury Note 10-Year Futures

   $ 126.000         02/20/15         (538   $ (319,271   $ (319,438   $ (167
          

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Swap Agreements

OTC Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

 

Floating
Rate Index

  Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
 

Counterparty

  Notional
Amount
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Pay

  1-Year BRL CDI     11.680   01/04/21   Credit Suisse International     BRL        23,600,000      $ (75,184   $ (13,904   $ (61,280

Pay

  1-Year BRL CDI     12.230   01/04/21   Deutsche Bank AG     BRL        26,700,000        102,591        212,555        (109,964

Pay

  1-Year BRL CDI     11.680   01/04/21   Deutsche Bank AG     BRL        27,100,000        (86,334     (19,154     (67,180

Pay

  1-Year BRL CDI     11.680   01/04/21   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     BRL        32,200,000        (102,582     (15,721     (86,861

Receive

  1-Year BRL CDI     12.000   01/04/21   Deutsche Bank AG     BRL        20,600,000        1,709        (112,301     114,010   

Pay

  28-Day MXN TIIE     5.630   10/11/21   UBS AG Stamford     MXN        700,700,000        (385,021     171,981        (557,002

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     1.800   01/17/16   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        10,100,000        (205,331     (3,260     (202,071

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     1.730   04/15/16   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     USD        167,700,000        (4,076,024     (199,939     (3,876,085

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     1.940   10/07/16   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        29,500,000        (800,160            (800,160

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     1.860   11/05/16   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        32,300,000        (795,057            (795,057

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     1.845   11/29/16   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        16,400,000        (398,768            (398,768

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     1.825   11/29/16   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        22,200,000        (526,203     (9,106     (517,097

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     1.930   02/10/17   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        9,300,000        (219,278            (219,278

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA     2.415   02/12/17   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     USD        39,500,000        (1,991,611     21,811        (2,013,422

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

OTC Interest Rate Swap Agreements—(Continued)

 

Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

 

Floating
Rate Index

  Fixed
Rate
  Maturity
Date
 

Counterparty

  Notional
Amount
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   1.908%   04/15/17   Barclays Bank plc     USD        12,300,000      $ (371,323   $      $ (371,323

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   1.942%   04/15/17   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     USD        101,400,000        (3,205,930            (3,205,930

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   2.250%   07/15/17   BNP Paribas S.A.     USD        10,400,000        (536,962     11,440        (548,402

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   2.018%   08/19/17   Barclays Bank plc     USD        39,600,000        (1,220,982     (11,377     (1,209,605

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   2.315%   11/16/17   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        12,700,000        (689,910            (689,910

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   2.175%   10/01/18   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     USD        43,400,000        (1,735,273     42,961        (1,778,234

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   2.173%   11/01/18   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        21,800,000        (866,254            (866,254

Receive

  3-Month USD CPURNSA   2.560%   05/08/23   Deutsche Bank AG     USD        12,300,000        (1,035,729            (1,035,729

Pay

  6-Month AUD BBR   4.000%   06/18/19   UBS AG Stamford     AUD        23,500,000        1,127,115        52,556        1,074,559   

Receive

  EUR-EXT-CPI   0.900%   11/15/19   Goldman Sachs International     EUR        6,500,000        (124,728     8,427        (133,155

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.125%   12/10/24   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     GBP        4,500,000        56,716        5,939        50,777   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.100%   12/11/24   Credit Suisse International     GBP        400,000        3,299        6,366        (3,067

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.170%   12/15/24   BNP Paribas S.A.     GBP        12,100,000        247,559        5,566        241,993   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.528%   09/23/44   Credit Suisse International     GBP        3,300,000        259,827        (23,811     283,638   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.528%   09/23/44   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     GBP        3,900,000        307,069        5,820        301,249   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.500%   10/15/44   Citibank N.A.     GBP        3,600,000        217,677        (122,059     339,736   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.500%   10/15/44   Credit Suisse International     GBP        7,200,000        435,355        2,835        432,520   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.500%   10/15/44   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     GBP        2,500,000        151,165        (15,524     166,689   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.550%   11/15/44   Credit Suisse International     GBP        600,000        53,077        (947     54,024   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.550%   11/15/44   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     GBP        700,000        61,923        3,206        58,717   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.550%   12/11/44   BNP Paribas S.A.     GBP        2,100,000        180,459        14,723        165,736   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.550%   12/11/44   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     GBP        500,000        42,966        865        42,101   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.510%   12/15/44   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     GBP        2,400,000        141,953               141,953   

Pay

  1-Month GBP UKRPI   3.450%   12/15/44   Goldman Sachs Bank USA     GBP        3,900,000        76,245        (698     76,943   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (15,981,939   $ 19,250      $ (16,001,189
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
   Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE      5.630     10/11/21         MXN         368,800,000       $ (463,691

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE      5.660     11/09/21         MXN         194,000,000         (84,700

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE      5.560     11/11/21         MXN         22,600,000         (19,235

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE      5.750     12/06/21         MXN         92,700,000         34,633   

Receive

   3-Month USD-LIBOR      3.000     12/17/24         USD         10,700,000         (371,848

Receive

   3-Month USD-LIBOR      2.750     06/19/43         USD         7,700,000         (547,733

Receive

   3-Month USD-LIBOR      3.500     12/18/43         USD         46,200,000         (9,540,656

Receive

   3-Month USD-LIBOR      3.500     12/17/44         USD         14,100,000         (1,850,988

Receive

   6-Month EURIBOR      2.000     01/29/24         EUR         54,600,000         (7,542,062

Receive

   6-Month EURIBOR      1.000     12/17/24         EUR         26,100,000         (584,511

Receive

   6-Month EURIBOR      2.000     03/18/45         EUR         48,600,000         (8,445,039

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements—(Continued)

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
   Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Receive

   6-Month GBP-LIBOR      2.078     12/04/24         GBP         47,200,000       $ (1,621,312

Receive

   6-Month GBP-LIBOR      2.750     03/18/25         GBP         15,700,000         (429,984

Receive

   6-Month JPY-LIBOR      1.000     09/18/23         JPY         230,000,000         (60,643
                

 

 

 

Total

                 $ (31,527,769
                

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreements—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

   Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
     Maturity
Date
     Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
     Notional
Amount(c)
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Markit CDX North America Investment Grade, Series 23

     1.000%         12/20/19         0.662%         USD         31,400,000       $ (41,447)   

Markit CDX North America High Yield, Series 23

     5.000%         12/20/19         3.559%         USD         30,000,000         (45,675)   

Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22

     1.000%         12/20/24         1.013%         EUR         3,500,000         1,908   
                 

 

 

 

Totals

  

   $ (85,214)   
                 

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate and Sovereign Issues—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. 1.900%, due 01/31/17

    1.000%        12/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     0.527%        USD        5,100,000      $ 115,862      $ 103,714      $ 12,148   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 03/06/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      Deutsche Bank AG     1.681%        USD        12,000,000        (327,428)        (605,335)        277,907   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 03/06/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     1.681%        USD        16,900,000        (461,128)        (860,195)        399,067   

Greece Government International Bond
1.000%, due 06/20/15

    1.000%        06/20/15      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     15.635%        EUR        1,700,000        (134,489)        (78,898)        (55,591)   

Indonesia Government International Bond
6.880%, due 03/09/17

    1.000%        12/20/19      Goldman Sachs Bank USA     1.516%        USD        6,300,000        (152,157)        (144,809)        (7,348)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      Citibank N.A.     4.827%        USD        2,200,000        (306,119)        (183,683)        (122,436)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 03/31/30

    1.000%        09/20/19      Goldman Sachs Bank USA     4.793%        USD        1,300,000        (196,740)        (71,524)        (125,216)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 03/31/30

    1.000%        09/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     4.793%        USD        700,000        (105,937)        (39,145)        (66,792)   

South Africa Government International Bond
5.500%, due 03/09/20

    1.000%        12/20/19      Citibank N.A.     1.832%        USD        7,300,000        (282,713)        (280,132)        (2,581)   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (1,850,849)      $ (2,160,007)      $ 309,158   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) If the Portfolio is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Portfolio will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(b) Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate issues or indices as of period end serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced entity or obligation.
(c) The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted payments that the Portfolio could be required to make under a credit default swap contract would be the notional amount of the contract. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the referenced debt obligation or net amounts received from the settlement of purchased protection credit default swap contracts entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced debt obligation.
(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(BBR)— Bank Bill Rate
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CDI)— Brazil Interbank Deposit Rate
(COP)— Colombian Peso
(CPI-U)— USA-Non-Revised Consumer Price Index-Urban
(CPURNSA)— U.S. Consumer Price All Urban Non-Seasonally Adjusted
(EUR)— Euro
(EURIBOR)— Euro Interbank Offered Rate
(EXT-CPI)— Excluding Tobacco–Non-revised Consumer Price Index
(FRCPXTOB)— France Consumer Price Ex-Tobacco Index
(GBP)— British Pound
(HUF)— Hungarian Forint
(INR)— Indian Rupee
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(MYR)— Malaysian Ringgit
(NZD)— New Zealand Dollar
(PLN)— Polish Zloty
(TIIE)— Tasa de Interès Interbancaria de Equilibio
(UKRPI)— United Kingdom Retail Price Index
(USD)— United States Dollar

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $ —        $ 3,092,912,439      $ —         $ 3,092,912,439   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          514,089,640        —           514,089,640   
Corporate Bonds & Notes          

Banks

     —          199,341,372        873,789         200,215,161   

Electric

     —          11,822,756        —           11,822,756   

Home Builders

     —          7,537,500        —           7,537,500   

Oil & Gas

     —          7,624,000        —           7,624,000   

Telecommunications

     —          32,920,849        —           32,920,849   

Transportation

     —          3,827,268        —           3,827,268   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes

     —          263,073,745        873,789         263,947,534   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —          98,792,151        —           98,792,151   

Total Asset-Backed Securities*

     —          70,258,250        —           70,258,250   

Total Floating Rate Loan*

     —          6,976,089        —           6,976,089   

Total Purchased Options*

     —          2,845,809        —           2,845,809   

Total Convertible Preferred Stock*

     1,085,400        —          —           1,085,400   

Total Municipals

     —          638,987        —           638,987   
Short-Term Investments          

Commercial Paper

     —          58,548,183        —           58,548,183   

Discount Note

     —          499,783        —           499,783   

Foreign Government

     —          102,709,303        —           102,709,303   

U.S. Treasury

     —          5,196,082        —           5,196,082   

Repurchase Agreements

     —          291,671,596        —           291,671,596   

Total Short-Term Investments

     —          458,624,947        —           458,624,947   

Total Investments

   $ 1,085,400      $ 4,508,212,057      $ 873,789       $ 4,510,171,246   
                                   

Secured Borrowings (Liability)

   $ —        $ (2,818,456,190   $ —         $ (2,818,456,190
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 43,820,463      $ —         $ 43,820,463   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (16,393,307     —           (16,393,307

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 27,427,156      $ —         $ 27,427,156   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 77,123      $ —        $ —         $ 77,123   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (607,484     —          —           (607,484

Total Futures Contracts

   $ (530,361   $ —        $ —         $ (530,361
Written Options          

Credit Default Swaptions at Value

   $ —        $ (57,112   $ —         $ (57,112

Foreign Currency Written Options at Value

     —          (788,624     —           (788,624

Inflation Capped Options at Value

     —          (131,521     —           (131,521

Interest Rate Swaptions at Value

     —          (4,652,433     —           (4,652,433

Options on Exchange-Traded Futures Contracts at Value

     (319,438     —          —           (319,438

Total Written Options

   $ (319,438   $ (5,629,690   $ —         $ (5,949,128
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 36,541      $ —         $ 36,541   

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (31,649,524     —           (31,649,524

Total Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts

   $ —        $ (31,612,983   $ —         $ (31,612,983
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $ —        $ 3,582,567      $ —         $ 3,582,567   

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

     —          (21,415,355     —           (21,415,355

Total OTC Swap Contracts

   $ —        $ (17,832,788   $ —         $ (17,832,788

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

  Balance as of
December 31,
2013
    Accrued
Discounts/
(Premiums)
    Realized
Gain
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
    Purchases     Sales     Balance as of
December 31,
2014
    Change in Unrealized
Appreciation from
Investments Still Held at
December 31, 2014
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes                

Banks

  $ —        $ 504      $ 24,626      $ 4,352      $ 1,216,525      $ (372,218   $ 873,789      $ 4,352   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

Investments at value (a)

$ 4,510,171,246   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (b)

  3,860,880   

Cash collateral (c)

  2,208,000   

OTC swap contracts at market value (d)

  3,582,567   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

  43,820,463   

Receivable for:

Investments sold

  1,356,144,183   

Open OTC swap contracts cash collateral

  1,130,000   

Fund shares sold

  655,252   

Principal paydowns

  1,744   

Interest

  22,743,090   

Variation margin on futures contracts

  130,593   

Deferred dollar roll income

  2,330,741   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

  207,193   

Prepaid expenses

  8,405   

Other assets

  390,546   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

  5,947,384,903   

Liabilities

Due to custodian

  599,591   

Written options at value (e)

  5,949,128   

Secured borrowings

  2,818,456,190   

OTC swap contracts at market value (f)

  21,415,355   

Cash collateral for OTC swap contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts

  22,631,000   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

  16,393,307   

Payables for:

Open OTC swap contracts cash collateral

  490,000   

Fund shares redeemed

  463,775   

Variation margin on swap contracts

  536,917   

Accrued Expenses:

Management fees

  1,226,551   

Distribution and service fees

  313,433   

Deferred trustees’ fees

  67,424   

Other expenses

  443,721   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

  2,888,986,392   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

$ 3,058,398,511   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

Paid in surplus

$ 3,349,858,981   

Undistributed net investment income

  120,828,622   

Accumulated net realized loss

  (164,643,021

Unrealized depreciation on investments, written options, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

  (247,646,071
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

$ 3,058,398,511   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

Class A

$ 1,579,713,611   

Class B

  1,437,015,313   

Class E

  41,669,587   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

Class A

  156,828,218   

Class B

  143,596,704   

Class E

  4,157,114   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

Class A

$ 10.07   

Class B

  10.01   

Class E

  10.02   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $4,736,815,031.
(b) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $4,025,882.
(c) Includes collateral of $857,000 for futures contracts and $1,351,000 for centrally cleared swap contracts.
(d) Net premium paid on OTC swap contracts was $138,805.
(e) Premiums received on written options were $6,711,265.
(f) Net premium received on OTC swap contracts was $2,279,562.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

Dividends

$ 67,500   

Interest (a)

  95,984,177   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

  96,051,677   
  

 

 

 

Expenses

Management fees

  15,268,001   

Administration fees

  75,280   

Custodian and accounting fees

  768,339   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

  3,849,308   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

  68,704   

Interest expense

  1,646,815   

Audit and tax services

  123,516   

Legal

  34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

  43,760   

Shareholder reporting

  203,931   

Insurance

  21,626   

Miscellaneous

  27,325   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

  22,130,924   

Less management fee waiver

  (64,889
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

  22,066,035   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

  73,985,642   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

Net realized gain (loss) on:

Investments

  (16,887,260

Futures contracts

  1,886,607   

Written options

  7,373,529   

Swap contracts

  (4,558,426

Foreign currency transactions

  71,847,266   
  

 

 

 
Net realized gain   59,661,716   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:

Investments

  4,317,201   

Futures contracts

  3,104,884   

Written options

  (1,979,613

Swap contracts

  (56,430,495

Foreign currency transactions

  20,425,184   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

  (30,562,839
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

  29,098,877   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

$ 103,084,519   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $12,189.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

     73,985,642      $ 24,941,781   

Net realized gain

     59,661,716        31,583,608   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (30,562,839     (397,276,805
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     103,084,519        (340,751,416
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (32,181,909     (38,778,159

Class B

     (23,767,735     (39,507,606

Class E

     (749,414     (1,439,192

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     0        (92,280,355

Class B

     0        (105,520,314

Class E

     0        (3,658,670
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (56,699,058     (281,184,296
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     (361,979,912     265,074,852   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (315,594,451     (356,860,860

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     3,373,992,962        3,730,853,822   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 3,058,398,511      $ 3,373,992,962   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 120,828,622      $ 49,723,806   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     6,566,365      $ 66,924,709        31,780,025      $ 333,464,689   

Reinvestments

     3,195,820        32,181,909        11,979,754        131,058,514   

Redemptions

     (27,002,968     (273,994,258     (12,071,370     (128,685,404
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (17,240,783   $ (174,887,640     31,688,409      $ 335,837,799   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     6,462,259      $ 65,831,832        16,133,362      $ 172,366,442   

Reinvestments

     2,372,030        23,767,735        13,317,532        145,027,920   

Redemptions

     (26,536,811     (269,293,171     (36,151,639     (377,009,503
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (17,702,522   $ (179,693,604     (6,700,745   $ (59,615,141
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     340,389      $ 3,481,380        598,602      $ 6,457,554   

Reinvestments

     74,717        749,414        467,694        5,097,862   

Redemptions

     (1,143,507     (11,629,462     (2,167,447     (22,703,222
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (728,401   $ (7,398,668     (1,101,151   $ (11,147,806
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (361,979,912     $ 265,074,852   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Statement of Cash Flows

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

  

Net increase in net assets from operations

   $ 103,084,519   

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:

  

Investments purchased

     (2,482,967,566

Proceeds from investments sold

     2,196,441,246   

Sales of short-term investments, net

     1,871,118,815   

Net amortization/accretion of premium (discount)

     (34,899,490

Premium received on open written options, net

     9,040,810   

Increase in interest receivable

     (6,347,356

Decrease in cash collateral, asset

     2,399,500   

Decrease in OTC swap contracts at market value, asset

     1,213,208   

Increase in unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     (32,658,629

Increase in receivable for investments sold

     (1,356,144,183

Increase in receivable for swap cash collateral

     (1,130,000

Decrease in receivable for principal paydowns

     2,086   

Decrease in receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts

     2,104,896   

Increase in receivable for variation margin on futures contracts

     (130,593

Increase in receivable for deferred dollar roll income, asset

     (1,370,722

Increase in interest receivable on OTC swap contracts

     (207,193

Decrease in other assets and prepaid expenses

     20,414   

Increase in OTC swap contracts at market value, liability

     14,263,957   

Increase in cash collateral, liability

     17,387,000   

Increase in unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     11,591,325   

Decrease in payable for investments purchased

     (757,365

Increase in payable for swap cash collateral

     490,000   

Decrease in payable for variation margin on futures contracts

     (403,103

Increase in payable for variation margin on swap contracts

     536,917   

Decrease in interest payable on OTC swap contracts

     (16,484

Decrease in accrued management fees

     (121,091

Decrease in accrued distribution and service fees

     (34,344

Increase in deferred trustees’ fees

     13,540   

Increase in other expenses

     125,621   

Net realized loss from investments and written options

     9,513,731   

Net change in unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments and written options

     (2,337,588
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 319,821,878   
  

 

 

 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

  

Proceeds from shares sold, including decrease in receivable for shares sold

     136,797,105   

Payment on shares redeemed, including decrease in payable for shares redeemed

     (556,277,824

Increase in due to custodian bank

     596,019   

Proceeds from issuance of reverse repurchase agreements

     59,201,019   

Repayment of reverse repurchase agreements

     (59,201,019

Proceeds from secured borrowings

     21,551,317,938   

Repayment of secured borrowings

     (21,451,163,147
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

   $ (318,729,909
  

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and foreign currency (a)

   $ 1,091,969   
  

 

 

 

Cash and cash in foreign currency at beginning of year

   $ 2,768,911   
  

 

 

 

Cash and cash in foreign currency at end of year

   $ 3,860,880   
  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

  

Non cash financing activities included herein consist of reinvestment of dividends and distributions:

   $ 56,699,058   
  

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest and fees on borrowings:

   $ 1,646,815   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on foreign currency of $(137,410).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                 
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.95      $ 11.83      $ 11.91       $ 11.43       $ 11.17   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (a)

     0.24        0.09        0.20         0.24         0.16   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.07        (1.07     0.85         1.02         0.71   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.31        (0.98     1.05         1.26         0.87   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.19     (0.27     (0.40      (0.22      (0.30

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00        (0.63     (0.73      (0.56      (0.31
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.19     (0.90     (1.13      (0.78      (0.61
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.07      $ 9.95      $ 11.83       $ 11.91       $ 11.43   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     3.08  (c)      (8.98     9.33         11.48         8.00   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.56        0.55        0.58         0.51         0.51   

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.51        0.50        0.50         0.50         0.51   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.56        0.55        0.58         0.51         0.51   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%) (d)

     0.51        0.50        0.50         0.50         0.51   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.39        0.83        1.70         2.07         1.38   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     43        44  (e)      53         458         527   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,579.7      $ 1,731.8      $ 1,685.0       $ 1,576.3       $ 1,273.4   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.88      $ 11.76      $ 11.84       $ 11.38       $ 11.13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (a)

     0.22        0.06        0.17         0.21         0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.07        (1.07     0.85         1.01         0.71   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.29        (1.01     1.02         1.22         0.84   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.16     (0.24     (0.37      (0.20      (0.28

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00        (0.63     (0.73      (0.56      (0.31
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.16     (0.87     (1.10      (0.76      (0.59
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.01      $ 9.88      $ 11.76       $ 11.84       $ 11.38   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     2.89        (9.27     9.13         11.14         7.76   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.81        0.80        0.83         0.76         0.76   

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.76        0.75        0.75         0.75         0.76   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.81        0.80        0.83         0.76         0.76   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%) (d)

     0.76        0.75        0.75         0.75         0.76   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.14        0.58        1.46         1.83         1.13   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     43        44  (e)      53         458         527   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,437.0      $ 1,593.8        1,975.4       $ 1,786.3       $ 1,391.6   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                 
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 9.90      $ 11.78      $ 11.85       $ 11.39       $ 11.13   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (a)

     0.23        0.07        0.18         0.22         0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.06        (1.07     0.86         1.00         0.71   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.29        (1.00     1.04         1.22         0.85   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.17     (0.25     (0.38      (0.20      (0.28

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00        (0.63     (0.73      (0.56      (0.31
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.17     (0.88     (1.11      (0.76      (0.59
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

$ 10.02    $ 9.90    $ 11.78    $ 11.85    $ 11.39   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     2.89  (c)      (9.17     9.22         11.18         7.90   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.71        0.70        0.73         0.66         0.66   

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.66        0.65        0.65         0.65         0.66   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.71        0.70        0.73         0.66         0.66   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%) (d)

     0.66        0.65        0.65         0.65         0.66   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     2.24        0.68        1.54         1.91         1.24   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     43        44  (e)      53         458         527   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 41.7      $ 48.4      $ 70.5       $ 61.9       $ 52.8   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Generally accepted accounting principles may require adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Portfolio at period end for financial reporting purposes, and as such, the net asset values for shareholder transactions and the returns based on those net asset values may differ from the returns reported in the portfolio manager commentary section of this report.
(d) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(e) Includes mortgage dollar roll and TBA transactions; excluding these transactions the portfolio turnover rate would have been 39% for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946- Financial Services- Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to futures, options and swap transactions, foreign currency transactions, paydown reclasses, premium amortization adjustments, deferred deflation adjustments and treasury rolls. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $291,671,596, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into reverse repurchase agreements with qualified institutions. In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Portfolio transfers securities in exchange for cash to a financial institution or counterparty, concurrently with an agreement by the Portfolio to re-acquire the same securities at an agreed upon price and date. During the reverse repurchase agreement period, the Portfolio continues to receive principal and interest payments on these securities. The Portfolio will establish a segregated account with its custodian in which it will maintain liquid assets equal in value to its obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of the securities transferred by the Portfolio may decline below the agreed-upon reacquisition price of the securities. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any reverse repurchase transaction, the MRA entitles the non-defaulting party with a right to set-off claims and apply property held by it in respect of any reverse repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it. Cash received in exchange for securities transferred under reverse repurchase agreements plus accrued interest payments to be made by the Portfolio to counterparties are reflected as Reverse repurchase agreements on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had an outstanding reverse repurchase agreement balance for 31 days. The average amount of borrowings was $30,289,695 and the weighted average interest rate was 0.08% during the 31 day period. There were no outstanding reverse repurchase agreements as of December 31, 2014.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Secured Borrowing Transactions - The Portfolio may enter into transactions consisting of a transfer of a security by the Portfolio to a financial institution or counterparty, with a simultaneous agreement to reacquire the same, or substantially the same security, at an agreed-upon price and future settlement date. Such transactions are treated as secured borrowings, and not as purchases and sales. The Portfolio receives cash from the transfer of the security to use for other investment purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into secured borrowing transactions involving U.S. Treasury securities. During the term of the borrowing, the Portfolio is not entitled to receive principal and interest payments, if any, made on the security transferred to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. The difference between the transfer price and the reacquisition price, known as the “price drop”, is included in net investment income with the cost of the secured borrowing transaction being recorded as interest expense over the term of the borrowing. The agreed-upon proceeds for securities to be reacquired by the Portfolio are reflected as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio’s average amount of borrowings was $1,068,824,714 and the weighted average interest rate was 0.149%. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had an outstanding secured borrowing transaction balance for 365 days.

At December 31, 2014, the amount of the Portfolio’s outstanding borrowings was $2,818,456,190. Securities in the amount of $3,353,305 have been pledged as collateral under the terms of the Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreement (“MSFTA”) as of December 31, 2014. The MSFTA is a master netting agreement (“MNA”) which provides both parties with the rights to set-off in the event of default by either party. The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s secured borrowings by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under the MSFTA and net of the related collateral pledged or received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014:

 

Counterparty

   Payable for
Secured
Borrowings
    Financial
Instruments
Available
for Offset(a)
     Collateral
Pledged(b)
     Net Amount(c)  

Barclays Capital Inc.

     $   (725,510,748)      $ 721,919,128       $ 3,353,305       $ (238,315

BNP Paribas

     (1,233,568,093     1,226,097,225                 (7,470,868

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     (859,377,349     846,992,806                 (12,384,543
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (2,818,456,190   $ 2,795,009,159       $ 3,353,305       $ (20,093,726
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (a) Represents market value of borrowings as of December 31, 2014.
  (b) Under the terms of the MSFTA agreement, the Portfolio and the counterparties are not permitted to sell, repledge, or use the collateral associated with the transaction.
  (c) Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default. Exposure from borrowings and other financing transactions can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same legal entity.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls - The Portfolio may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Portfolio sells to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon, and maturity) securities on a specified future date. For the duration of the transaction, or roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal (including prepayments of principal) and interest paid on the securities sold. Dollar rolls are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions; gain or loss is recognized at the commencement of the term of the dollar roll and each time the mortgage-backed security is rolled.

Secured borrowing transactions and mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Portfolio is required to reacquire may be less than the agreed-upon repurchase price of those securities and that the investment performance of securities purchased with proceeds from these transactions does not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities transferred or sold, as applicable, as part of the secured borrowing transaction or mortgage dollar roll.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

TBA Purchase & Forward Sale Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into TBA commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA commitments are considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases prior to settlement date, which is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the Portfolio’s other assets. TBA forward sale commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities, according to the procedures described under “Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements”.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Short Sales - The Portfolio may enter into a “short sale” of securities in circumstances in which, at the time the short position is open, the Portfolio owns an equal amount of the securities sold short or owns preferred stocks or debt securities, convertible or exchangeable without payment of further consideration, into an equal number of securities sold short. This kind of short sale, which is referred to as one “against the box,” may be entered into by the Portfolio to, for example, lock in a sale price for a security the Portfolio does not wish to sell immediately.

The Portfolio may also make short sales of a security it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the Portfolio must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Portfolio then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold short by the Portfolio. Until the security is replaced, the Portfolio is required to pay to the lender any dividends or interest which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Portfolio also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold short. Until the Portfolio replaces a borrowed security, the Portfolio will segregate with its custodian, or set aside in the Portfolio’s records, cash or other liquid assets at such a level that (i) the amount segregated, or set aside, plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

sold short and (ii) the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time it was sold short. The proceeds received from a short sale are recorded as a liability. The Portfolio will realize a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Portfolio replaces the borrowed security. Conversely, the Portfolio will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. The latter result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the Portfolio may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. No more than one third of the Portfolio’s net assets will be, when added together: (i) deposited as collateral for the obligation to replace securities borrowed to effect short sales; and (ii) segregated in connection with short sales.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

The purpose of inflation-capped options is to protect the buyer from inflation, above a specified rate, eroding the value of investments in inflation-linked products with a given notional exposure. Inflation-capped options are used to give downside protection to investments in inflation-linked products by establishing a floor on the value of such products.

Options on swaps (“swaptions”) are similar to options on securities except that instead of selling or purchasing the right to buy or sell a security, the writer or purchaser of the swaptions is granting or buying the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default swap agreement (interest rate risk and/or credit risk) at any time before the expiration of the option.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults of corporate and/or sovereign issuers, or to create exposure to corporate and/or sovereign issuers to which they are not otherwise exposed. Credit default swaps involve one party making a stream of payments (referred to as the buyer of protection) to another party (the seller of protection) in exchange for the right to receive a specified return if a credit event occurs for the referenced entity, obligation or index. A credit event is defined under the terms of each swap agreement and may include, but is not limited to, underlying entity default, bankruptcy, write-down, principal shortfall or interest shortfall. As the seller of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either pay the buyer an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). In return, the Portfolio would receive from the counterparty an upfront or periodic stream of payments throughout the life of the credit default swap agreement provided that no credit event has occurred. As the seller of protection, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the credit default swap.

The Portfolio may also purchase credit default swap contracts in order to hedge against the risk of default of debt securities held in its portfolio. This would involve the risk that the investment may be worthless when it expires and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve credit risk, whereby the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Portfolio in the event of a default. As the buyer of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). If no credit event occurs and the Portfolio is a buyer of protection, the Portfolio will typically recover nothing under the credit default swap agreement, but it will have had to pay the required upfront payment or stream of continuing payments under the credit default swap agreement. Recovery values are at times established through the credit event auction process in which market participants are ensured that a transparent price has been set for the defaulted obligation.

Credit default swap agreements on credit indices involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising the credit index. A credit index is a basket of credit instruments or exposures designed to be representative of some part of the credit market as a whole. An index credit default swap references all the names in the index, and if there is a credit event involving an entity in the index, the credit event is settled based on that entity’s weight in the index. A Portfolio may use credit default swaps on credit indices as a hedge for credit default swaps or bonds held in the portfolio, which is less expensive than it would be to buy many individual credit default swaps to achieve similar effect. Credit default swaps on indices are benchmarks for protecting investors owning bonds against default, and may be used to speculate on changes in credit quality.

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on a credit index or corporate or sovereign issuer, serve as some indication of the status of the payment/performance risk and the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity or index also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads generally represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

event occurring as defined under the terms of the particular swap agreement. When no implied credit spread is available for a credit default swap, the current unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the position may be used as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Portfolio as a seller of protection could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. Notional amounts of all credit default swap agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2014, for which the Portfolio is the seller of protection, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced entity or entities.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

Asset Swaps: Asset swaps combine an interest rate swap with a bond and are used to alter the cash flow profile of a bond. Asset swaps can be used to transform the cash flow characteristics of referenced assets, so that the Portfolio can hedge the currency, credit, and interest rate risks to create synthetic investments with more suitable cash flow characteristics. An asset swap involves transactions in which a Portfolio acquires or sells a bond position and then enters into an interest rate swap which transforms the fixed coupon of the bond into a floating coupon.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Investments at market value (a)      2,845,809         
   OTC swap contracts at market value (b)    $ 3,466,705       OTC swap contracts at market value (b)    $ 19,448,644   
   Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts (c)**      34,633       Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts (c)**      31,562,402   
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts *(c)      77,123       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts *(c)      607,484   
         Written options at value (d)      5,103,392   
Credit    OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      115,862       OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      1,966,711   
   Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts **(c)      1,908       Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts **(c)      87,122   
         Written options at value      57,112   
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      43,820,463       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      16,393,307   
         Written options at value      788,624   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 50,362,503          $ 76,014,798   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of investments as shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (b) Excludes OTC swap interest receivable of $207,193.
  (c) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.
  (d) Includes exchange traded written option with a value of $319,438 that is not subject to a master netting agreement.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 4,691,618       $ (2,217,362   $ (2,474,256   $   

BNP Paribas S.A.

     1,070,407         (1,070,407              

Citibank N.A.

     9,892,394         (9,099,849     (430,000     362,545   

Credit Suisse International

     5,928,461         (850,673     (4,890,000     187,788   

Deutsche Bank AG

     2,880,245         (2,880,245              

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     3,181,682         (3,181,682              

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     2,726,975         (932,506     (1,740,000     54,469   

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC

     2,593,313         (2,593,313              

Societe Generale Paris

     39,625         (39,625              

UBS AG Stamford

     17,244,119         (1,999,180     (12,550,000     2,694,939   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 50,248,839       $ (24,864,842   $ (22,084,256   $ 3,299,741   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
    Net Amount**  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 2,217,362       $ (2,217,362   $      $   

BNP Paribas S.A.

     1,458,643         (1,070,407     (300,973     87,263   

Citibank N.A.

     9,099,849         (9,099,849              

Credit Suisse International

     850,673         (850,673              

Deutsche Bank AG

     10,613,835         (2,880,245     (7,733,590       

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     11,525,557         (3,181,682     (8,343,875       

Goldman Sachs International

     131,560                (131,560       

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     932,506         (932,506              

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC

     3,930,844         (2,593,313     (1,246,797     90,734   

Societe Generale Paris

     670,343         (39,625     (630,718       

UBS AG Stamford

     1,999,180         (1,999,180              

Westpac Banking Corp.

     8,000                       8,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 43,438,352       $ (24,864,842   $ (18,387,513   $ 185,997   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Credit     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Investments (a)

   $ (2,011,067   $      $       $ (2,011,067

Forward foreign currency transactions

                   75,076,661         75,076,661   

Futures contracts

     1,886,607                       1,886,607   

Swap contracts

     (3,933,241     (625,185             (4,558,426

Written options

     5,262,200        661,379        1,449,950         7,373,529   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1,204,499      $ 36,194      $ 76,526,611       $ 77,767,304   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   Interest
Rate
    Credit      Foreign
Exchange
    Total  

Investments (a)

   $ (418,779   $       $      $ (418,779

Forward foreign currency transactions

                    21,067,304        21,067,304   

Futures contracts

     3,104,884                       3,104,884   

Swap contracts

     (58,465,958     2,035,463                (56,430,495

Written options

     (1,814,594     108,333         (273,352     (1,979,613
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ (57,594,447   $ 2,143,796       $ 20,793,952      $ (34,656,699
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 56,663,785   

Forward foreign currency transactions

     2,128,160,762   

Futures contracts long

     266,754,167   

Futures contracts short

     (150,179,900

Swap contracts

     1,255,728,132   

Written options

     608,737,321   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Statement of Operations.

Written Options

The Portfolio transactions in written options during the year December 31, 2014:

 

Call Options

   Notional
Amount
     Number of
Contracts
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

     245,000,000               $ 792,822   

Options written

     568,748,000         445         4,353,370   

Options bought back

                       

Options exercised

     (150,324,000      (445      (1,058,281

Options expired

     (357,594,000              (1,673,178
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

     305,830,000               $ 2,414,733   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Put Options

   Notional
Amount
     Number of
Contracts
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

     957,100,000         205       $ 4,251,162   

Options written

     885,158,000         538         6,091,290   

Options bought back

     (69,600,000              (500,963

Options exercised

     (23,800,000              (157,680

Options expired

     (1,427,158,000      (205      (5,387,277
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

     321,700,000         538       $ 4,296,532   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements (“MSFTA”) govern the considerations and factors surrounding the settlement of certain forward settling transactions, such as To-Be-Announced securities and delayed-delivery or secured borrowings transactions by and between the Portfolio and select counterparties. The MSFTA maintain provisions for, among other things, initiation and confirmation, payment and transfer, events of default, termination, and maintenance of collateral.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government    Non U.S. Government
$1,541,283,300    $ 823,258,164       $1,287,813,247    $391,550,901

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended

December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$15,268,001      0.500   First $1.2 billion
     0.450   Over $1.2 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Pacific Investment Management Company LLC is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets  
0.025%    Over $ 3 Billion   

An identical agreement was in place for the period January 1, 2014 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$56,699,058      278,481,724       $       $ 2,702,572       $ 56,699,058       $ 281,184,296   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Other Accumulated
Capital Losses
    Total  
$148,806,676    $       $ (408,594,673   $ (31,605,048   $ (291,393,045

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no pre-enactment capital loss carryforwards, no post-enactment short-term capital losses and post-enactment long-term capital losses of $31,605,048.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of the PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations and the statement of cash flows for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

PIMCO Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Pacific Investment Management Co. LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Index, for the one-, three-, and five- year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Adviser was in the final stages of negotiating reductions to the Portfolio’s sub-advisory fee schedule, and that the Adviser intended to waive a corresponding portion of its advisory fees in order for contractholders to benefit from the lower sub-advisory fees and that those changes would be presented to the Board in February 2015 to be effective later in 2015.

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the PIMCO Total Return Portfolio returned 4.49%, 4.19%, and 4.34%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index1, returned 5.97%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Both uncertainty and volatility increased at the start of 2014 amid geopolitical tensions and weak economic data. An uncharacteristically cold winter took a toll on economic data in the U.S., resulting in a weak first quarter U.S. gross domestic product rate of -2.9%. On the global front, rising geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine at the outset of the year led to volatile swings in financial markets, particularly in equities. The situation calmed in the months following as Russia acknowledged the legitimacy of the newly elected Ukrainian President and continued to engage in cease-fire negotiations.

Central banks across the globe continued their accommodative stance during the first half of the year. Despite the weak first quarter, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) continued tapering its asset purchases and remained on track to conclude its purchases by year-end. The Fed also took considerable steps to strengthen its forward guidance on the policy rate. In Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s first statement in March, the Fed dropped references to a 6.5% unemployment target and placed greater emphasis on inflation and other “measures of labor market conditions” as more appropriate barometers for determining the timing of the first interest rate hike. In Europe, the European Central Bank (the “ECB”) announced new easing measures, including a historic negative rate on deposits, policy rate cut, and targeted long-term refinancing operations to spur business lending.

Financial markets, despite the volatility early on, ended the first half of the year in positive territory. Improving global economic data in the second quarter, supportive central banks, and easing of global political risks led to sizable market gains overall with the S&P 500 Index hitting an all-time high. Global fixed income markets also posted strong returns with the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index returning 5.97%, benefitting from rate declines across most maturities and investors beginning to embrace the view that policy rates would remain lower than historical norms suggested.

Far from the typical summer lull, the third quarter was marked by geopolitical tension and diverging markets. Most developed market government yields were led lower by easy central bank policies, while credit market yields backed up. Equity markets somersaulted their way to modest gains in the U.S., but were flat or slightly negative in many other regions as economic data varied. U.S. growth became more sure-footed, but the eurozone recovery sputtered and growth decelerated in parts of Asia. In addition to headline volatility around central bank actions and the Scottish independence referendum, geopolitical tensions flared in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Evidence of global growth divergence was further borne out in the final quarter of 2014, but the most defining event of the quarter was the sharp decline in oil prices and accompanying market volatility. Growth in the U.S. exceeded expectations and handily outpaced its peers in the developed world, especially Japan and Europe, which continued to struggle. Meanwhile, oil prices plunged nearly 40% as still weak global growth brought concerns about oil demand and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)’s decision not to cut production led to a supply glut. The uneven growth and drop in oil led to bouts of market volatility that dissipated quickly but still managed to leave certain risk sectors bruised. Core bonds in developed markets rallied over the quarter as weak growth and lower oil prices kept many central banks in easing mode.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Tactical duration and curve positioning, including an underweight to longer-dated maturities implemented through the use of cash bonds and pay-fixed interest rate swaps, was negative for the Portfolio’s performance as the U.S. yield curve flattened in 2014. Tactical exposure to select developed European countries such as Italy and Spain, however, added to returns as yields fell over the period in these regions. An underweight to Investment Grade Corporate securities during the year was positive for returns, as spreads widened and the sector underperformed like-duration Treasuries. An allocation to non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) was positive for performance as the sector continued to benefit from the ongoing housing recovery.

Exposure to high yield financial bonds added slightly to performance despite unfavorable market behavior; as yield capture and security selection outweighed the impact of general spread widening. Exposure to emerging local interest rates in Mexico contributed to Portfolio performance as rates rallied throughout the year. Additionally, exposure to Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) was negative for returns relative to nominal Treasuries as breakeven inflation levels (the difference between nominal and real yields) narrowed over the year. An allocation to emerging market external debt detracted from returns, as spreads generally widened throughout the period. Finally, modest exposure to Build America Bonds was positive for Portfolio performance, as this sector outperformed like-duration Treasuries over the year.

At period end, the Portfolio was positioned slightly below benchmark-level duration, concentrating exposure on the front-end of the yield curve while maintaining an underweight position to longer maturity securities. The Portfolio maintained TIPS exposure on the 10 – 20 year segment of the real yield curve as current break-even levels underprice the potential for secular inflation.

With regard to credit, the Portfolio maintained an overall underweight to Corporate Spread, favoring other spread sectors, but will seek to participate in select compelling corporate opportunities identified through bottom-up credit analysis. Within Agency MBS,

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

the Portfolio is focused on security selection to capitalize on relative value opportunities within the coupon stack. At year end, the Portfolio continued to hold non-Agency MBS positions as a source of additional yield. Non-U.S. exposures in the Portfolio were focused on Canada, Mexico, Italy, and Spain. Within Emerging Markets, the Portfolio is focused on Mexico and Brazil, which are high quality credits that offer high real interest rates. At period end, we retained the Portfolio’s exposure to high quality Municipal Bonds that offer attractive yields. We continued to maintain an overall neutral currency stance as long as central bank actions continue to drive high levels of volatility.

Scott Mather

Mark Kiesel

Mihir Worah

Portfolio Managers

Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. AGGREGATE BOND INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
PIMCO Total Return Portfolio                 

Class A

       4.49           4.76           5.70   

Class B

       4.19           4.50           5.44   

Class E

       4.34           4.60           5.54   
Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index        5.97           4.45           4.71   

1 The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      45.5   
Corporate Bonds & Notes      24.8   
Foreign Government      15.7   
Asset-Backed Securities      6.6   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      4.7   
Municipals      3.9   
Floating Rate Loans      0.6   
Convertible Preferred Stocks      0.6   
Convertible Bonds      0.5   
Preferred Stocks      0.4   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.52    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,012.60         $ 2.64   
   Hypothetical*      0.52    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.58         $ 2.65   

Class B

   Actual      0.77    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,011.10         $ 3.90   
   Hypothetical*      0.77    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.32         $ 3.92   

Class E

   Actual      0.67    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,011.80         $ 3.40   
   Hypothetical*      0.67    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.83         $ 3.41   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—45.5% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—20.3%

  

Fannie Mae 10 Yr. Pool
2.310%, 08/01/22

    8,200,000      $ 8,139,559   

3.000%, 12/01/20

    247,405        258,117   

3.000%, 02/01/21

    725,008        756,536   

3.000%, 08/01/21

    519,664        542,308   

3.000%, 11/01/21

    134,087        139,944   

3.000%, 03/01/22

    579,979        605,325   

3.000%, 05/01/22

    1,903,508        1,986,729   

3.240%, 07/01/22

    22,722,234        23,891,099   

3.330%, 11/01/21

    1,514,946        1,593,126   

3.500%, 07/01/20

    238,624        252,375   

3.500%, 01/01/21

    1,187,182        1,255,871   

3.500%, 06/01/21

    451,067        477,082   

3.500%, 07/01/21

    348,734        368,913   

3.500%, 09/01/21

    411,889        435,756   

3.500%, 09/01/23

    366,574        388,147   

4.000%, 05/01/19

    22,938        24,292   

4.500%, 03/01/18

    85,558        89,912   

4.500%, 07/01/18

    79,574        83,595   

4.500%, 11/01/18

    28,023        29,451   

4.500%, 12/01/18

    21,900        23,014   

4.500%, 05/01/19

    748,329        786,737   

5.500%, 11/01/17

    89,747        94,826   

5.500%, 09/01/18

    188,218        199,030   

5.500%, 10/01/18

    84,140        88,998   

Fannie Mae 15 Yr. Pool
2.870%, 09/01/27

    7,300,000        7,254,214   

3.000%, 12/01/27

    3,643,204        3,793,337   

3.000%, 01/01/28

    248,480        258,572   

3.000%, 08/01/28

    612,172        637,320   

3.000%, 09/01/28

    877,687        916,123   

3.000%, 01/01/29

    992,558        1,032,872   

3.000%, 03/01/29

    4,975,787        5,177,882   

3.000%, 04/01/29

    1,422,145        1,479,906   

3.000%, 05/01/29

    44,222        46,019   

3.000%, 06/01/29

    609,559        634,316   

3.000%, 08/01/29

    1,004,164        1,044,949   

3.000%, 09/01/29

    915,422        952,603   

3.000%, 10/01/29

    988,561        1,028,713   

3.000%, 11/01/29

    93,569        97,369   

3.000%, TBA (a)

    66,000,000        68,477,581   

3.500%, 10/01/25

    517,300        547,867   

3.500%, 10/01/26

    386,994        410,395   

3.500%, 12/01/26

    517,947        548,147   

3.500%, 08/01/27

    489,339        517,899   

3.500%, 07/01/29

    245,781        260,933   

3.500%, TBA (a)

    66,000,000        69,722,809   

4.000%, 07/01/18

    6,228        6,595   

4.000%, 08/01/18

    2,594        2,748   

4.000%, 09/01/18

    1,382        1,464   

4.000%, 05/01/19

    1,346,324        1,426,362   

4.000%, 07/01/19

    631,598        669,164   

4.000%, 08/01/20

    386,801        410,004   

4.000%, 03/01/22

    74,658        79,133   

4.000%, 04/01/24

    81,956        87,307   

4.000%, 05/01/24

    3,249,047        3,461,445   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 15 Yr. Pool
4.000%, 06/01/24

    3,627,752      3,864,886   

4.000%, 07/01/24

    35,138        37,442   

4.000%, 02/01/25

    1,160,628        1,236,625   

4.000%, 06/01/25

    402,967        430,509   

4.000%, 07/01/25

    10,916        11,622   

4.000%, 08/01/25

    1,129,198        1,206,555   

4.000%, 09/01/25

    66,418        70,969   

4.000%, 12/01/25

    401,666        427,783   

4.000%, 02/01/26

    288,289        308,723   

4.000%, 03/01/26

    59,562        63,782   

4.000%, 06/01/26

    51,538        54,767   

4.500%, 12/01/17

    1,179        1,238   

4.500%, 03/01/18

    274,756        288,620   

4.500%, 04/01/18

    423,237        444,568   

4.500%, 06/01/18

    1,258,118        1,321,722   

4.500%, 07/01/18

    638,248        670,633   

4.500%, 08/01/18

    6,759        7,115   

4.500%, 10/01/18

    24,737        25,991   

4.500%, 11/01/18

    1,567,278        1,647,249   

4.500%, 12/01/18

    410,526        431,531   

4.500%, 02/01/19

    256,992        270,487   

4.500%, 05/01/19

    477,211        502,753   

4.500%, 06/01/19

    247,534        260,775   

4.500%, 11/01/19

    254,603        268,192   

4.500%, 12/01/19

    323,929        341,172   

4.500%, 08/01/20

    447,270        472,905   

4.500%, 09/01/20

    677,705        714,280   

4.500%, 10/01/20

    26,341        27,881   

4.500%, 12/01/20

    491,883        519,493   

4.500%, 01/01/22

    28,791        30,269   

4.500%, 02/01/23

    363,400        390,466   

4.500%, 03/01/23

    738,138        787,180   

4.500%, 05/01/23

    72,057        77,447   

4.500%, 06/01/23

    4,525        4,867   

4.500%, 01/01/24

    12,292        12,912   

4.500%, 04/01/24

    112,801        121,313   

4.500%, 05/01/24

    367,686        397,309   

4.500%, 08/01/24

    77,817        83,692   

4.500%, 10/01/24

    521,513        563,510   

4.500%, 11/01/24

    121,038        130,532   

4.500%, 02/01/25

    948,676        1,018,814   

4.500%, 03/01/25

    654,780        707,584   

4.500%, 04/01/25

    469,354        507,240   

4.500%, 05/01/25

    1,148,746        1,232,868   

4.500%, 06/01/25

    124,556        134,108   

4.500%, 07/01/25

    4,777,088        5,163,110   

4.500%, 08/01/25

    179,601        194,128   

4.500%, 09/01/25

    340,234        367,626   

4.500%, 11/01/25

    238,932        258,403   

4.500%, 04/01/26

    18,051        19,484   

4.500%, 01/01/27

    250,002        263,836   

5.500%, 12/01/17

    3,749        3,960   

5.500%, 01/01/18

    108,999        115,132   

5.500%, 02/01/18

    837,611        884,721   

5.500%, 11/01/18

    3,070        3,244   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 15 Yr. Pool
5.500%, 09/01/19

    102,731      $ 108,520   

5.500%, 09/01/20

    19,478        21,295   

5.500%, 12/01/20

    3,039        3,214   

5.500%, 03/01/22

    221,993        242,672   

5.500%, 04/01/22

    165,597        176,029   

5.500%, 07/01/22

    169,941        184,524   

5.500%, 09/01/22

    86,002        93,911   

5.500%, 10/01/22

    682,082        749,414   

5.500%, 11/01/22

    178,265        195,068   

5.500%, 12/01/22

    196,110        214,150   

5.500%, 02/01/23

    197,144        211,797   

5.500%, 03/01/23

    31,878        35,039   

5.500%, 07/01/23

    14,206        15,487   

5.500%, 08/01/23

    79,284        85,053   

5.500%, 10/01/23

    112,634        121,398   

5.500%, 11/01/23

    36,702        38,813   

5.500%, 12/01/23

    66,765        73,399   

5.500%, 01/01/24

    19,566        21,513   

5.500%, 03/01/24

    120,580        132,514   

5.500%, 09/01/24

    97,267        103,546   

5.500%, 01/01/25

    1,597,351        1,753,806   

5.500%, 05/01/25

    423,057        454,506   

6.000%, 03/01/17

    5,321        5,361   

6.000%, 04/01/17

    5,476        5,667   

6.000%, 06/01/17

    4,254        4,417   

6.000%, 07/01/17

    14,442        14,957   

6.500%, 04/01/16

    6,512        6,638   

6.500%, 06/01/16

    3,355        3,433   

6.500%, 07/01/16

    12,015        12,374   

6.500%, 08/01/16

    719        738   

6.500%, 09/01/16

    4,931        5,095   

6.500%, 10/01/16

    10,184        10,540   

6.500%, 02/01/17

    6,582        6,813   

6.500%, 07/01/17

    16,158        16,201   

6.500%, 10/01/17

    4,907        5,155   

Fannie Mae 20 Yr. Pool
4.000%, 04/01/29

    103,783        111,758   

4.000%, 05/01/29

    340,918        367,119   

4.000%, 03/01/30

    213,591        230,064   

4.000%, 05/01/30

    314,223        338,856   

4.000%, 08/01/30

    285,104        306,998   

4.000%, 09/01/30

    168,679        181,633   

4.000%, 10/01/30

    7,613        8,200   

4.000%, 11/01/30

    793,559        855,063   

4.000%, 12/01/30

    109,409        117,868   

4.000%, 06/01/31

    15,659        16,742   

4.000%, 09/01/31

    421,754        454,688   

4.000%, 11/01/31

    75,442        81,341   

4.500%, 01/01/25

    19,184        20,819   

4.500%, 04/01/31

    84,868        92,656   

5.000%, 05/01/23

    226,801        250,395   

5.000%, 05/01/24

    271,750        300,020   

5.000%, 01/01/25

    194,907        215,184   

5.000%, 09/01/25

    59,073        65,229   

5.000%, 11/01/25

    71,484        78,930   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 20 Yr. Pool
5.000%, 12/01/25

    470,131      519,040   

5.000%, 01/01/26

    133,581        147,477   

5.000%, 03/01/26

    103,324        114,086   

5.000%, 02/01/27

    9,833        10,856   

5.000%, 05/01/27

    280,341        309,505   

5.000%, 07/01/27

    12,882        14,222   

5.000%, 08/01/27

    7,335        8,116   

5.000%, 03/01/28

    28,804        31,800   

5.000%, 04/01/28

    887,362        979,677   

5.000%, 05/01/28

    1,058,116        1,168,194   

5.000%, 06/01/28

    3,232,893        3,569,984   

5.000%, 01/01/29

    118,568        130,942   

5.000%, 05/01/29

    543,125        605,007   

5.000%, 07/01/29

    160,338        177,018   

5.000%, 12/01/29

    46,139        51,116   

5.500%, 02/01/19

    17,630        19,700   

5.500%, 06/01/23

    334,562        373,890   

5.500%, 07/01/24

    15,363        17,170   

5.500%, 01/01/25

    15,943        17,821   

5.500%, 02/01/25

    4,519        5,050   

5.500%, 03/01/25

    1,071,030        1,211,213   

5.500%, 08/01/25

    99,450        112,252   

5.500%, 10/01/25

    7,168        8,009   

5.500%, 11/01/25

    17,541        19,604   

5.500%, 03/01/26

    128,008        143,195   

5.500%, 05/01/26

    3,643        4,071   

5.500%, 06/01/26

    685,002        765,442   

5.500%, 11/01/26

    64,131        71,662   

5.500%, 01/01/27

    92,172        103,012   

5.500%, 06/01/27

    19,242        21,636   

5.500%, 07/01/27

    353,933        395,495   

5.500%, 08/01/27

    160,264        179,148   

5.500%, 10/01/27

    232,716        260,356   

5.500%, 11/01/27

    63,546        71,008   

5.500%, 12/01/27

    467,801        523,046   

5.500%, 01/01/28

    165,486        185,041   

5.500%, 03/01/28

    87,174        97,639   

5.500%, 04/01/28

    258,874        289,968   

5.500%, 05/01/28

    99,289        111,099   

5.500%, 06/01/28

    29,571        33,130   

5.500%, 07/01/28

    15,136        16,960   

5.500%, 09/01/28

    213,931        239,462   

5.500%, 10/01/28

    36,784        41,127   

5.500%, 12/01/28

    13,422        14,998   

5.500%, 01/01/29

    199,068        222,674   

5.500%, 07/01/29

    197,876        221,855   

5.500%, 10/01/29

    389,526        436,680   

5.500%, 04/01/30

    417,488        470,477   

6.000%, 08/01/18

    5,716        6,471   

6.000%, 12/01/18

    144,542        163,650   

6.000%, 02/01/19

    9,704        10,986   

6.000%, 06/01/22

    940,028        1,064,290   

6.000%, 09/01/22

    221,433        250,770   

6.000%, 10/01/22

    144,314        163,391   

6.000%, 01/01/23

    239,327        271,015   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 20 Yr. Pool
6.000%, 06/01/26

    18,675      $ 21,167   

6.000%, 08/01/26

    25,270        28,627   

6.000%, 12/01/26

    22,070        25,019   

6.000%, 07/01/27

    73,283        83,070   

6.000%, 11/01/27

    15,892        18,024   

6.000%, 09/01/28

    152,636        173,585   

6.000%, 10/01/28

    72,609        82,519   

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool
4.000%, 05/01/34

    270,288        289,519   

4.000%, 05/01/35

    236,769        253,472   

4.000%, 01/01/41

    925,730        997,538   

4.000%, 03/01/41

    529,349        570,048   

4.000%, 05/01/41

    588,374        633,982   

4.000%, 05/01/42

    255,500        274,403   

4.000%, 12/01/43

    997,964        1,070,204   

4.000%, TBA (a)

    217,000,000        231,594,096   

4.500%, 04/01/39

    1,575,193        1,728,234   

4.500%, 05/01/39

    155,902        170,264   

4.500%, 06/01/39

    64,705        70,591   

4.500%, 08/01/39

    54,445        59,167   

4.500%, 12/01/39

    15,573        17,174   

4.500%, 05/01/40

    72,311        78,935   

4.500%, 09/01/40

    64,441        70,565   

4.500%, 10/01/40

    1,147,301        1,245,056   

4.500%, 12/01/40

    109,028        118,546   

4.500%, 02/01/41

    569,346        620,449   

4.500%, 04/01/41

    221,035        240,160   

4.500%, 05/01/41

    32,528        35,581   

4.500%, 06/01/41

    2,436,503        2,663,842   

4.500%, 07/01/41

    20,446        22,402   

4.500%, 09/01/41

    1,640,291        1,788,187   

4.500%, 10/01/41

    6,434,102        6,990,439   

4.500%, 03/01/42

    85,226        93,146   

4.500%, 06/01/42

    121,183        132,128   

4.500%, 07/01/42

    2,057,706        2,237,487   

4.500%, 11/01/43

    28,413        31,349   

4.500%, TBA (a)

    324,000,000        351,528,767   

5.000%, 03/01/32

    3,950        4,363   

5.000%, 09/01/32

    2,590        2,861   

5.000%, 10/01/32

    1,152        1,272   

5.000%, 04/01/33

    91,869        101,426   

5.000%, 07/01/33

    214,769        238,942   

5.000%, 08/01/33

    4,888        5,445   

5.000%, 09/01/33

    3,654        4,095   

5.000%, 10/01/33

    38,319        42,713   

5.000%, 11/01/33

    1,034        1,151   

5.000%, 01/01/34

    205,266        228,349   

5.000%, 04/01/34

    258,813        288,456   

5.000%, 06/01/34

    4,924        5,513   

5.000%, 12/01/34

    43,081        47,681   

5.000%, 01/01/35

    160,342        178,714   

5.000%, 04/01/35

    120        134   

5.000%, 07/01/35

    169,681        187,334   

5.000%, 09/01/35

    67,473        74,808   

5.000%, 10/01/35

    49,651        53,585   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool
5.000%, 08/01/36

    26,972      29,075   

5.000%, 12/01/36

    7,489        8,073   

5.000%, 01/01/38

    326,181        361,545   

5.000%, 01/01/39

    14,803        16,362   

5.000%, 04/01/39

    56,394        62,699   

5.000%, 10/01/39

    17,146        19,080   

5.000%, 11/01/39

    45,170        50,491   

5.000%, 06/01/40

    55,466        61,590   

5.000%, 11/01/42

    234,931        261,011   

5.000%, TBA (a)

    145,000,000        160,099,509   

5.500%, 12/01/28

    34,578        38,726   

5.500%, 06/01/33

    109,609        123,553   

5.500%, 07/01/33

    17,750        19,991   

5.500%, 09/01/33

    325,218        366,376   

5.500%, 11/01/33

    251,310        280,830   

5.500%, 12/01/33

    2,647        2,980   

5.500%, 04/01/34

    24,991        27,969   

5.500%, 07/01/34

    51,646        58,275   

5.500%, 08/01/34

    379,870        426,790   

5.500%, 09/01/34

    31,156        34,949   

5.500%, 11/01/34

    724,115        814,408   

5.500%, 12/01/34

    1,775,713        1,994,978   

5.500%, 01/01/35

    612,396        688,305   

5.500%, 02/01/35

    864,860        971,923   

5.500%, 03/01/35

    952,959        1,069,499   

5.500%, 04/01/35

    214,453        239,636   

5.500%, 05/01/35

    326,793        367,007   

5.500%, 06/01/35

    518,347        581,679   

5.500%, 08/01/35

    348,125        392,692   

5.500%, 09/01/35

    5,318,933        5,957,950   

5.500%, 10/01/35

    1,075,059        1,205,155   

5.500%, 11/01/35

    2,672,306        3,002,949   

5.500%, 12/01/35

    2,375,682        2,662,435   

5.500%, 01/01/36

    2,681,177        2,998,921   

5.500%, 02/01/36

    4,199        4,712   

5.500%, 03/01/36

    585,991        656,786   

5.500%, 04/01/36

    10,180        11,398   

5.500%, 05/01/36

    2,989,548        3,349,412   

5.500%, 06/01/36

    1,999,088        2,235,244   

5.500%, 07/01/36

    2,318,785        2,605,968   

5.500%, 09/01/36

    359,635        404,066   

5.500%, 10/01/36

    15,442        17,278   

5.500%, 11/01/36

    298,408        334,433   

5.500%, 12/01/36

    835,300        935,291   

5.500%, 01/01/37

    138,262        154,607   

5.500%, 02/01/37

    283,229        316,700   

5.500%, 03/01/37

    58,184        65,016   

5.500%, 04/01/37

    4,880,223        5,455,139   

5.500%, 05/01/37

    710,223        794,264   

5.500%, 06/01/37

    1,830        2,044   

5.500%, 07/01/37

    14,841        16,583   

5.500%, 08/01/37

    3,553,748        3,981,852   

5.500%, 01/01/38

    14,509        16,222   

5.500%, 02/01/38

    1,717,684        1,919,825   

5.500%, 03/01/38

    2,869,678        3,244,813   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool
5.500%, 05/01/38

    6,694,749      $ 7,486,162   

5.500%, 06/01/38

    31,099,046        34,752,035   

5.500%, 09/01/38

    23,646        26,423   

5.500%, 10/01/38

    1,793,555        2,007,259   

5.500%, 11/01/38

    2,705,004        3,023,560   

5.500%, 12/01/38

    8,796,054        9,859,076   

5.500%, 01/01/39

    149,184        168,332   

5.500%, 07/01/39

    22,778        25,472   

5.500%, 08/01/39

    337,238        376,952   

5.500%, 09/01/39

    22,296        24,939   

5.500%, 11/01/39

    5,681,555        6,348,739   

5.500%, 12/01/39

    8,219        9,194   

5.500%, 02/01/40

    946,299        1,057,695   

5.500%, 03/01/40

    2,234,194        2,497,853   

5.500%, 06/01/40

    199,205        222,848   

5.500%, 09/01/40

    839,942        938,576   

5.500%, 12/01/40

    300,297        337,170   

5.500%, 07/01/41

    10,435,599        11,661,078   

5.500%, TBA (a)

    8,000,000        8,948,750   

6.000%, 12/01/28

    75,863        86,399   

6.000%, 01/01/29

    37,958        43,543   

6.000%, 02/01/29

    183,967        210,968   

6.000%, 04/01/29

    5,786        6,635   

6.000%, 06/01/29

    7,365        8,446   

6.000%, 11/01/32

    54,691        62,018   

6.000%, 01/01/33

    24,940        28,498   

6.000%, 02/01/33

    34,398        39,260   

6.000%, 03/01/33

    33,149        37,941   

6.000%, 04/01/33

    22,661        26,010   

6.000%, 05/01/33

    34,458        39,508   

6.000%, 07/01/33

    35,433        40,680   

6.000%, 08/01/33

    80,253        90,917   

6.000%, 01/01/34

    107,636        122,881   

6.000%, 09/01/34

    83,558        95,002   

6.000%, 11/01/34

    16,244        18,546   

6.000%, 04/01/35

    1,495,206        1,709,211   

6.000%, 05/01/35

    65,388        74,688   

6.000%, 06/01/35

    8,231        9,327   

6.000%, 07/01/35

    114,987        130,833   

6.000%, 09/01/35

    21,657        24,675   

6.000%, 11/01/35

    703,175        799,256   

6.000%, 12/01/35

    271,224        308,428   

6.000%, 01/01/36

    217,573        247,670   

6.000%, 02/01/36

    512,894        581,714   

6.000%, 03/01/36

    169,602        192,148   

6.000%, 04/01/36

    54,131        61,575   

6.000%, 05/01/36

    1,223,571        1,388,504   

6.000%, 06/01/36

    143,469        162,853   

6.000%, 07/01/36

    1,584,925        1,799,469   

6.000%, 08/01/36

    4,679,305        5,317,751   

6.000%, 09/01/36

    1,571,820        1,786,969   

6.000%, 10/01/36

    753,180        854,120   

6.000%, 11/01/36

    416,742        473,202   

6.000%, 12/01/36

    3,989,650        4,533,313   

6.000%, 01/01/37

    3,909,458        4,447,795   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool
6.000%, 02/01/37

    2,357,594      2,677,478   

6.000%, 03/01/37

    539,460        612,697   

6.000%, 04/01/37

    1,315,698        1,494,308   

6.000%, 05/01/37

    3,709,982        4,215,399   

6.000%, 06/01/37

    433,359        491,556   

6.000%, 07/01/37

    463,167        525,948   

6.000%, 08/01/37

    804,460        913,293   

6.000%, 09/01/37

    1,322,408        1,501,609   

6.000%, 10/01/37

    304,624        345,505   

6.000%, 11/01/37

    150,858        171,990   

6.000%, 12/01/37

    483,703        549,211   

6.000%, 01/01/38

    460,204        522,788   

6.000%, 02/01/38

    1,146,103        1,299,457   

6.000%, 03/01/38

    23,187        26,648   

6.000%, 04/01/38

    49,922        56,643   

6.000%, 05/01/38

    262,412        297,554   

6.000%, 06/01/38

    19,046        21,566   

6.000%, 07/01/38

    1,908,159        2,165,675   

6.000%, 08/01/38

    36,911        41,892   

6.000%, 09/01/38

    1,770,199        2,019,031   

6.000%, 10/01/38

    4,224,736        4,795,876   

6.000%, 11/01/38

    4,139,167        4,698,650   

6.000%, 12/01/38

    643,688        730,275   

6.000%, 01/01/39

    1,305,443        1,484,150   

6.000%, 04/01/39

    2,170,903        2,463,195   

6.000%, 06/01/39

    159,693        181,783   

6.000%, 07/01/39

    247,323        280,016   

6.000%, 08/01/39

    1,263,556        1,430,678   

6.000%, 09/01/39

    563,632        638,994   

6.000%, 02/01/40

    3,984        4,521   

6.000%, 04/01/40

    354,279        402,194   

6.000%, 05/01/40

    9,421        10,677   

6.000%, 06/01/40

    511,977        580,863   

6.000%, 09/01/40

    18,063        20,494   

6.000%, 10/01/40

    15,167,367        17,203,531   

6.000%, 04/01/41

    1,399,566        1,589,316   

6.000%, 05/01/41

    74,439,190        84,465,681   

6.000%, TBA (a)

    29,000,000        32,886,679   

7.500%, 09/01/30

    238        243   

8.000%, 10/01/25

    1,785        2,088   

Fannie Mae ARM Pool
1.313%, 08/01/41 (b)

    453,989        474,190   

1.315%, 07/01/42 (b)

    409,630        422,860   

1.315%, 08/01/42 (b)

    411,929        423,877   

1.315%, 10/01/44 (b)

    621,844        637,425   

1.363%, 09/01/41 (b)

    1,339,203        1,400,134   

1.749%, 09/01/35 (b)

    2,485,259        2,639,763   

1.790%, 06/01/33 (b)

    57,192        61,083   

1.898%, 01/01/35 (b)

    403,984        424,891   

1.952%, 12/01/34 (b)

    2,290,927        2,455,759   

1.956%, 11/01/35 (b)

    320,779        338,488   

1.982%, 12/01/34 (b)

    947,861        998,125   

1.984%, 03/01/35 (b)

    73,436        77,953   

1.998%, 08/01/36 (b)

    820,544        875,653   

2.002%, 11/01/34 (b)

    6,344        6,724   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae ARM Pool
2.095%, 02/01/31 (b)

    239,145      $ 246,330   

2.117%, 10/01/34 (b)

    31,321        33,679   

2.122%, 10/01/28 (b)

    181,881        189,105   

2.160%, 05/01/34 (b)

    1,124,162        1,204,350   

2.203%, 12/01/34 (b)

    83,758        88,731   

2.204%, 01/01/35 (b)

    118,067        126,589   

2.207%, 05/01/35 (b)

    96,936        104,386   

2.220%, 11/01/35 (b)

    551,626        587,271   

2.224%, 03/01/33 (b)

    5,276        5,656   

2.224%, 01/01/35 (b)

    93,809        100,522   

2.224%, 10/01/35 (b)

    663,953        711,966   

2.247%, 01/01/35 (b)

    98,107        104,451   

2.250%, 08/01/35 (b)

    931,624        996,506   

2.252%, 01/01/35 (b)

    33,369        35,793   

2.254%, 02/01/35 (b)

    60,210        64,633   

2.261%, 07/01/32 (b)

    37,818        39,286   

2.295%, 11/01/34 (b)

    172,374        184,039   

2.308%, 11/01/35 (b)

    863,024        925,734   

2.320%, 02/01/35 (b)

    224,803        238,295   

2.340%, 09/01/31 (b)

    55,492        59,303   

2.345%, 07/01/33 (b)

    44,578        47,592   

2.348%, 08/01/35 (b)

    1,641,662        1,755,880   

2.377%, 09/01/32 (b)

    256,178        275,044   

2.385%, 11/01/32 (b)

    82,581        85,986   

2.423%, 04/01/34 (b)

    14,161        15,259   

2.435%, 09/01/34 (b)

    1,195,143        1,282,807   

2.435%, 04/01/35 (b)

    185,159        198,058   

2.438%, 05/01/35 (b)

    641,925        689,790   

2.485%, 11/01/34 (b)

    3,760,839        4,022,811   

4.371%, 12/01/36 (b)

    403,500        430,897   

4.478%, 09/01/34 (b)

    87,073        93,246   

5.340%, 01/01/36 (b)

    241,815        258,013   

Fannie Mae Pool
2.475%, 04/01/19

    15,022,220        15,373,713   

5.500%, 04/01/36

    6,772        7,571   

Fannie Mae REMICS (CMO)
0.562%, 09/18/31 (b)

    449,158        453,389   

1.070%, 04/25/32 (b)

    149,635        153,405   

2.192%, 05/25/35 (b)

    1,945,819        2,003,579   

Freddie Mac 15 Yr. Gold Pool
5.500%, 04/01/16

    933        987   

5.500%, 09/01/19

    312,458        332,874   

6.000%, 03/01/15

    28        28   

Freddie Mac 20 Yr. Gold Pool
4.000%, 06/01/30

    212,523        228,629   

4.000%, 09/01/30

    896,503        964,550   

4.000%, 10/01/30

    50,127        53,932   

5.500%, 04/01/21

    28,083        31,324   

5.500%, 12/01/22

    1,260        1,406   

5.500%, 03/01/23

    272,723        304,171   

5.500%, 06/01/26

    5,293        5,909   

5.500%, 08/01/26

    2,153        2,401   

5.500%, 06/01/27

    62,114        69,290   

5.500%, 12/01/27

    123,085        137,444   

5.500%, 01/01/28

    74,326        83,090   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Freddie Mac 20 Yr. Gold Pool
5.500%, 02/01/28

    18,304      20,462   

5.500%, 05/01/28

    162,574        181,883   

5.500%, 06/01/28

    260,942        292,323   

6.000%, 03/01/21

    58,827        66,453   

6.000%, 01/01/22

    260,327        294,134   

6.000%, 10/01/22

    855,972        968,104   

6.000%, 12/01/22

    50,787        57,435   

6.000%, 04/01/23

    50,000        56,500   

Freddie Mac 30 Yr. Gold Pool
4.000%, 12/01/40

    400,774        427,722   

4.000%, TBA (a)

    34,000,000        36,180,332   

4.500%, 04/01/34

    39,706        43,211   

4.500%, 06/01/35

    161,169        175,689   

4.500%, 10/01/41

    287,235        313,158   

4.500%, TBA (a)

    30,000,000        32,516,016   

5.500%, 03/01/32

    45,997        51,558   

5.500%, 01/01/33

    3,213        3,617   

5.500%, 05/01/33

    5,033        5,662   

5.500%, 08/01/33

    3,584        4,034   

5.500%, 10/01/33

    7,639        8,605   

5.500%, 12/01/33

    2,971        3,345   

5.500%, 01/01/34

    4,153        4,673   

5.500%, 05/01/34

    79,054        88,689   

5.500%, 09/01/34

    40,711        45,846   

5.500%, 01/01/35

    73,443        82,963   

5.500%, 07/01/35

    3,601        4,060   

5.500%, 10/01/35

    119,477        133,930   

5.500%, 11/01/35

    195,648        218,563   

5.500%, 12/01/35

    75,871        85,524   

5.500%, 01/01/36

    114,584        128,017   

5.500%, 02/01/36

    137,258        153,258   

5.500%, 04/01/36

    46,098        51,644   

5.500%, 06/01/36

    3,631,765        4,097,813   

5.500%, 07/01/36

    91,199        102,056   

5.500%, 08/01/36

    130,513        146,147   

5.500%, 10/01/36

    37,532        42,060   

5.500%, 12/01/36

    745,173        833,986   

5.500%, 02/01/37

    71,647        79,998   

5.500%, 03/01/37

    30,026        33,653   

5.500%, 04/01/37

    75,855        84,697   

5.500%, 06/01/37

    95,814        107,482   

5.500%, 07/01/37

    634,960        710,740   

5.500%, 08/01/37

    190,517        213,989   

5.500%, 09/01/37

    103,837        115,999   

5.500%, 10/01/37

    24,748        27,679   

5.500%, 11/01/37

    680,199        761,208   

5.500%, 12/01/37

    34,829        38,851   

5.500%, 01/01/38

    213,263        238,613   

5.500%, 02/01/38

    545,981        610,456   

5.500%, 03/01/38

    220,188        246,051   

5.500%, 04/01/38

    468,951        525,205   

5.500%, 05/01/38

    976,273        1,093,292   

5.500%, 06/01/38

    741,481        829,639   

5.500%, 07/01/38

    1,104,015        1,235,081   

5.500%, 08/01/38

    2,948,012        3,298,579   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Freddie Mac 30 Yr. Gold Pool
5.500%, 09/01/38

    757,365      $ 846,817   

5.500%, 10/01/38

    21,541,905        24,104,825   

5.500%, 11/01/38

    8,441,892        9,420,984   

5.500%, 12/01/38

    12,691        14,157   

5.500%, 01/01/39

    1,662,704        1,860,306   

5.500%, 02/01/39

    309,299        345,521   

5.500%, 03/01/39

    214,639        240,174   

5.500%, 06/01/39

    7,734,786        8,655,692   

5.500%, 09/01/39

    140,358        157,033   

5.500%, 02/01/40

    227,363        254,195   

5.500%, 03/01/40

    26,617        29,766   

5.500%, 05/01/40

    6,840        7,653   

5.500%, 08/01/40

    216,127        241,729   

5.500%, 02/01/41

    86,199        96,248   

Freddie Mac ARM Non-Gold Pool
1.845%, 09/01/35 (b)

    440,514        460,700   

2.232%, 10/01/34 (b)

    82,138        87,325   

2.233%, 02/01/35 (b)

    106,481        113,106   

2.246%, 02/01/35 (b)

    72,958        77,446   

2.248%, 02/01/35 (b)

    75,744        80,363   

2.302%, 01/01/35 (b)

    87,123        92,770   

2.303%, 02/01/35 (b)

    85,565        91,757   

2.341%, 09/01/35 (b)

    771,251        820,277   

2.375%, 11/01/31 (b)

    33,180        35,305   

2.375%, 11/01/34 (b)

    138,345        147,534   

2.375%, 01/01/35 (b)

    357,603        380,598   

2.375%, 02/01/35 (b)

    150,656        161,043   

2.375%, 06/01/35 (b)

    1,840,902        1,969,236   

2.375%, 08/01/35 (b)

    903,450        964,280   

2.400%, 11/01/34 (b)

    44,189        47,601   

2.407%, 11/01/34 (b)

    77,121        82,690   

2.461%, 08/01/32 (b)

    181,768        188,852   

2.488%, 11/01/34 (b)

    52,056        55,824   

2.524%, 02/01/35 (b)

    98,113        104,983   

2.577%, 01/01/29 (b)

    532,539        564,771   

5.400%, 03/01/35 (b)

    138,327        142,765   

Freddie Mac REMICS (CMO)
0.411%, 07/15/34 (b)

    149,939        150,644   

1.875%, 11/15/23 (b)

    527,124        548,923   

3.500%, 07/15/32

    35,817        36,695   

3.500%, 01/15/42

    22,146,224        22,239,327   

6.500%, 01/15/24

    34,625        38,277   

Freddie Mac Structured Pass-Through Securities (CMO)
1.315%, 10/25/44 (b)

    1,428,659        1,441,804   

1.315%, 02/25/45 (b)

    127,937        131,104   

1.515%, 07/25/44 (b)

    7,225,636        7,267,046   

Ginnie Mae I 30 Yr. Pool
5.000%, 10/15/33

    10,148        11,184   

5.000%, 12/15/33

    59,963        66,689   

5.000%, 05/15/34

    8,682        9,632   

5.000%, 07/15/34

    8,401        9,290   

5.000%, 11/15/35

    6,962        7,711   

5.000%, 03/15/36

    5,031        5,568   

5.000%, 03/15/38

    413,328        455,377   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Ginnie Mae I 30 Yr. Pool
5.000%, 05/15/38

    33,991      37,449   

5.000%, 06/15/38

    937,870        1,034,691   

5.000%, 10/15/38

    1,538,388        1,694,893   

5.000%, 11/15/38

    4,628,684        5,099,593   

5.000%, 01/15/39

    898,222        991,317   

5.000%, 02/15/39

    236,318        261,536   

5.000%, 03/15/39

    3,512,986        3,877,554   

5.000%, 04/15/39

    8,872,544        9,802,235   

5.000%, 05/15/39

    6,542,975        7,262,756   

5.000%, 06/15/39

    3,355,910        3,714,447   

5.000%, 07/15/39

    4,551,857        5,032,954   

5.000%, 08/15/39

    690,888        764,000   

5.000%, 09/15/39

    807,724        890,940   

5.000%, 10/15/39

    1,668,757        1,845,351   

5.000%, 05/15/40

    80,288        89,182   

5.000%, 07/15/40

    1,414,438        1,563,393   

5.000%, 09/15/40

    855,493        947,832   

5.000%, 12/15/40

    64,364        71,398   

5.000%, 07/15/41

    46,805        51,969   

7.000%, 10/15/23

    7,833        8,493   

7.500%, 01/15/26

    10,641        12,052   

Ginnie Mae II ARM Pool
1.625%, 01/20/23 (b)

    22,215        22,934   

1.625%, 01/20/26 (b)

    14,273        14,307   

1.625%, 02/20/26 (b)

    13,290        13,712   

1.625%, 05/20/26 (b)

    22,700        24,073   

1.625%, 01/20/27 (b)

    6,180        6,388   

1.625%, 02/20/27 (b)

    10,571        10,935   

1.625%, 06/20/27 (b)

    7,696        7,934   

1.625%, 08/20/27 (b)

    85,344        87,329   

1.625%, 09/20/27 (b)

    76,272        76,556   

1.625%, 11/20/27 (b)

    22,764        23,540   

1.625%, 02/20/28 (b)

    16,601        17,192   

1.625%, 03/20/28 (b)

    17,118        17,779   

1.625%, 05/20/28 (b)

    7,851        8,146   

1.625%, 10/20/28 (b)

    13,558        14,118   

1.625%, 04/20/29 (b)

    6,609        6,771   

1.625%, 05/20/29 (b)

    11,168        11,585   

1.625%, 07/20/29 (b)

    12,119        12,589   

1.625%, 08/20/29 (b)

    11,850        12,310   

1.625%, 09/20/29 (b)

    15,446        16,116   

1.625%, 10/20/29 (b)

    9,481        9,836   

1.625%, 01/20/30 (b)

    44,619        46,292   

1.625%, 06/20/30 (b)

    13,737        14,208   

1.625%, 11/20/30 (b)

    63,078        65,397   

1.625%, 04/20/31 (b)

    15,268        16,192   

1.625%, 08/20/31 (b)

    4,221        4,400   

1.625%, 03/20/32 (b)

    805        838   

1.625%, 04/20/32 (b)

    9,915        10,325   

1.625%, 05/20/32 (b)

    21,682        22,547   

1.625%, 07/20/32 (b)

    9,850        10,237   

1.625%, 03/20/33 (b)

    7,329        7,627   

1.625%, 09/20/33 (b)

    74,765        77,619   

2.000%, 02/20/22 (b)

    14,772        15,373   

2.000%, 04/20/22 (b)

    1,258        1,294   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Ginnie Mae II ARM Pool
2.000%, 04/20/30 (b)

    26,122      $ 27,347   

2.000%, 05/20/30 (b)

    36,323        38,077   

2.125%, 04/20/29 (b)

    15,575        15,649   

2.125%, 10/20/31 (b)

    6,286        6,375   

2.500%, 11/20/26 (b)

    15,570        15,726   

2.500%, 10/20/30 (b)

    3,196        3,280   

Government National Mortgage Association (CMO)
0.461%, 01/16/31 (b)

    34,510        34,658   

0.661%, 02/16/30 (b)

    13,452        13,554   
   

 

 

 
      1,643,459,708   
   

 

 

 

Federal Agencies—3.2%

  

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
0.875%, 03/07/18

    3,300,000        3,260,245   

1.000%, 03/08/17 (c) (d)

    58,600,000        58,769,823   

1.000%, 09/29/17

    32,200,000        32,129,289   

1.250%, 08/01/19

    25,400,000        24,931,014   

1.250%, 10/02/19

    58,400,000        57,136,867   

2.375%, 01/13/22

    7,100,000        7,173,087   

3.750%, 03/27/19 (e)

    9,100,000        9,904,021   

Federal National Mortgage Association
0.875%, 08/28/17

    7,500,000        7,473,803   

0.875%, 12/20/17

    300,000        296,992   

0.875%, 02/08/18

    23,500,000        23,230,784   

0.875%, 05/21/18

    4,200,000        4,130,162   

1.125%, 04/27/17 (c) (d)

    8,500,000        8,547,413   

1.250%, 01/30/17

    2,500,000        2,522,413   

1.875%, 09/18/18

    4,400,000        4,471,619   

5.000%, 05/11/17 (d)

    7,100,000        7,768,408   

5.375%, 06/12/17

    9,700,000        10,723,990   
   

 

 

 
      262,469,930   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—22.0%

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds
2.875%, 05/15/43 (f)

    40,200,000        41,117,042   

3.000%, 11/15/44

    113,500,000        119,281,463   

3.125%, 02/15/43 (f)

    6,000,000        6,442,032   

3.125%, 08/15/44 (e)

    243,200,000        261,819,878   

3.375%, 05/15/44

    67,700,000        76,215,374   

U.S. Treasury Floating Rate Note
0.093%, 10/31/16 (b) (f)

    210,200,000        210,070,307   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds (m)
1.375%, 02/15/44

    8,456,455        9,570,990   

1.750%, 01/15/28

    141,566,656        160,268,885   

2.000%, 01/15/26

    57,306,123        65,669,264   

2.375%, 01/15/25

    124,082,420        145,680,454   

2.375%, 01/15/27

    107,619,844        128,799,107   

2.500%, 01/15/29 (e)

    64,367,454        79,870,935   

3.625%, 04/15/28

    734,055        1,008,924   

3.875%, 04/15/29

    9,388,730        13,437,620   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes (m)
0.125%, 01/15/22

    13,743,472        13,367,671   

0.125%, 07/15/22

    32,112,927        31,287,528   

U.S. Treasury—(Continued)

  

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes (m)
0.125%, 01/15/23

    65,529,464      63,363,912   

0.125%, 07/15/24

    255,207,656        245,776,968   

0.375%, 07/15/23 (c) (d)

    24,692,228        24,412,514   

0.625%, 07/15/21 (c) (d)

    12,958,665        13,121,659   

1.125%, 01/15/21 (c) (d)

    15,196,720        15,786,778   

1.250%, 07/15/20 (c) (d) (f)

    34,623,840        36,338,793   

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.625%, 09/30/17 (c) (d) (f)

    10,400,000        10,288,689   

2.250%, 11/15/24 (e)

    5,300,000        5,335,611   
   

 

 

 
      1,778,332,398   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $3,667,467,061)

      3,684,262,036   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—24.8%   

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.2%

  

Schaeffler Holding Finance B.V.
5.750%, 11/15/21 (144A) (EUR) (g)

    6,500,000        8,376,572   

6.250%, 11/15/19 (144A) (g)

    5,300,000        5,459,000   
   

 

 

 
      13,835,572   
   

 

 

 

Banks—12.7%

  

American Express Bank FSB
6.000%, 09/13/17

    31,500,000        35,115,003   

American Express Centurion Bank
6.000%, 09/13/17

    26,500,000        29,533,773   

Banco Popular Espanol S.A.
11.500%, 10/10/18 (EUR) (b)

    5,800,000        7,990,324   

Banco Santander Brazil S.A.
4.250%, 01/14/16 (144A)

    18,200,000        18,454,800   

Banco Santander Chile
1.130%, 04/11/17 (144A) (b)

    29,900,000        29,766,526   

1.831%, 01/19/16 (144A) (b)

    6,900,000        6,917,250   

Banco Santander S.A.
6.250%, 09/11/21 (EUR) (b)

    5,500,000        6,440,643   

Bank of America Corp.
2.650%, 04/01/19

    8,000,000        8,058,680   

4.500%, 04/01/15

    39,133,000        39,500,694   

5.625%, 10/14/16

    30,407,000        32,562,400   

6.400%, 08/28/17

    3,100,000        3,453,915   

6.875%, 04/25/18

    21,300,000        24,464,754   

Bank of America N.A.
0.652%, 05/08/17 (b)

    8,000,000        7,986,752   

0.703%, 11/14/16 (b)

    41,700,000        41,660,885   

Bank of China (Hong Kong), Ltd.
5.550%, 02/11/20 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,731,610   

Bank of India
4.750%, 09/30/15

    3,100,000        3,170,804   

Bank of Montreal
1.950%, 01/30/17 (144A)

    3,600,000        3,660,797   

2.850%, 06/09/15 (144A)

    800,000        808,004   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—(Continued)

  

Bank of Nova Scotia
1.250%, 04/11/17

    71,200,000      $ 70,968,956   

1.650%, 10/29/15 (144A)

    4,700,000        4,740,777   

1.950%, 01/30/17 (144A)

    800,000        812,120   

Bankia S.A.
4.000%, 05/22/24 (EUR) (b)

    2,100,000        2,482,025   

Barclays Bank plc
7.750%, 04/10/23 (b)

    3,700,000        4,033,000   

10.179%, 06/12/21 (144A)

    17,900,000        24,032,343   

14.000%, 06/15/19 (GBP) (b)

    600,000        1,227,398   

Barclays plc
6.500%, 09/15/19 (EUR) (b)

    5,200,000        6,160,124   

BB&T Corp.
1.101%, 06/15/18 (b)

    27,200,000        27,468,382   

BBVA Bancomer S.A.
4.500%, 03/10/16 (144A)

    3,900,000        4,017,000   

6.500%, 03/10/21 (144A)

    7,800,000        8,446,620   

BNP Paribas S.A.
0.542%, 11/07/15 (b)

    39,500,000        39,439,841   

BPCE S.A.
0.802%, 11/18/16 (b)

    54,700,000        54,738,181   

CIT Group, Inc.

   

4.750%, 02/15/15 (144A)

    2,000,000        2,001,500   

5.250%, 03/15/18

    2,400,000        2,502,000   

Citigroup, Inc.
0.752%, 05/01/17 (b)

    65,300,000        65,133,877   

1.045%, 04/01/16 (b)

    2,700,000        2,709,466   

1.194%, 07/25/16 (b)

    3,200,000        3,220,269   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA
8.375%, 07/26/16 (b)

    2,300,000        2,455,186   

Credit Agricole S.A.
6.500%, 06/23/21 (EUR) (b)

    4,700,000        5,775,388   

6.625%, 09/23/19 (144A) (b) (h)

    6,500,000        6,300,125   

7.875%, 01/23/24 (b)

    1,400,000        1,424,548   

8.125%, 09/19/33 (b)

    3,000,000        3,347,022   

8.375%, 10/13/19 (144A) (b)

    6,900,000        7,952,250   

Export-Import Bank of Korea
4.000%, 01/29/21

    2,500,000        2,673,783   

5.125%, 06/29/20

    2,500,000        2,817,453   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
0.752%, 02/15/17 (b)

    55,300,000        55,160,367   

0.784%, 04/25/18 (b)

    14,400,000        14,366,981   

3.150%, 07/05/16

    4,900,000        5,036,891   

3.450%, 03/01/16

    5,849,000        6,003,431   

3.700%, 01/20/15

    15,500,000        15,525,994   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
0.571%, 06/13/16 (b)

    5,300,000        5,277,539   

6.000%, 10/01/17

    23,600,000        26,193,262   

LBG Capital No.2 plc
15.000%, 12/21/19 (EUR)

    1,400,000        2,504,683   

Lloyds Bank plc
12.000%, 12/16/24 (144A) (b)

    5,700,000        8,094,000   

Lloyds Banking Group plc
7.625%, 06/27/23 (GBP) (b)

    11,400,000        17,705,544   

7.875%, 06/27/29 (GBP) (b)

    200,000        315,305   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
0.705%, 09/25/17 (144A) (b)

    1,300,000      1,300,979   

Morgan Stanley
1.514%, 04/25/18 (b)

    36,700,000        37,284,007   

6.000%, 04/28/15

    2,300,000        2,337,223   

National Australia Bank, Ltd.
0.537%, 06/30/17 (144A) (b)

    48,300,000        48,276,140   

National Bank of Canada
2.200%, 10/19/16 (144A)

    1,400,000        1,430,811   

Novo Banco S.A.
2.625%, 05/08/17 (EUR)

    1,700,000        1,913,842   

3.875%, 01/21/15 (EUR)

    1,000,000        1,205,210   

4.750%, 01/15/18 (EUR)

    3,100,000        3,676,361   

5.000%, 04/04/19 (EUR)

    500,000        594,439   

5.000%, 04/23/19 (EUR)

    1,466,000        1,698,501   

5.000%, 05/14/19 (EUR)

    100,000        118,288   

5.000%, 05/23/19 (EUR)

    237,000        279,998   

5.875%, 11/09/15 (EUR)

    12,400,000        15,117,127   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc
6.990%, 10/05/17 (144A) (b)

    2,000,000        2,250,000   

Sberbank of Russia Via SB Capital S.A.
5.499%, 07/07/15

    8,400,000        8,316,000   

State Bank of India
4.500%, 07/27/15 (144A)

    12,200,000        12,414,842   

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S
2.731%, 04/20/16 (144A) (b)

    3,000,000        2,992,500   

U.S. Bank N.A.
0.352%, 04/22/16 (b)

    7,400,000        7,399,726   

VTB Bank OJSC Via VTB Capital S.A.
6.465%, 03/04/15 (144A) (h)

    9,000,000        8,937,738   

Wachovia Corp.
0.511%, 06/15/17 (b)

    27,870,000        27,810,525   

Wells Fargo & Co.
7.980%, 03/15/18 (b)

    20,300,000        22,406,125   
   

 

 

 
      1,023,101,627   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.1%

   

Amgen, Inc.
2.300%, 06/15/16

    5,108,000        5,188,655   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.1%

   

Braskem Finance, Ltd.
5.750%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    3,300,000        3,324,750   

Rohm & Haas Co.
6.000%, 09/15/17

    2,438,000        2,696,389   
   

 

 

 
      6,021,139   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.0%

   

Apple, Inc.
2.850%, 05/06/21

    3,700,000        3,784,948   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—3.1%

   

Ally Financial, Inc.
2.750%, 01/30/17

    14,700,000        14,654,136   

3.125%, 01/15/16

    5,000,000        5,012,500   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

 

Ally Financial, Inc.
4.625%, 06/26/15

    2,600,000      $ 2,619,500   

5.500%, 02/15/17

    15,000,000        15,750,000   

7.500%, 09/15/20

    5,669,000        6,646,903   

8.300%, 02/12/15

    3,500,000        3,517,500   

Bear Stearns Cos. LLC (The)
5.300%, 10/30/15

    9,000,000        9,329,886   

6.400%, 10/02/17

    1,400,000        1,567,874   

7.250%, 02/01/18

    4,200,000        4,840,710   

BM&FBovespa S.A.
5.500%, 07/16/20 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,060,000   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
0.682%, 11/08/16 (b)

    27,900,000        27,777,073   

0.755%, 09/08/17 (b)

    3,700,000        3,674,522   

1.500%, 01/17/17

    2,550,000        2,536,278   

2.500%, 01/15/16

    3,259,000        3,295,455   

2.750%, 05/15/15

    31,195,000        31,403,726   

3.984%, 06/15/16

    9,497,000        9,833,213   

4.207%, 04/15/16

    5,429,000        5,619,259   

7.000%, 04/15/15

    9,700,000        9,866,908   

8.000%, 12/15/16

    500,000        559,576   

12.000%, 05/15/15

    19,300,000        20,059,397   

General Electric Capital Corp.
6.375%, 11/15/67 (b)

    5,100,000        5,469,750   

GMAC International Finance B.V.
7.500%, 04/21/15 (EUR)

    2,800,000        3,440,020   

International Lease Finance Corp.
6.750%, 09/01/16 (144A)

    5,300,000        5,644,500   

8.625%, 09/15/15

    10,900,000        11,363,250   

Navient Corp.
6.000%, 01/25/17

    1,300,000        1,361,750   

6.250%, 01/25/16

    14,714,000        15,302,560   

8.450%, 06/15/18

    8,300,000        9,254,500   

OneMain Financial Holdings, Inc.
6.750%, 12/15/19 (144A)

    3,100,000        3,162,000   

7.250%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    3,100,000        3,177,500   

Springleaf Finance Corp.
6.900%, 12/15/17

    3,200,000        3,408,000   

SteelRiver Transmission Co. LLC
4.710%, 06/30/17 (144A)

    5,907,758        6,151,287   
   

 

 

 
      247,359,533   
   

 

 

 

Electric—2.1%

   

Arizona Public Service Co.
4.650%, 05/15/15

    165,000        167,309   

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A.
6.875%, 07/30/19 (144A)

    54,400,000        55,488,000   

Dynegy Finance I, Inc. / Dynegy Finance II, Inc.
6.750%, 11/01/19 (144A)

    22,450,000        22,842,875   

7.375%, 11/01/22 (144A)

    7,000,000        7,122,500   

7.625%, 11/01/24 (144A)

    3,600,000        3,672,000   

Entergy Corp.
3.625%, 09/15/15

    14,300,000        14,503,675   

Electric—(Continued)

   

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
3.125%, 09/16/15 (144A)

    11,200,000      11,364,696   

Majapahit Holding B.V.
7.250%, 06/28/17

    2,040,000        2,247,060   

7.750%, 01/20/20

    5,000,000        5,787,500   

Pacific Gas & Electric Co.
0.433%, 05/11/15 (b)

    44,700,000        44,704,649   

TECO Finance, Inc.
6.750%, 05/01/15

    4,400,000        4,482,848   
   

 

 

 
      172,383,112   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.1%

   

International Paper Co.
5.250%, 04/01/16

    6,500,000        6,829,472   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.1%

   

HCA, Inc.
3.750%, 03/15/19

    4,500,000        4,505,625   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.1%

  

Blackstone CQP Holdco L.P.
2.324%, 03/18/19 (h)

    3,664,570        3,655,905   

Noble Group, Ltd.
4.875%, 08/05/15 (144A)

    700,000        710,500   
   

 

 

 
      4,366,405   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.0%

   

American International Group, Inc.
5.050%, 10/01/15

    3,700,000        3,812,273   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—0.2%

   

MGM Resorts International
6.875%, 04/01/16

    14,200,000        14,768,000   

7.625%, 01/15/17

    4,960,000        5,344,400   
   

 

 

 
      20,112,400   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Diversified—0.8%

   

John Deere Capital Corp.
0.330%, 04/12/16 (b)

    67,500,000        67,454,168   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.1%

   

DISH DBS Corp.
4.250%, 04/01/18

    500,000        510,625   

4.625%, 07/15/17

    1,000,000        1,033,750   

7.125%, 02/01/16

    2,600,000        2,733,250   

Time Warner, Inc.
5.875%, 11/15/16

    6,500,000        7,045,701   
   

 

 

 
      11,323,326   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—1.9%

  

California Resources Corp.
5.000%, 01/15/20 (144A)

    21,500,000        18,651,250   

5.500%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    4,000,000        3,420,000   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

CNPC General Capital, Ltd.
1.133%, 05/14/17 (144A) (b)

    26,700,000      $ 26,742,427   

Gazprom OAO Via Gaz Capital S.A.
5.875%, 06/01/15 (EUR)

    6,700,000        8,046,531   

Indian Oil Corp., Ltd.
4.750%, 01/22/15

    2,200,000        2,203,159   

Novatek Finance, Ltd.
5.326%, 02/03/16 (144A)

    3,100,000        2,988,710   

Petrobras Global Finance B.V.
1.852%, 05/20/16 (b)

    2,200,000        2,084,500   

2.000%, 05/20/16

    4,500,000        4,298,175   

2.603%, 03/17/17 (b)

    2,700,000        2,492,370   

3.250%, 03/17/17

    14,100,000        13,289,250   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A.
3.500%, 02/06/17

    1,900,000        1,814,329   

3.875%, 01/27/16

    700,000        686,910   

5.375%, 01/27/21

    8,200,000        7,597,874   

5.750%, 01/20/20

    2,700,000        2,607,417   

6.125%, 10/06/16

    3,100,000        3,109,641   

Statoil ASA
0.692%, 11/08/18 (b)

    49,900,000        49,974,950   
   

 

 

 
      150,007,493   
   

 

 

 

Pipelines—0.2%

  

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.
4.125%, 11/15/19 (144A)

    8,250,000        7,940,625   

Tesoro Logistics L.P./Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp.
5.500%, 10/15/19 (144A)

    1,900,000        1,885,750   

6.250%, 10/15/22 (144A)

    4,800,000        4,788,000   
   

 

 

 
      14,614,375   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.0%

  

Qatari Diar Finance QSC
3.500%, 07/21/15

    1,000,000        1,007,500   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.0%

  

CVS Pass-Through Trust
6.943%, 01/10/30

    911,793        1,105,547   
   

 

 

 

Savings & Loans—0.2%

  

Nationwide Building Society
6.250%, 02/25/20 (144A)

    10,800,000        12,668,648   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—2.6%

  

BellSouth Corp.
4.182%, 04/26/15 (144A) (h)

    78,600,000        79,373,581   

Ooredoo International Finance, Ltd.
3.375%, 10/14/16 (144A)

    400,000        410,448   

Rogers Communications, Inc.
7.500%, 03/15/15

    3,000,000        3,039,597   

Sprint Communications, Inc.
9.125%, 03/01/17

    2,000,000        2,199,900   

Telecommunications—(Continued)

  

Telefonica Emisiones S.A.U.
0.902%, 06/23/17 (b)

    29,500,000      29,462,476   

Verizon Communications, Inc.
0.636%, 06/09/17 (b)

    39,900,000        39,821,437   

1.991%, 09/14/18 (b)

    3,700,000        3,848,951   

2.500%, 09/15/16

    3,086,000        3,154,432   

3.000%, 11/01/21

    6,300,000        6,213,274   

3.500%, 11/01/24

    28,100,000        27,608,222   

3.650%, 09/14/18

    14,600,000        15,428,214   
   

 

 

 
      210,560,532   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.1%

  

Con-way, Inc.
7.250%, 01/15/18

    7,000,000        7,954,954   

Hellenic Railways Organization S.A.
4.028%, 03/17/17 (EUR)

    4,000,000        3,925,403   
   

 

 

 
      11,880,357   
   

 

 

 

Trucking & Leasing—0.1%

  

GATX Corp.
6.000%, 02/15/18

    5,000,000        5,559,965   

GATX Financial Corp.
5.800%, 03/01/16

    5,000,000        5,262,785   
   

 

 

 
      10,822,750   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $1,942,970,909)

      2,002,745,457   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—15.7%   

Municipal—0.0%

  

Autonomous Community of Valencia Spain
3.250%, 07/06/15 (EUR)

    300,000        365,357   
   

 

 

 

Provincial—1.3%

  

Province of Ontario
1.600%, 09/21/16

    300,000        304,014   

1.650%, 09/27/19

    7,000,000        6,919,430   

3.000%, 07/16/18

    4,300,000        4,504,121   

3.150%, 06/02/22 (CAD)

    9,300,000        8,462,856   

4.000%, 06/02/21 (CAD)

    31,100,000        29,759,686   

4.200%, 03/08/18 (CAD)

    1,100,000        1,026,973   

4.200%, 06/02/20 (CAD)

    10,800,000        10,377,129   

4.300%, 03/08/17 (CAD)

    1,000,000        916,397   

4.400%, 06/02/19 (CAD)

    6,300,000        6,043,130   

4.400%, 04/14/20

    2,700,000        3,004,722   

5.500%, 06/02/18 (CAD)

    2,600,000        2,533,019   

Province of Quebec
3.500%, 07/29/20

    10,600,000        11,343,166   

3.500%, 12/01/22 (CAD)

    3,300,000        3,063,024   

4.250%, 12/01/21 (CAD)

    15,200,000        14,769,695   

4.500%, 12/01/17 (CAD)

    700,000        654,992   

4.500%, 12/01/20 (CAD)

    2,900,000        2,839,070   
   

 

 

 
      106,521,424   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Sovereign—14.4%

  

Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social
3.375%, 09/26/16 (144A)

    2,600,000      $ 2,608,840   

4.125%, 09/15/17 (144A) (EUR)

    2,700,000        3,283,471   

Brazil Letras do Tesouro Nacional
Zero Coupon, 07/01/15 (BRL)

    69,000,000        24,488,640   

Zero Coupon, 10/01/15 (BRL)

    286,400,000        98,398,365   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/16 (BRL)

    355,900,000        118,510,737   

Zero Coupon, 01/01/17 (BRL)

    5,000,000        1,475,026   

Zero Coupon, 07/01/17 (BRL)

    75,000,000        20,849,588   

Zero Coupon, 07/01/18 (BRL)

    39,800,000        9,852,199   

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional
10.000%, 01/01/17 (BRL)

    77,900,000        26,494,637   

Italy Buoni Poliennali Del Tesoro
1.150%, 05/15/17 (EUR)

    49,800,000        60,989,290   

3.750%, 08/01/16 (EUR)

    85,900,000        109,270,926   

3.750%, 05/01/21 (EUR)

    28,900,000        40,139,503   

3.750%, 09/01/24 (EUR)

    50,500,000        71,305,771   

4.750%, 06/01/17 (EUR)

    47,700,000        63,394,365   

Japan Government Thirty Year Bond
1.700%, 09/20/44 (JPY)

    3,620,000,000        33,414,613   

Korea Housing Finance Corp.
4.125%, 12/15/15 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,567,700   

Mexican Bonos
7.750%, 05/29/31 (MXN) (m)

    14,800,000        1,139,348   

8.000%, 06/11/20 (MXN) (m)

    618,700,000        47,199,131   

Mexican Udibonos
4.000%, 11/15/40 (MXN) (m)

    45,325,165        3,455,671   

4.000%, 11/08/46 (MXN) (m)

    620,849,350        48,038,622   

4.500%, 11/22/35 (MXN) (m)

    133,076,792        10,826,333   

Mexico Cetes
2.915%, 01/22/15 (MXN) (m)

    8,315,000,000        56,263,307   

2.918%, 02/19/15 (MXN) (m)

    2,857,460,000        19,295,251   

2.924%, 02/05/15 (MXN) (m)

    13,166,000,000        88,998,278   

Spain Government Bonds
2.100%, 04/30/17 (EUR)

    61,200,000        76,786,223   

2.750%, 10/31/24 (144A) (EUR)

    6,800,000        9,075,120   

3.300%, 07/30/16 (EUR)

    7,700,000        9,727,724   

3.800%, 01/31/17 (EUR)

    18,600,000        24,056,311   

4.200%, 01/31/37 (EUR)

    2,000,000        3,033,114   

4.250%, 10/31/16 (EUR)

    22,400,000        28,974,836   

4.700%, 07/30/41 (EUR)

    8,400,000        13,606,501   

5.150%, 10/31/44 (144A) (EUR)

    2,100,000        3,633,501   

5.500%, 07/30/17 (EUR)

    21,400,000        29,175,980   
   

 

 

 
      1,160,328,922   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $1,406,922,859)

      1,267,215,703   
   

 

 

 
Asset-Backed Securities—6.6%   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—2.1%

  

Ally Auto Receivables Trust
0.480%, 02/15/17

    71,800,000        71,730,641   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—(Continued)

  

Nissan Auto Lease Trust
0.321%, 09/15/16 (b)

    31,300,000      31,289,202   

Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust
0.441%, 08/15/17 (b)

    20,820,625        20,805,509   

Toyota Auto Receivables Owner Trust
0.400%, 12/15/16

    44,700,000        44,662,228   
   

 

 

 
      168,487,580   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Home Equity—1.1%

  

ACE Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust
0.320%, 04/25/36 (b)

    10,746,627        9,573,633   

0.640%, 10/25/35 (b)

    7,100,000        5,984,782   

Asset Backed Funding Certificates
0.870%, 06/25/34 (b)

    2,782,796        2,594,334   

Asset Backed Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust
0.250%, 05/25/37 (b)

    35,248        22,691   

0.620%, 11/25/35 (b)

    2,000,000        1,750,018   

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities I Trust
0.420%, 04/25/37 (b)

    15,609,499        10,154,900   

0.615%, 02/25/36 (b)

    1,000,000        736,862   

1.170%, 10/25/37 (b)

    5,409,417        5,041,512   

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust
0.970%, 10/27/32 (b)

    19,042        18,056   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.
0.230%, 07/25/45 (b)

    562,749        482,539   

0.410%, 10/25/36 (b)

    14,700,000        14,154,483   

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates
0.520%, 04/25/36 (b)

    11,165,374        10,970,170   

First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust
0.530%, 10/25/35 (b)

    11,889,246        11,020,071   

HSI Asset Securitization Corp. Trust
0.340%, 12/25/36 (b)

    13,582,885        6,515,139   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc.
0.670%, 06/25/36 (b)

    3,019,465        2,765,313   

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I
0.230%, 05/25/37 (b)

    316,779        220,615   

Morgan Stanley Home Equity Loan Trust
0.340%, 04/25/37 (b)

    6,489,311        4,134,029   

Option One Mortgage Loan Trust
0.810%, 08/25/33 (b)

    19,433        18,281   

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust
1.035%, 08/25/33 (b)

    149,126        140,023   

Residential Asset Securities Corp. Trust
0.750%, 06/25/33 (b)

    1,339,989        1,185,440   

0.920%, 03/25/34 (b)

    2,506,729        2,325,072   

Soundview Home Loan Trust
0.250%, 06/25/37 (b)

    25,284        14,967   
   

 

 

 
      89,822,930   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Manufactured Housing—0.0%

  

 

Conseco Financial Corp.
6.220%, 03/01/30

    61,595        65,180   

Mid-State Trust
7.791%, 03/15/38

    141,660        146,405   
   

 

 

 
      211,585   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Other—3.4%

  

 

Ameriquest Mortgage Securities, Inc. Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates
0.950%, 05/25/34 (b)

    5,736,092      $ 5,208,114   

BlackRock Senior Income Corp.
0.471%, 04/20/19 (144A) (b)

    3,541,890        3,500,414   

Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust
0.490%, 10/25/35 (b)

    132,253        131,853   

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates
0.310%, 02/25/37 (b)

    3,334,640        3,194,485   

0.320%, 05/25/37 (b)

    4,189,504        3,581,029   

0.320%, 03/25/47 (b)

    4,068,036        3,449,247   

0.320%, 06/25/47 (b)

    1,160,506        974,542   

0.350%, 06/25/36 (b)

    5,459,980        5,326,467   

0.730%, 12/25/35 (b)

    3,500,000        3,241,112   

1.160%, 01/25/35 (b)

    7,939,876        7,934,262   

5.195%, 10/25/46 (b)

    2,450,067        2,109,498   

5.628%, 04/25/47 (b)

    14,395,753        11,827,306   

CWABS Asset-Backed Certificates Trust 2005-7
0.870%, 11/25/35 (b)

    10,000,000        8,066,180   

First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust
0.310%, 12/25/36 (b)

    9,228,383        5,673,047   

1.595%, 10/25/34 (b)

    5,362,296        4,410,188   

Galaxy CLO, Ltd.
0.474%, 04/25/19 (144A) (b)

    2,291,718        2,285,622   

GSAMP Trust 2005-HE1
1.490%, 12/25/34 (b)

    8,700,129        6,336,626   

GSAMP Trust 2006-HE1
0.560%, 01/25/36 (b)

    14,600,000        12,135,476   

GSAMP Trust 2007-FM1
0.340%, 12/25/36 (b)

    3,898,300        2,042,772   

Hillmark Funding, Ltd.
0.481%, 05/21/21 (144A) (b)

    22,867,361        22,611,636   

Home Equity Loan Trust
0.400%, 04/25/37 (b)

    15,900,000        9,603,330   

Lehman XS Trust
0.340%, 02/25/37 (b)

    14,761,292        8,006,008   

0.955%, 10/25/35 (b)

    7,131,454        6,620,927   

Lockwood Grove CLO, Ltd.
1.603%, 01/25/24 (144A) (b)

    14,900,000        14,885,100   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust
0.650%, 05/25/36 (b)

    1,600,000        1,423,538   

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, Inc. Trust
1.130%, 06/25/35 (b)

    7,600,000        7,250,066   

Mountain View Funding CLO
0.491%, 04/15/19 (144A) (b)

    3,024,186        3,011,343   

MSIM Peconic Bay, Ltd.
0.511%, 07/20/19 (144A) (b)

    895,753        895,738   

Park Place Securities, Inc.
0.660%, 09/25/35 (b)

    5,000,000        3,983,250   

Park Place Securities, Inc. Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates
1.970%, 12/25/34 (b)

    4,636,570        4,024,069   

Park Place Securities, Inc. Asset-Backed Pass-Through Ctfs Ser 2004-WCW2
1.220%, 10/25/34 (b)

    5,800,000        4,887,242   

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

  

 

Penta CLO S.A.
0.398%, 06/04/24 (EUR) (b)

    2,022,365      2,424,289   

Popular ABS Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
0.260%, 06/25/47 (b)

    500,094        483,612   

RAMP Trust
0.470%, 05/25/36 (b)

    33,937,504        25,573,029   

RASC Trust
0.330%, 11/25/36 (b)

    13,553,834        11,391,157   

Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC Trust
0.420%, 05/25/36 (b)

    11,512,826        6,806,705   

Small Business Administration Participation Certificates
5.500%, 10/01/18

    11,797        12,292   

6.220%, 12/01/28

    5,135,610        5,866,488   

Specialty Underwriting & Residential Finance Trust
0.440%, 04/25/37 (b)

    6,400,000        3,364,122   

Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust
0.660%, 08/25/35 (b)

    8,760,000        8,361,937   

Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Loan Trust
0.330%, 03/25/36 (b)

    6,282,792        6,013,134   

1.070%, 08/25/37 (b)

    1,145,344        1,060,362   

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp.
6.250%, 06/01/42

    1,300,000        1,306,370   

United States Small Business Administration
5.471%, 03/10/18

    1,079,503        1,164,618   

Wells Fargo Home Equity Trust
0.650%, 12/25/35 (b)

    20,861,000        17,147,158   

Wood Street CLO B.V.
0.431%, 11/22/21 (EUR) (b)

    3,482,325        4,183,895   
   

 

 

 
      273,789,655   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Student Loan—0.0%

  

SLM Student Loan Trust
0.364%, 01/25/19 (b)

    2,354,537        2,351,935   

0.684%, 01/25/17 (b)

    175,149        175,174   

2.811%, 12/16/19 (144A) (b)

    1,307,098        1,324,514   
   

 

 

 
      3,851,623   
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $521,647,753)

      536,163,373   
   

 

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities—4.7%   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—3.6%

  

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust
2.622%, 11/25/35 (b)

    726,178        619,513   

Alternative Loan Trust
5.500%, 02/25/36

    6,598,990        5,944,443   

Alternative Loan Trust Resecuritization
2.543%, 03/25/47 (b)

    6,425,066        5,907,032   

American Home Mortgage Assets
1.033%, 11/25/46 (b)

    4,373,038        2,390,473   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

American Home Mortgage Investment Trust
2.332%, 02/25/45 (b)

    1,813,497      $ 1,807,006   

Arran Residential Mortgages Funding plc
1.478%, 05/16/47 (144A) (EUR) (b)

    6,506,172        7,931,163   

Banc of America Alternative Loan Trust
16.567%, 09/25/35 (b) (i)

    7,304,362        8,980,552   

27.722%, 11/25/46 (b) (i)

    2,715,231        3,860,049   

Banc of America Funding Trust
2.634%, 05/25/35 (b)

    2,036,661        2,072,105   

2.641%, 02/20/36 (b)

    5,635,627        5,592,734   

2.799%, 01/20/47 (b)

    337,365        268,153   

Banc of America Funding, Ltd.
0.414%, 10/03/39 (144A) (b)

    21,075,464        21,072,547   

BCAP LLC Trust

   

4.000%, 02/26/37 (144A) (b)

    2,544,884        2,520,234   

5.250%, 02/26/36 (144A)

    7,865,006        7,175,135   

5.250%, 08/26/37 (144A)

    11,956,787        12,429,188   

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust
2.190%, 08/25/35 (b)

    30,695        31,023   

2.290%, 08/25/35 (b)

    870,111        875,044   

2.668%, 02/25/33 (b)

    25,479        23,950   

2.710%, 10/25/35 (b)

    6,529,510        6,481,067   

Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust
1.010%, 11/25/34 (b)

    751,921        736,048   

2.554%, 05/25/35 (b)

    2,195,309        2,099,791   

2.590%, 11/25/36 (b)

    3,340,338        2,293,613   

2.612%, 09/25/35 (b)

    1,755,140        1,496,199   

2.653%, 11/25/36 (b)

    5,567,444        4,404,499   

5.402%, 05/25/36 (b)

    3,855,242        2,914,351   

Bear Stearns Structured Products, Inc.
2.337%, 12/26/46 (b)

    1,252,392        981,563   

Bear Stearns Structured Products, Inc. Trust
2.591%, 01/26/36 (b)

    1,813,132        1,441,440   

CC Mortgage Funding Corp.
0.420%, 08/25/35 (144A) (b)

    65,392        59,730   

Chase Mortgage Finance Trust
2.479%, 03/25/37 (b)

    2,902,246        2,639,532   

4.761%, 12/25/35 (b)

    6,296,768        6,056,445   

5.628%, 09/25/36 (b)

    5,458,496        4,914,420   

ChaseFlex Trust
0.470%, 07/25/37 (b)

    8,054,806        6,896,549   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.
2.230%, 09/25/35 (b)

    3,137,632        3,127,892   

2.280%, 09/25/35 (b)

    1,056,591        1,057,068   

2.342%, 10/25/46 (b)

    3,069,091        2,443,187   

2.540%, 10/25/35 (b)

    5,898,028        5,836,175   

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust
0.376%, 03/20/46 (b)

    253,107        199,082   

4.831%, 05/25/35 (b) (j)

    3,706,450        471,105   

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
0.460%, 04/25/35 (b)

    129,633        114,501   

0.490%, 03/25/35 (b)

    1,041,658        994,619   

0.510%, 06/25/35 (144A) (b)

    3,095,543        2,751,384   

2.362%, 09/20/36 (b)

    4,963,425        4,303,731   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.
0.798%, 03/25/32 (144A) (b)

    80,124      73,785   

6.000%, 11/25/35

    3,191,666        2,674,268   

6.500%, 04/25/33

    85,813        87,037   

Deutsche Alt-A Securities Mortgage Loan Trust
0.360%, 08/25/47 (b)

    8,669,136        7,235,183   

Downey Savings & Loan Association Mortgage Loan Trust
2.491%, 07/19/44 (b)

    814,437        812,063   

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust
4.531%, 01/25/36 (b) (j)

    51,168,254        6,350,697   

First Horizon Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
2.612%, 08/25/35 (b)

    558,357        515,161   

Granite Mortgages plc
0.359%, 09/20/44 (EUR) (b)

    204,244        246,157   

0.461%, 01/20/44 (EUR) (b)

    212,406        256,508   

0.938%, 01/20/44 (GBP) (b)

    341,670        530,451   

0.940%, 09/20/44 (GBP) (b)

    1,713,868        2,660,819   

GreenPoint MTA Trust
0.610%, 06/25/45 (b)

    86,557        75,376   

GSR Mortgage Loan Trust
2.574%, 04/25/36 (b)

    4,052,515        3,653,310   

2.669%, 09/25/35 (b)

    84,200        84,533   

6.000%, 03/25/32

    198        204   

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust
0.354%, 01/19/38 (b)

    195,407        165,557   

0.384%, 05/19/35 (b)

    1,407,748        1,168,492   

Indymac ARM Trust
1.707%, 01/25/32 (b)

    33,262        31,972   

1.717%, 01/25/32 (b)

    574        534   

Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust
2.525%, 12/25/34 (b)

    216,282        198,472   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust
2.576%, 07/25/35 (b)

    3,755,258        3,829,646   

2.636%, 02/25/35 (b)

    305,688        299,286   

5.238%, 07/25/35 (b)

    4,382,484        4,386,507   

5.750%, 01/25/36

    586,090        548,132   

MASTR Alternative Loan Trust
0.570%, 03/25/36 (b)

    795,410        223,528   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust
0.380%, 02/25/36 (b)

    1,399,862        1,282,388   

0.420%, 11/25/35 (b)

    142,285        134,311   

0.550%, 08/25/35 (b)

    8,700,000        8,011,943   

1.156%, 10/25/35 (b)

    270,805        256,357   

2.350%, 10/25/35 (b)

    714,269        719,592   

MLCC Mortgage Investors, Inc.
2.162%, 11/25/35 (b)

    2,694,884        2,671,166   

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust
5.500%, 08/25/35

    1,228,350        1,242,552   

Morgan Stanley Re-REMIC Trust
0.469%, 03/26/37 (144A) (b)

    5,314,074        3,944,860   

Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp.
4.976%, 05/25/35

    2,680,209        2,510,015   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

RALI Trust
6.000%, 12/25/35

    13,574,661      $ 12,071,837   

RBSSP Resecuritization Trust
0.410%, 06/27/36 (144A) (b)

    8,300,000        7,014,338   

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.
0.350%, 06/25/46 (b)

    1,888,221        844,945   

0.570%, 03/25/33 (b)

    221,493        219,556   

0.610%, 06/25/34 (b)

    2,247,924        2,214,205   

6.000%, 06/25/36

    2,269,580        1,893,738   

Residential Asset Securitization Trust
0.570%, 05/25/33 (b)

    114,025        113,332   

0.570%, 01/25/46 (b)

    1,668,661        874,281   

6.000%, 06/25/36

    5,078,010        3,634,494   

Residential Asset Securitization Trust 2005-A2
0.670%, 03/25/35 (b)

    470,058        362,337   

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I
0.520%, 06/25/18 (b)

    3,043        2,924   

Sequoia Mortgage Trust
0.516%, 07/20/33 (b)

    361,427        339,218   

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust
2.414%, 04/25/35 (b)

    10,712,670        10,399,613   

2.485%, 01/25/35 (b)

    2,997,145        2,867,237   

2.514%, 08/25/35 (b)

    228,253        209,836   

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust
0.400%, 05/25/45 (b)

    1,315,146        1,182,084   

0.414%, 07/19/35 (b)

    1,374,152        1,306,569   

Structured Asset Securities Corp.
2.619%, 10/28/35 (144A) (b)

    38,059        36,439   

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust
1.513%, 08/25/42 (b)

    94,903        86,959   

1.513%, 06/25/42 (b)

    208,752        201,255   

1.921%, 02/27/34 (b)

    258,848        253,528   

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust
2.491%, 09/25/33 (b)

    891,169        893,062   

2.600%, 04/25/36 (b)

    1,762,050        1,713,570   

2.610%, 07/25/36 (b)

    10,065,258        9,788,041   

2.611%, 10/25/36 (b)

    3,494,731        3,385,049   

2.612%, 03/25/36 (b)

    18,103,191        17,596,465   

5.588%, 04/25/36 (b)

    815,018        263,059   
   

 

 

 
      290,863,168   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—1.1%

  

Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage, Inc.
5.451%, 01/15/49

    7,932,922        8,501,958   

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
5.331%, 02/11/44

    347,247        371,009   

Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities, Inc.
5.700%, 06/11/50

    5,300,000        5,760,856   

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
5.383%, 02/15/40

    731,864        775,930   

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

  

Credit Suisse Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.297%, 12/15/39

    4,511,000      4,789,356   

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates
5.467%, 09/15/39

    18,486,904        19,457,855   

Greenwich Capital Commercial Funding Corp.
5.444%, 03/10/39

    7,700,000        8,213,421   

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
5.420%, 01/15/49

    376,633        402,086   

LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.866%, 09/15/45 (b)

    11,423,691        12,550,672   

ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.485%, 03/12/51 (b)

    2,200,000        2,361,918   

5.882%, 08/12/49 (b)

    7,400,000        8,071,136   

Morgan Stanley Re-REMIC Trust
5.796%, 08/12/45 (144A) (b)

    777,567        833,410   

Silenus European Loan Conduit, Ltd.
0.228%, 05/15/19 (EUR) (b)

    259,864        309,417   

Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.716%, 06/15/49 (b)

    16,700,000        17,925,663   
   

 

 

 
      90,324,687   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $369,138,786)

      381,187,855   
   

 

 

 
Municipals—3.9%   

American Municipal Power-Ohio, Inc., Combined Hydroelectric Projects Revenue, Build America Bonds, Taxable
8.084%, 02/15/50

    6,900,000        11,139,291   

Bay Area Toll Bridge Authority, Build America Bonds
7.043%, 04/01/50

    10,400,000        15,465,216   

Buckeye Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority
5.875%, 06/01/47

    3,500,000        2,846,900   

California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank Revenue, Build America Bonds
6.486%, 05/15/49

    2,500,000        3,130,525   

California State General Obligation Unlimited, Build America Bonds
7.625%, 03/01/40

    16,600,000        25,481,000   

7.950%, 03/01/36

    5,700,000        7,046,511   

California State Public Works Board Lease Revenue Build America Bonds, Taxable, University Projects
7.804%, 03/01/35

    3,100,000        4,184,535   

California State University Revenue, Build America Bonds
6.484%, 11/01/41

    4,400,000        5,766,112   

Calleguas-Las Virgenes California Public Financing Water Revenue Authority, Build America Bonds
5.944%, 07/01/40

    7,800,000        9,464,052   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Municipals—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Chicago Transit Authority Transfer Tax Receipts Revenue
6.300%, 12/01/21

    360,000      $ 388,591   

6.899%, 12/01/40

    14,500,000        18,309,730   

Clark County NV, Airport Revenue
6.820%, 07/01/45

    4,800,000        7,039,488   

Clark County NV, Refunding
4.750%, 06/01/30

    5,500,000        5,768,345   

East Baton Rouge Sewer Commission, Build America Bonds
6.087%, 02/01/45

    17,000,000        18,806,760   

Irvine Ranch CA, Water District, Build America Bonds, Taxable
6.622%, 05/01/40

    21,700,000        28,883,134   

Los Angeles CA, Wastewater System Revenue, Build America Bonds
5.713%, 06/01/39

    2,300,000        2,908,994   

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power Revenue, Build America Bonds
6.166%, 07/01/40

    60,200,000        69,790,462   

Los Angeles, California Unified School District, Build America Bonds
4.500%, 01/01/28

    1,700,000        1,823,998   

Los Angeles, Unified School District, Build America Bonds
6.758%, 07/01/34

    1,100,000        1,532,696   

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Build America Bonds, Metro Transit Authority
6.089%, 11/15/40

    200,000        266,600   

Newport Beach CA, Certificates of Participation, Build America Bonds
7.168%, 07/01/40

    31,650,000        41,537,143   

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority, Build America Bonds
6.532%, 06/15/39

    1,000,000        1,211,190   

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, One Hundred Sixtieth
5.647%, 11/01/40

    3,000,000        3,678,420   

Public Power Generation Agency, Build America Bonds, Whelan Energy Centre Unit
7.242%, 01/01/41

    1,800,000        2,112,246   

State of California General Obligation Unlimited, Build America Bonds
6.548%, 05/15/48

    3,400,000        4,648,956   

7.500%, 04/01/34

    2,900,000        4,311,082   

7.550%, 04/01/39

    2,900,000        4,475,251   

7.600%, 11/01/40

    1,900,000        2,964,627   

7.700%, 11/01/30

    100,000        126,180   

State of Georgia
6.655%, 04/01/57

    1,300,000        1,713,530   

State of Texas Transportation Commission Revenue, Build America Bonds
5.178%, 04/01/30

    2,300,000        2,773,386   

State of Wisconsin, General Fund Annual Appropriation Revenue
5.050%, 05/01/18

    2,900,000        3,213,258   

Tobacco Settlement Financing Authority
7.467%, 06/01/47

    7,335,000        6,291,230   

Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp.
5.000%, 06/01/41

    500,000        375,995   
   

 

 

 

Total Municipals
(Cost $261,424,378)

   

    319,475,434   
   

 

 

 
Floating Rate Loans (l)—0.6%   

Auto Manufacturers—0.3%

  

Chrysler Group LLC
Term Loan B,
3.500%, 05/24/17

    21,289,691        21,263,079   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.3%

  

HCA, Inc.
Term Loan B5,
2.919%, 03/31/17

    22,187,657        22,060,078   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—0.0%

   

MGM Resorts International
Term Loan A,
2.919%, 12/20/17

    1,989,848        1,960,000   
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loans
(Cost $45,529,467)

      45,283,157   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stock—0.6%   

Banks—0.6%

  

Wells Fargo & Co., Series L
7.500%, 12/31/49
(Cost $25,992,734)

    36,950        44,561,700   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Bond—0.5%                

Banks—0.5%

   

LBG Capital No. 2 plc
15.000%, 12/21/19 (GBP)
(Cost $50,020,987)

    20,400,000        43,623,373   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stock—0.4%   

Banks—0.4%

  

GMAC Capital Trust I, 8.125% (b)
(Cost $28,270,000)

    1,130,800        29,830,504   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Purchased Options—0.0%

 

Security Description   Notional
Amount*/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Put Options—0.0%

  

10 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures, Exercise Rate 100.00, Expires 02/20/15 (Counterparty - Bank of America N.A.)

    1,082      $ 16,906   

10 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures, Exercise Rate 101.00, Expires 02/20/15 (Counterparty - Bank of America N.A.)

    149        2,328   

10 Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures, Exercise Rate 103.00, Expires 02/20/15 (Counterparty - Bank of America N.A.)

    459        7,172   

Interest Rate Swaptions—0.0%

  

Put - OTC - 2-Year Interest Rate Swap, Exercise Rate 3.205%, Expires 01/16/20 (Counterparty - Goldman Sachs Bank USA)

    40,000,000        483,080   
   

 

 

 

Total Purchased Options
(Cost $607,296)

      509,486   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—8.3%   

Discount Notes—4.0%

  

Federal Home Loan Bank
0.040%, 01/07/15 (k)

    12,700,000        12,699,916   

0.078%, 01/29/15 (k)

    116,200,000        116,192,770   

0.091%, 01/28/11 (k)

    19,500,000        19,498,640   

0.130%, 02/25/11 (k)

    33,700,000        33,693,307   

0.150%, 04/09/15 (k)

    81,700,000        81,666,639   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
0.070%, 03/25/15 (k)

    4,800,000        4,799,225   

Federal National Mortgage Association
0.092%, 01/22/15 (k)

    57,200,000        57,196,830   
   

 

 

 
      325,747,327   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—0.1%

  

U.S. Treasury Bills
0.028%, 04/30/15 (c) (f) (k)

    2,271,000        2,270,793   

0.041%, 03/19/15 (f) (k)

    260,000        259,977   

0.062%, 05/14/15 (c) (d) (f) (k)

    1,754,000        1,753,602   

0.070%, 05/07/15 (c) (k)

    271,000        270,934   

0.073%, 05/28/15 (c) (k)

    291,000        290,914   
   

 

 

 
      4,846,220   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Paper—2.4%

  

Bank of Nova Scotia
1.000%, 02/10/15 (CAD) (k)

    64,900,000        55,784,594   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
0.630%, 02/02/15 (k)

    11,900,000        11,893,336   

Rabobank Nederland NV
0.285%, 06/12/15 (k)

    36,500,000        36,500,000   

Vodafone Group plc
0.600%, 06/29/15 (k)

    50,000,000        49,850,833   

0.607%, 06/29/15 (k)

    43,900,000        43,769,032   
   

 

 

 
      197,797,795   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—0.0%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $1,007,697 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $1,045,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18, with a value of $1,030,408.

    1,007,697      $ 1,007,697   
   

 

 

 

Certificate of Deposit—1.8%

  

Barclays Bank plc
0.533%, 05/01/15 (k)

    138,600,000        138,600,000   

Credit Suisse New York
0.465%, 03/17/15 (k)

    5,500,000        5,500,000   
   

 

 

 
      144,100,000   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $677,272,570)

      673,499,039   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—111.6%
(Cost $8,997,264,800) (n)

      9,028,357,117   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(11.6)%

      (939,681,756
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 8,088,675,361   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal and notional amounts stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) TBA (To Be Announced) Securities are purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and no defined maturity date. The actual principal and maturity date will be determined upon settlement date.
(b) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(c) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open centrally cleared swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $76,962,249.
(d) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $59,860,652.
(e) All or a portion of this security has been purchased in a Treasury Roll Transaction. (See Note 2 of the Notes to Financial Statements.)
(f) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open swap contracts and open forward foreign currency exchange contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $16,388,928.
(g) Payment-in-kind security for which part of the income earned may be paid as additional principal.
(h) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $98,267,349, which is 1.2% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(i) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.2% of net assets.
(j) Interest only security.
(k) The rate shown represents current yield to maturity.
(l) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.
(m) Principal amount of security is adjusted for inflation.
(n) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $9,045,535,968. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $209,840,249 and $(227,019,100), respectively, resulting in net unrealized depreciation of $(17,178,851) for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $638,289,563, which is 7.9% of net assets.
(ARM)— Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CLO)— Collateralized Loan Obligation
(CMO)— Collateralized Mortgage Obligation
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(OTC)— Over the Counter
(REMIC)— Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

BellSouth Corp.

     04/28/14       $ 78,600,000       $ 41,260,962       $ 79,373,581   

Blackstone CQP Holdco L.P.

     07/02/14         3,664,570         3,734,570         3,655,905   

Credit Agricole S.A.

     10/20/14         6,500,000         6,126,760         6,300,125   

VTB Bank OJSC Via VTB Capital S.A.

     08/05/14         9,000,000         9,187,200         8,937,738   
           

 

 

 
            $ 98,267,349   
           

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

      

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In
Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     3,122,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15         $ 2,643,066         $ (94,266
AUD     10,200,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           8,599,141           (271,862
AUD     9,366,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           8,005,298           (358,897
AUD     51,500,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           43,045,302           (1,000,710
AUD     9,061,000        

Societe Generale Paris

       01/05/15           7,380,246           17,153   
AUD     9,100,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/05/15           7,496,635           (67,396
AUD     35,270,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/05/15           28,842,395           (47,973
BRL     23,674,683        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           8,912,989           (6,706
BRL     193,500,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           76,445,954           (3,652,335
BRL     109,825,193        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           42,683,713           (1,368,088
BRL     220,000,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           82,825,088           (62,317
BRL     3,900,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/05/15           1,506,664           (39,506
BRL     22,600,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/05/15           8,836,755           (334,761
BRL     59,650,511        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/05/15           22,457,085           (16,896
BRL     127,000,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       04/02/15           46,180,139           443,866   
CHF     2,609,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/12/15           2,708,303           (82,466
CHF     5,168,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/12/15           5,324,108           (122,756
CHF     5,519,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/12/15           5,699,409           (144,792
CHF     4,963,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       02/12/15           5,113,301           (118,273
DKK     22,080,000        

Credit Suisse International

       02/12/15           3,692,879           (103,877
EUR     1,438,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           1,794,545           (54,493
EUR     6,260,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           7,803,822           (228,908
EUR     28,241,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           35,116,187           (943,159
EUR     4,883,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           6,121,261           (212,586
EUR     30,650,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           38,097,300           (1,009,262

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Buy

      

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR     56,045,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15         $ 69,337,697         $ (1,520,434
EUR     129,604,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           160,266,051           (3,438,706
EUR     762,576,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           934,613,146           (11,857,910
EUR     2,320,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           2,846,726           (39,409
EUR     31,792,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           39,426,181           (956,265
EUR     69,014,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           84,086,658           (576,254
EUR     14,971,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           18,405,521           (289,860
EUR     22,015,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           27,144,127           (504,872
EUR     75,282,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/03/15           92,094,014           (970,846
EUR     9,924,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       06/15/15           13,303,221           (1,275,859
EUR     1,090,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       06/15/15           1,461,378           (140,356
EUR     2,313,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       06/15/15           3,053,753           (250,520
EUR     4,248,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       06/15/15           5,696,428           (548,077
EUR     19,332,000        

Credit Suisse International

       06/15/15           25,907,296           (2,477,937
EUR     7,305,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       06/15/15           9,498,545           (645,273
EUR     4,980,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       06/15/15           6,622,031           (586,534
EUR     4,981,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       06/15/15           6,624,058           (587,350
EUR     13,015,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       06/15/15           17,461,393           (1,687,902
EUR     9,556,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       06/15/15           12,777,328           (1,195,962
EUR     4,142,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       06/15/15           5,458,808           (438,924
EUR     17,056,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       06/13/16           23,052,890           (2,172,313
GBP     47,361,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           73,575,313           241,591   
JPY     542,790,640        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           4,585,000           (53,437
JPY     15,947,809,360        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           132,072,955           1,069,551   
JPY     4,784,700,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           40,406,540           (460,806
JPY     7,803,100,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           66,005,705           (860,438
JPY     2,084,200,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           17,237,543           162,690   
JPY     9,402,100,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           79,224,969           (730,228
JPY     13,440,600,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           112,357,916           (147,197
JPY     13,447,000,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           112,782,321           (518,170
JPY     853,700,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/03/15           7,090,944           37,972   
MXN     4,392,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       02/05/15           324,622           (27,493
MXN     2,914,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           213,685           (16,547
MXN     4,381,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           321,811           (25,427
MXN     6,865,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           506,201           (41,769
MXN     6,893,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           510,755           (44,429
MXN     9,797,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           715,695           (52,907
MXN     12,534,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           918,935           (70,983
MXN     16,860,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           1,247,226           (106,611
MXN     8,746,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/05/15           638,217           (46,532
MXN     5,664,000        

Credit Suisse International

       02/05/15           410,277           (27,095
MXN     91,488,000        

Credit Suisse International

       02/05/15           6,217,879           (28,520
MXN     5,915,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           434,687           (34,524
MXN     10,508,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           766,845           (55,956
MXN     13,388,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           981,849           (76,122
MXN     15,949,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           1,086,156           (7,172
MXN     8,467,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/05/15           574,700           (1,890
MXN     91,077,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/05/15           6,169,609           (8,056
MXN     15,448,000        

Westpac Banking Corp.

       02/05/15           1,130,438           (85,348

Contracts to Deliver

                                   
AUD     102,530,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           87,692,935           3,987,459   
AUD     11,870,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           9,712,248           21,582   
AUD     16,028,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           13,101,439           16,183   
AUD     9,061,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           7,419,238           21,839   
AUD     7,080,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       02/03/15           5,756,698           (11,224
AUD     9,100,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/03/15           7,413,292           (280
AUD     9,061,000        

Societe Generale Paris

       02/03/15           7,364,628           (17,172

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

      

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     35,270,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/03/15         $ 28,781,343         $ 47,639   
AUD     18,224,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/03/15           14,740,847           (105,850
AUD     5,287,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/03/15           4,311,924           4,720   
BRL     23,674,683        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           9,112,131           205,847   
BRL     193,500,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           72,848,430           54,810   
BRL     109,825,193        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           41,346,733           31,109   
BRL     220,000,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           94,656,226           11,893,454   
BRL     86,150,511        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/05/15           36,251,004           3,841,663   
BRL     860,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       04/02/15           349,562           33,841   
BRL     73,140,000        

Credit Suisse International

       04/02/15           29,687,056           2,836,035   
BRL     53,000,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       04/02/15           22,386,484           2,929,222   
BRL     25,952,534        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       04/02/15           9,916,524           388,877   
BRL     1,202,727        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       07/02/15           497,225           66,945   
BRL     109,825,193        

Deutsche Bank AG

       07/02/15           40,481,088           1,190,767   
BRL     12,571,330        

Deutsche Bank AG

       07/02/15           5,194,764           697,330   
BRL     55,225,944        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       07/02/15           22,792,383           3,035,121   
BRL     19,000,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       10/02/15           7,585,860           961,426   
BRL     11,000,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       10/02/15           4,385,965           550,767   
BRL     96,800,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       10/02/15           34,265,487           515,741   
BRL     35,100,000        

Citibank N.A.

       10/02/15           12,402,827           165,058   
BRL     98,000,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       10/02/15           39,341,630           5,173,499   
BRL     22,600,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       10/02/15           8,192,858           313,269   
BRL     3,900,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       10/02/15           1,396,848           37,096   
BRL     355,900,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/16           123,084,904           2,044,892   
BRL     75,000,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       07/05/17           26,417,753           3,997,344   
CAD     64,278,258        

Citibank N.A.

       02/10/15           58,679,366           3,399,760   
CAD     94,569,439        

Citibank N.A.

       03/03/15           82,534,289           1,243,402   
CHF     9,691,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       02/12/15           10,061,994           308,453   
CHF     6,303,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       02/12/15           6,525,614           181,938   
CHF     3,337,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       02/12/15           3,482,684           124,149   
DKK     3,668,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       04/01/15           656,304           59,844   
EUR     37,920,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           46,741,963           856,860   
EUR     16,742,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           20,830,380           571,719   
EUR     69,014,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           84,651,675           1,141,271   
EUR     100,037,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           124,636,638           3,586,847   
EUR     35,223,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           43,550,136           928,538   
EUR     17,899,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           22,263,562           604,874   
EUR     18,315,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/05/15           22,850,499           688,430   
EUR     32,044,000        

Societe Generale Paris

       01/05/15           39,461,561           686,713   
EUR     832,615,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/05/15           1,034,278,516           26,772,575   
EUR     762,579,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/03/15           934,876,099           11,831,888   
EUR     19,498,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/03/15           23,808,384           207,529   
EUR     69,014,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       02/03/15           84,111,503           575,275   
EUR     2,126,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/03/15           2,585,424           12,061   
EUR     16,724,000        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/03/15           20,362,975           119,838   
EUR     18,538,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       06/15/15           25,141,050           2,673,977   
EUR     24,522,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       06/15/15           33,315,834           3,596,470   
EUR     33,803,000        

Citibank N.A.

       06/15/15           46,208,701           5,241,257   
EUR     25,265,000        

Credit Suisse International

       06/15/15           34,263,130           3,643,289   
EUR     10,096,000        

Credit Suisse International

       06/15/15           13,731,872           1,496,056   
EUR     9,000,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       08/07/15           12,062,700           1,147,122   
EUR     5,200,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       08/07/15           6,957,236           650,457   
EUR     3,150,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/01/16           4,238,955           402,705   
EUR     37,241,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       06/13/16           50,990,377           5,398,588   
EUR     28,951,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       06/27/16           39,809,073           4,346,650   
GBP     47,361,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           74,346,351           529,446   
GBP     47,361,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/03/15           73,560,632           (239,437
ILS     34,628,424        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       03/12/15           8,860,000           (19,812

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts—(Continued)

 

Contracts to Deliver

      

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
ILS     222,027,771        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/12/15         $ 56,591,000         $ (343,869
ILS     78,415,450        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/12/15           19,878,000           (230,176
ILS     59,653,312        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/12/15           15,200,000           (96,976
ILS     49,101,431        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/12/15           12,523,000           (68,144
ILS     12,526,041        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/12/15           3,213,000           931   
ILS     3,840,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/12/15           978,631           (6,066
ILS     54,959,719        

UBS AG, Stamford

       03/12/15           14,030,000           (63,392
INR     803,835,850        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/20/15           12,629,000           (65,155
INR     259,862,750        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/20/15           4,075,000           (28,746
INR     14,312,250        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/20/15           225,000           (1,019
INR     150,343,200        

UBS AG, Stamford

       01/20/15           2,355,000           (19,216
JPY     3,726,600,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/05/15           31,452,056           340,017   
JPY     6,707,600,000        

Citibank N.A.

       01/05/15           57,094,714           1,095,381   
JPY     40,236,700,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           340,020,788           4,099,098   
JPY     1,392,400,000        

Credit Suisse International

       01/05/15           11,761,337           136,692   
JPY     9,299,800,000        

Deutsche Bank AG

       01/05/15           79,364,416           1,723,741   
JPY     3,215,600,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           27,031,773           185,889   
JPY     1,841,400,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           15,461,870           88,686   
JPY     1,032,200,000        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/05/15           8,741,311           123,846   
JPY     15,947,809,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/03/15           132,105,774           (1,068,161
JPY     3,906,000,000        

Citibank N.A.

       02/03/15           32,442,399           (175,084
JPY     1,316,300,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/03/15           10,938,745           (53,163
JPY     1,788,317,028        

UBS AG, Stamford

       02/03/15           14,850,702           (82,837
JPY     2,367,736,680        

Credit Suisse International

       08/07/15           23,300,000           3,482,892   
MXN     677,600,842        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/22/15           51,187,977           5,307,936   
MXN     112,919,500        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       01/22/15           8,519,526           873,799   
MXN     30,213,925        

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

       01/22/15           2,287,720           241,950   
MXN     407,576,686        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       02/05/15           30,850,145           3,276,713   
MXN     39,654,000        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       02/05/15           2,914,535           231,858   
MXN     57,160,000        

Barclays Bank plc

       02/05/15           4,183,653           316,657   
MXN     890,733,971        

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/05/15           67,416,005           7,155,953   
MXN     54,824,728        

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/05/15           3,724,000           14,990   
MXN     39,819,432        

Deutsche Bank AG

       02/05/15           2,724,000           30,131   
MXN     1,051,822,711        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           74,378,440           3,220,390   
MXN     666,031,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           45,319,330           260,912   
MXN     38,571,000        

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       02/05/15           2,676,553           67,142   
MXN     281,692,754        

BNP Paribas S.A.

       02/19/15           21,239,313           2,200,004   
                     

 

 

 
Net Unrealized Appreciation         $ 115,812,663   
                     

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Euro-BTP Futures

     03/06/15         1,742        EUR         233,574,101      $ 3,195,863   

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         9,580        USD         1,356,957,064        27,951,686   

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         16,849        USD         2,127,950,161        8,450,386   

Futures Contracts—Short

                                

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     06/15/15         (2,846     USD         (708,355,572     (49,404

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     09/14/15         (2,838     USD         (704,941,418     53,168   

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     12/14/15         (1,517     USD         (375,888,466     108,604   

90 Day EuroDollar Futures

     03/14/16         (631     USD         (155,926,699     38,149   

90 Day Sterling Futures

     03/18/15         (205     GBP         (25,422,409     (76,124

90 Day Sterling Futures

     06/17/15         (275     GBP         (34,041,356     (177,125

90 Day Sterling Futures

     09/16/15         (1,403     GBP         (173,398,160     (1,113,059

Canada Government Bond 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         (477     CAD         (64,821,590     (1,078,026

Euro-Bund 10 Year Bond Futures

     03/06/15         (2,092     EUR         (320,071,572     (7,270,548
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 30,033,570   
            

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Written Options

 

 

Foreign Currency
Written Options

   Strike Price      Counterparty    Expiration
Date
   Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Call - OTC - AUD vs USD

   USD 0.875       Deutsche Bank AG    01/08/15      (9,700,000   $ (54,431   $      $ 54,431   

Call - OTC - AUD vs USD

   USD 0.890       Credit Suisse International    01/22/15      (14,200,000     (65,486     (81     65,405   

Call - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.268       Barclays Bank plc    01/20/15      (7,200,000     (55,956     (1,289     54,667   

Call - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.260       Barclays Bank plc    01/20/15      (14,100,000     (143,787     (4,811     138,976   

Call - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.268       Deutsche Bank AG    01/27/15      (14,000,000     (119,400     (5,861     113,539   

Call - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.260       Deutsche Bank AG    02/10/15      (34,500,000     (402,748     (52,768     349,980   

Call - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.265       Citibank N.A.    02/13/15      (16,100,000     (175,979     (20,982     154,997   

Call - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.270       Deutsche Bank AG    02/18/15      (13,800,000     (157,767     (16,649     141,118   

Call - OTC - USD vs BRL

   BRL 2.800       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/20/15      (8,900,000     (66,750     (20,247     46,503   

Call - OTC - USD vs BRL

   BRL 2.800       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    01/21/15      (8,200,000     (78,720     (20,492     58,228   

Call - OTC - USD vs BRL

   BRL 2.900       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    02/12/15      (10,900,000     (86,110     (32,831     53,279   

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.500       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/12/15      (10,800,000     (75,600     (36,256     39,344   

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.900       Barclays Bank plc    01/16/15      (9,300,000     (50,685     (26,542     24,143   

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.400       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    01/22/15      (6,800,000     (43,316     (49,463     (6,147

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.270       Barclays Bank plc    01/27/15      (16,300,000     (114,100     (155,665     (41,565

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.150       Deutsche Bank AG    01/28/15      (37,700,000     (242,411     (407,009     (164,598

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 64.000       Credit Suisse International    02/05/15      (6,100,000     (32,574     (40,614     (8,040

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.850       Barclays Bank plc    02/05/15      (10,700,000     (58,085     (79,555     (21,470

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.500       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    02/18/15      (11,000,000     (74,690     (136,994     (62,304

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 63.850       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    02/25/15      (3,300,000     (28,149     (37,627     (9,478

Call - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 65.900       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    05/12/15      (46,200,000     (378,840     (615,107     (236,267

Call - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 119.000       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/16/15      (22,000,000     (227,084     (298,078     (70,994

Call - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 119.000       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/30/15      (22,000,000     (254,100     (362,164     (108,064

Call - OTC - USD vs MXN

   MXN 13.850       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/28/15      (7,900,000     (50,086     (492,755     (442,669

Call - OTC - USD vs MXN

   MXN 14.500       Credit Suisse International    02/02/15      (10,900,000     (74,665     (246,503     (171,838

Call - OTC - USD vs MXN

   MXN 14.250       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    02/18/15      (11,600,000     (87,580     (447,806     (360,226

Call - OTC - USD vs MXN

   MXN 14.480       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    02/20/15      (11,700,000     (106,470     (313,572     (207,102

Call - OTC - USD vs MXN

   MXN 14.350       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    02/26/15      (32,300,000     (274,550     (1,106,372     (831,822

Put - OTC - AUD vs USD

   USD 0.855       Deutsche Bank AG    01/16/15      (13,800,000     (146,258     (534,339     (388,081

Put - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.230       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/16/15      (14,900,000     (165,125     (327,871     (162,746

Put - OTC - EUR vs USD

   USD 1.225       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/23/15      (14,900,000     (149,596     (297,653     (148,057

Put - OTC - USD vs BRL

   BRL 2.300       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/20/15      (8,900,000     (37,825     (9     37,816   

Put - OTC - USD vs BRL

   BRL 2.300       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    01/21/15      (8,200,000     (60,680     (8     60,672   

Put - OTC - USD vs BRL

   BRL 2.400       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    02/12/15      (10,900,000     (33,790     (1,689     32,101   

Put - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 60.900       Barclays Bank plc    01/16/15      (9,300,000     (50,685     (102     50,583   

Put - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 60.920       Deutsche Bank AG    01/28/15      (37,700,000     (229,216     (2,413     226,803   

Put - OTC - USD vs INR

   INR 61.000       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    02/18/15      (11,000,000     (57,310     (3,784     53,526   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 110.500       BNP Paribas S.A.    01/05/15      (9,900,000     (88,209            88,209   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 110.500       UBS AG, Stamford    01/07/15      (12,700,000     (122,237     (25     122,212   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.500       UBS AG, Stamford    01/12/15      (38,500,000     (301,262     (2,887     298,375   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 115.000       BNP Paribas S.A.    01/12/15      (18,100,000     (97,468     (7,349     90,119   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.000       Credit Suisse International    01/20/15      (41,200,000     (293,138     (8,199     284,939   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 111.900       Citibank N.A.    01/23/15      (20,100,000     (165,423     (5,065     160,358   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.000       UBS AG, Stamford    02/09/15      (6,400,000     (64,320     (5,050     59,270   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 111.500       UBS AG, Stamford    02/09/15      (8,000,000     (64,600     (5,128     59,472   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 111.500       BNP Paribas S.A.    02/09/15      (8,000,000     (64,600     (5,128     59,472   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 111.750       BNP Paribas S.A.    02/09/15      (16,600,000     (150,728     (11,803     138,925   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.500       UBS AG, Stamford    02/11/15      (19,700,000     (181,732     (21,040     160,692   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.600       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    02/13/15      (31,700,000     (312,245     (38,579     273,666   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.000       Barclays Bank plc    03/12/15      (22,000,000     (262,240     (53,614     208,626   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.880       Citibank N.A.    03/13/15      (13,000,000     (157,170     (42,315     114,855   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.850       Deutsche Bank AG    03/25/15      (12,700,000     (165,608     (51,181     114,427   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 110.000       UBS AG, Stamford    05/12/15      (23,700,000     (274,920     (92,785     182,135   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 111.400       Credit Suisse International    05/14/15      (10,500,000     (144,690     (57,004     87,686   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.000       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    05/15/15      (3,700,000     (62,715     (23,077     39,638   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.000       Citibank N.A.    05/15/15      (6,800,000     (116,280     (42,412     73,868   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 112.500       Deutsche Bank AG    05/22/15      (17,800,000     (202,030     (131,667     70,363   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 113.500       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    05/27/15      (18,200,000     (263,900     (171,681     92,219   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Written Options—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency
Written Options

   Strike Price      Counterparty    Expiration
Date
   Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 100.000       UBS AG, Stamford    07/03/15      (19,800,000   $ (126,720   $ (21,562   $ 105,158   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 99.000       Citibank N.A.    09/30/15      (48,900,000     (488,872     (110,807     378,065   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 109.000       JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.    11/10/15      (17,600,000     (336,600     (202,594     134,006   

Put - OTC - USD vs JPY

   JPY 109.000       Societe Generale Paris    11/19/15      (18,700,000     (318,947     (223,222     95,725   

Put - OTC - USD vs MXN

   MXN 13.250       Goldman Sachs Bank USA    01/28/15      (7,900,000     (45,899     (8     45,891   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (9,383,157   $ (7,530,143   $ 1,853,014   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Inflation Capped Options

  Strike
Index
  Counterparty  

Exercise Index

  Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  215.949   Deutsche Bank AG   Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)
- [Final Index/Initial Index)] or 010
    03/10/20      $ (5,800,000   $ (43,500   $ (1,248   $ 42,252   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  215.949   Citibank N.A.   Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)
- [Final Index/Initial Index)] or 010
    03/12/20        (16,200,000     (137,080     (3,485     133,595   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  216.687   Citibank N.A.   Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)
- [Final Index/Initial Index)] or 010
    04/07/20        (38,800,000     (346,040     (9,118     336,922   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  217.965   Citibank N.A.   Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)
- [Final Index/Initial Index)] or 010
    09/29/20        (17,500,000     (225,750     (4,933     220,817   

Floor - OTC CPURNSA Index

  218.011   Deutsche Bank AG   Maximum of [(1 + 0.000%)
- [Final Index/Initial Index)] or 010
    10/13/20        (18,000,000     (176,400     (5,438     170,962   
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (928,770   $ (24,222   $ 904,548   
           

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate
Swaptions

  Strike
Rate
 

Counterparty

 

Floating Rate
Index

  Pay/
Receive
Floating
Rate
  Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Put - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  1.600%   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   6-Month EUR-LIBOR   Pay     01/20/15        EUR        (79,000,000   $ (833,380   $      $ 833,380   

Put - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap

  3.320%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     01/16/15        USD        (33,600,000     (342,720            342,720   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.770%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     01/23/15        USD        (101,700,000     (14,238            14,238   

Put - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.820%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     01/30/15        USD        (10,800,000     (50,490     (810     49,680   

Put - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap

  3.300%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     01/30/15        USD        (17,400,000     (200,100     (905     199,195   

Put - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  1.550%   Deutsche Bank AG   6-Month EUR-LIBOR   Pay     03/23/15        EUR        (17,700,000     (146,794     (4,798     141,996   

Put - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.800%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     02/02/15        USD        (52,800,000     (842,160     (5,808     836,352   

Put - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap

  3.003%   Deutsche Bank AG   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     01/21/15        USD        (29,200,000     (917,573     (12,001     905,572   

Put - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap

  3.250%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     03/02/15        USD        (19,000,000     (177,175     (14,858     162,317   

Put - OTC - 30-Year Interest Rate Swap

  3.270%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     03/27/15        USD        (37,900,000     (459,535     (70,304     389,231   

Call - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  0.950%   Deutsche Bank AG   6-Month EUR-LIBOR   Receive     03/23/15        EUR        (17,700,000     (45,873     (338,852     (292,979

Put - OTC - 2-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.800%   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     01/16/18        USD        (40,000,000     (500,000     (416,200     83,800   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.600%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     09/14/15        USD        (79,600,000     (1,044,750     (418,059     626,691   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Written Options—(Continued)

 

Interest Rate
Swaptions

  Strike
Rate
 

Counterparty

 

Floating Rate
Index

  Pay/
Receive
Floating
Rate
  Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Put - OTC - 5-Year Interest Rate Swap

  2.520%   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC   3-Month USD-LIBOR   Pay     09/18/15        USD        (260,600,000   $ (2,280,250   $ (1,671,228   $ 609,022   

Call - OTC - 10-Year Interest Rate Swap

  1.200%   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   6-Month EUR-LIBOR   Receive     01/20/15        EUR        (79,000,000     (427,374     (3,529,807     (3,102,433
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (8,282,412   $ (6,483,630   $ 1,798,782   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Credit Default
Swaptions

  Strike
Rate
 

Counterparty

 

Reference
Obligation

  Buy/Sell
Protection
  Expiration
Date
    Notional
Amount
    Premiums
Received
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.200%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (14,500,000   $ (35,913   $ (88   $ 35,825   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.100%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (6,300,000     (15,896     (120     15,776   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.000%   Citibank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (8,700,000     (20,648     (480     20,168   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.000%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (11,600,000     (32,564     (640     31,924   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  1.000%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (11,600,000     (31,934     (640     31,294   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.900%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (6,300,000     (9,837     (988     8,849   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.900%   BNP Paribas S.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (12,600,000     (21,316     (1,975     19,341   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.900%   Citibank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     01/21/15        EUR        (15,500,000     (30,282     (2,430     27,852   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.550%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     02/18/15        EUR        (6,100,000     (5,353     (5,749     (396

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.850%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     02/18/15        EUR        (6,100,000     (12,235     (5,779     6,456   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     01/21/15        EUR        (6,300,000     (11,214     (7,423     3,791   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.550%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     02/18/15        EUR        (12,500,000     (14,986     (11,780     3,206   

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.850%   Societe Generale Paris   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     02/18/15        EUR        (12,500,000     (22,778     (11,843     10,935   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.550%   Citibank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     02/18/15        EUR        (14,200,000     (10,688     (13,382     (2,694

Put - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.850%   Citibank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Sell     02/18/15        EUR        (14,200,000     (28,946     (13,454     15,492   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     01/21/15        EUR        (11,600,000     (16,282     (13,667     2,615   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   Goldman Sachs International   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     01/21/15        EUR        (11,600,000     (14,111     (13,667     444   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   BNP Paribas S.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     01/21/15        EUR        (12,600,000     (24,474     (14,845     9,629   

Call - OTC - 5-Year Credit Default Swap

  0.600%   Citibank N.A.   Markit iTraxx Europe, Series 22   Buy     01/21/15        EUR        (24,200,000     (42,205     (28,513     13,692   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

  $ (401,662   $ (147,463   $ 254,199   
               

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Swap Agreements

 

OTC Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive
Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
   Fixed
Rate
  Maturity
Date
 

Counterparty

   Notional
Amount
     Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Receive

   1-Year BRL CDI    10.910%   01/02/17   BNP Paribas S.A.      BRL         8,100,000       $ (55,527   $ (34,839   $ (20,688

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.470%   01/02/17   BNP Paribas S.A.      BRL         213,800,000         (626,667     114,256        (740,923

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    10.910%   01/02/17   Goldman Sachs Bank USA      BRL         1,500,000         (10,283     (4,913     (5,370

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.470%   01/02/17   Goldman Sachs Bank USA      BRL         549,500,000         (1,610,633     479,860        (2,090,493

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.470%   01/02/17   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      BRL         33,400,000         (97,898     (6,346     (91,552

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    13.060%   01/02/18   Credit Suisse International      BRL         10,900,000         36,382        18,450        17,932   

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    13.060%   01/02/18   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      BRL         131,500,000         438,926               438,926   

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    13.060%   01/02/18   UBS AG, Stamford      BRL         45,800,000         152,873        83,207        69,666   

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    12.460%   01/04/21   Citibank N.A.      BRL         37,000,000         178,777               178,777   

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.250%   01/04/21   Citibank N.A.      BRL         13,000,000         (116,564     (132,245     15,681   

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    12.000%   01/04/21   Deutsche Bank AG      BRL         5,100,000         (423     1,566        (1,989

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.680%   01/04/21   Deutsche Bank AG      BRL         20,600,000         (65,627     (25,266     (40,361

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.250%   01/04/21   Deutsche Bank AG      BRL         13,000,000         (116,564     (140,085     23,521   

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.500%   01/04/21   Deutsche Bank AG      BRL         186,800,000         (1,065,295     257,104        (1,322,399

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    11.500%   01/04/21   Goldman Sachs Bank USA      BRL         121,700,000         (694,038     200,677        (894,715

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    12.330%   01/04/21   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      BRL         42,500,000         152,375               152,375   

Pay

   1-Year BRL CDI    12.560%   01/04/21   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC      BRL         38,600,000         327,434        142,152        185,282   

Pay

   1- Year BRL CDI    12.055%   01/04/21   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC      BRL         75,300,000         119,312        100,558        18,754   

Pay

   1- Year BRL CDI    11.250%   01/04/21   UBS AG, Stamford      BRL         26,000,000         (233,129     (269,995     36,866   

Receive

   28-Day MXN TIIE    3.370%   03/17/15   Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC      MXN         5,466,000,000         (31,676            (31,676

Receive

   28-Day MXN TIIE    3.540%   08/31/15   UBS AG, Stamford      MXN         996,000,000         365               365   

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    5.795%   12/10/21   UBS AG, Stamford      MXN         100,000         2               2   

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    5.750%   06/05/23   BNP Paribas S.A.      MXN         100,000         (97     (128     31   

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    5.750%   06/05/23   Deutsche Bank AG      MXN         100,000         (97     (155     58   

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    5.750%   06/05/23   Goldman Sachs Bank USA      MXN         200,000         (194     (486     292   

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    6.000%   06/05/23   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.      MXN         300,000         73        (1,099     1,172   

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    6.300%   04/26/24   UBS AG, Stamford      MXN         510,000,000         721,448        789,472        (68,024

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    6.920%   11/28/29   Bank of America N.A.      MXN         85,400,000         201,914               201,914   

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    7.020%   06/08/34   Deutsche Bank AG      MXN         213,350,000         268,887        378,224        (109,337

Pay

   28-Day MXN TIIE    6.810%   06/19/34   Deutsche Bank AG      MXN         30,000,000         (16,487     3,315        (19,802
                  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

           $ (2,142,431   $ 1,953,284      $ (4,095,715
                  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Receive

     28-Day MXN TIIE         3.420     06/05/15         MXN         1,347,000,000       $ (5,510

Receive

     28-Day MXN TIIE         3.605     12/18/15         MXN         1,245,000,000         70,700   

Receive

     28-Day MXN TIIE         3.740     02/12/16         MXN         545,000,000         15,062   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         5.700     01/18/19         MXN         194,000,000         (73,060

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.350     06/02/21         MXN         30,900,000         7,177   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements—(Continued)

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         5.920     12/08/21         MXN         53,000,000       $ 31,268   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         5.850     12/21/21         MXN         141,000,000         39,548   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         5.500     09/02/22         MXN         700,000         769   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.000     06/05/23         MXN         200,000         (298

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         5.750     06/05/23         MXN         200,000         (114

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.300     04/26/24         MXN         760,000,000         (113,220

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.915     09/10/29         MXN         150,600,000         167,959   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.410     11/07/29         MXN         182,000,000         (221,222

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.840     11/27/29         MXN         29,300,000         54,251   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.710     11/30/29         MXN         165,200,000         147,406   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         7.020     06/08/34         MXN         537,450,000         152,086   

Pay

     28-Day MXN TIIE         6.810     06/19/34         MXN         267,900,000         (289,595

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         0.665     04/17/16         USD         1,867,300,000         (469,160

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         1.000     04/17/17         USD         511,400,000         (391,110

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         1.780     12/02/19         USD         310,900,000         (292,899

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         1.800     12/03/19         USD         186,200,000         (347,548

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         1.750     03/19/20         USD         241,800,000         22,900   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         4.000     06/19/24         USD         63,200,000         2,187,895   

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.550     10/16/24         USD         129,000,000         (3,176,443

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         4.250     06/15/41         USD         227,400,000         (2,933,248

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.800     12/18/43         USD         86,900,000         (5,902,444

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         3.250     12/18/43         USD         330,000,000         (40,330,186

Receive

     6-Month GBP-LIBOR         1.500     09/18/16         GBP         266,800,000         (1,226,650

Receive

     6-Month GBP-LIBOR         1.590     10/05/16         GBP         183,500,000         (1,646,481

Receive

     6-Month GBP-LIBOR         1.500     03/18/17         GBP         26,300,000         (212,628

Receive

     6-Month GBP-LIBOR         1.880     10/05/17         GBP         61,300,000         (1,214,687

Receive

     6-Month EURIBOR         0.450     12/09/19         EUR         35,200,000         (201,744

Receive

     6-Month EURIBOR         1.250     03/18/25         EUR         30,800,000         (214,876

Receive

     6-Month JPY-LIBOR         0.500     09/17/21         JPY         13,150,000,000         (546,576

Pay

    
 
Federal Funds Rate
Compounded - OIS
  
  
     0.089     02/27/15         USD         450,300,000         (17,639

Pay

    
 
Federal Funds Rate
Compounded - OIS
  
  
     1.000     10/15/17         USD         417,900,000         (2,312,493
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ (59,242,810
                

 

 

 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreements—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

   Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
     Maturity
Date
    

Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)

   Notional
Amount(c)
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Markit CDX North America Investment Grade, Series 23

     1.000%         12/20/19       0.662%      USD         1,300,000       $ (835)   
                 

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate and Sovereign Issues—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp.
4.625%, due 10/15/13

    1.000%        03/20/15      Goldman Sachs International     0.083%        USD        3,100,000      $ 6,233      $ (54,777)      $ 61,010   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        06/20/15      Citibank N.A.     0.788%        USD        11,700,000        11,719        (327,293)        339,012   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate and Sovereign Issues—Sell Protection (a)—(Continued)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        06/20/15      Deutsche Bank AG     0.788%        USD        6,100,000      $ 6,110      $ (66,949)      $ 73,059   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        06/20/15      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.788%        USD        12,700,000        12,721        (139,386)        152,107   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        09/20/15      Citibank N.A.     0.789%        USD        1,200,000        1,843        (18,832)        20,675   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        09/20/15      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.789%        USD        4,100,000        6,297        (41,229)        47,526   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        09/20/15      UBS AG, Stamford     0.789%        USD        1,600,000        2,457        (15,139)        17,596   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        12/20/15      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     0.918%        USD        37,100,000        29,552        (214,047)        243,599   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        06/20/16      Deutsche Bank AG     1.089%        USD        3,500,000        (4,574)        (11,731)        7,157   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 03/06/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      Deutsche Bank AG     1.681%        USD        1,100,000        (30,014)        (47,059)        17,045   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 3/6/30

    1.000%        12/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     1.937%        USD        13,100,000        (568,400)        (477,111)        (91,289)   

Brazilian Government International Bonds
12.250%, due 03/06/30

    1.000%        12/20/19      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     1.937%        USD        27,500,000        (1,193,207)        (975,872)        (217,335)   

China Government International Bond
4.250%, due 10/28/14

    1.000%        12/20/18      Barclays Bank plc     0.622%        USD        800,000        11,711        7,830        3,881   

China Government International Bond
4.250%, due 10/28/14

    1.000%        12/20/18      Citibank N.A.     0.622%        USD        2,200,000        32,204        20,448        11,756   

China Government International Bond
4.25%, due 10/28/14

    1.000%        12/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.821%        USD        7,700,000        65,692        50,937        14,755   

China Government International Bond
4.25%, due 10/28/14

    1.000%        12/20/19      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     0.821%        USD        1,800,000        15,357        11,464        3,893   

General Electric Capital Corp.
5.625%, due 9/15/17

    1.000%        09/20/15      Deutsche Bank AG     0.261%        USD        3,500,000        18,829        43,236        (24,407)   

General Electric Capital Corp.
5.625%, due 9/15/17

    1.000%        12/20/15      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     0.292%        USD        6,500,000        44,995        (127,348)        172,343   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/2023

    1.000%        09/20/16      BNP Paribas S.A.     0.574%        USD        6,100,000        44,810        65,260        (20,450)   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/2023

    1.000%        09/20/16      Barclays Bank plc     0.574%        USD        26,100,000        191,729        142,958        48,771   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/2023

    1.000%        09/20/16      Deutsche Bank AG     0.574%        USD        57,800,000        424,595        366,407        58,188   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/2023

    1.000%        09/20/16      Deutsche Bank AG     0.574%        USD        48,000,000        352,605        314,481        38,124   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/2023

    1.000%        09/20/16      Deutsche Bank AG     0.574%        USD        5,600,000        41,137        56,139        (15,002)   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/17      Barclays Bank plc     0.722%        USD        2,200,000        14,970        8,305        6,665   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/17      Citibank N.A.     0.722%        USD        1,400,000        9,526        8,209        1,317   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate and Sovereign Issues—Sell Protection (a)—(Continued)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/17      Goldman Sachs International     0.722%        USD        1,300,000      $ 8,846      $ 7,405      $ 1,441   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/17      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     0.722%        USD        2,200,000        14,970        7,617        7,353   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     1.114%        USD        3,500,000        (17,083)        (22,112)        5,029   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     1.114%        USD        3,500,000        (17,083)        (23,803)        6,720   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/19      Deutsche Bank AG     1.114%        USD        1,200,000        (5,857)        (8,723)        2,866   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/23

    1.000%        06/20/19      Goldman Sachs International     1.114%        USD        8,700,000        (42,463)        (39,667)        (2,796)   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/2023

    1.000%        09/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     1.155%        USD        800,000        (5,560)               (5,560)   

Italy Government International Bond
6.875%, due 9/27/2023

    1.000%        09/20/19      Deutsche Bank AG     1.155%        USD        3,700,000        (25,716)        (1,775)        (23,941)   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        03/20/15      Citibank N.A.     0.370%        USD        3,100,000        4,281        (71,176)        75,457   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        03/20/15      Deutsche Bank AG     0.370%        USD        1,400,000        1,934        (32,144)        34,078   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        09/20/15      Citibank N.A.     0.370%        USD        1,900,000        8,710        (28,651)        37,361   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        09/20/15      UBS AG, Stamford     0.370%        USD        600,000        2,750        (8,488)        11,238   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        03/20/16      Barclays Bank plc     0.437%        USD        10,800,000        74,660        (82,990)        157,650   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950%, due 3/19/19

    1.000%        03/20/16      Citibank N.A.     0.437%        USD        6,900,000        47,699        (125,166)        172,865   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        03/20/16      Deutsche Bank AG     0.437%        USD        19,600,000        135,493        (143,793)        279,286   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        06/20/16      Citibank N.A.     0.487%        USD        10,000,000        75,795        (21,564)        97,359   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        09/20/16      Goldman Sachs International     0.523%        USD        4,600,000        37,916        (21,933)        59,849   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950% due 3/19/19

    1.000%        09/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.523%        USD        2,000,000        16,485        11,531        4,954   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        09/20/16      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     0.523%        USD        9,400,000        77,480        (40,540)        118,020   

Mexico Government International Bond
7.500%, due 4/8/33

    1.000%        09/20/16      UBS AG, Stamford     0.523%        USD        4,100,000        33,794        (17,990)        51,784   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950%, due 3/19/19

    1.000%        12/20/16      Citibank N.A.     0.549%        USD        5,000,000        44,474        65,986        (21,512)   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950% due 3/19/19

    1.000%        12/20/16      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.549%        USD        1,200,000        10,674        16,197        (5,523)   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950% due 3/19/19

    1.000%        06/20/17      Goldman Sachs International     0.613%        USD        2,900,000        27,549        (12,796)        40,345   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950% due 3/19/19

    1.000%        12/20/18      Citibank N.A.     0.821%        USD        700,000        4,854        (1,033)        5,887   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950% due 3/19/19

    1.000%        12/20/18      Goldman Sachs International     0.821%        USD        2,800,000        19,417        (6,879)        26,296   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950% due 3/19/19

    1.000%        12/20/18      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.821%        USD        700,000        4,854        (1,118)        5,972   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950%, due 3/19/19

    1.000%        12/20/19      Citibank N.A.     0.996%        USD        69,900,000        13,442        414,082        (400,640)   

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950%, due 3/19/2019

    1.000%        12/20/19      Goldman Sachs International     0.996%        USD        13,000,000        2,500        86,635        (84,135)   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate and Sovereign Issues—Sell Protection (a)—(Continued)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Mexico Government International Bond
5.950%, due 3/19/19

    1.000%        12/20/19      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     0.996%        USD        2,200,000      $ 423      $ 13,036      $ (12,613)   

Morgan Stanley
6.000%, due 4/28/15

    1.000%        09/20/18      Deutsche Bank AG     0.639%        USD        24,100,000        316,170        298,407        17,763   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A.
8.375%, due 12/10/2018

    1.000%        12/20/15      BNP Paribas S.A.     5.188%        USD        4,500,000        (178,354)        (108,228)        (70,126)   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A.
8.375%, due 12/10/2018

    1.000%        12/20/19      BNP Paribas S.A.     4.408%        USD        12,100,000        (1,737,182)        (1,219,755)        (517,427)   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A. 8.375%, due 12/10/2018

    1.000%        12/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     4.408%        USD        9,700,000        (1,392,617)        (1,153,284)        (239,333)   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A. 8.375%, due 12/10/2018

    1.000%        12/20/19      Goldman Sachs International     4.408%        USD        4,700,000        (674,773)        (513,648)        (161,125)   

Petrobras International Finance Co. S.A. 8.375%, due 12/10/2018

    5.000%        12/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     4.408%        USD        2,100,000        52,417        (51,677)        104,094   

Republic of Greece Government Bonds
2.00%, due 02/24/23

    1.000%        12/20/15      Goldman Sachs International     16.837%        USD        7,200,000        (975,946)        (330,151)        (645,795)   

Republic of Greece Government Bonds
2.00%, due 02/24/23

    1.000%        12/20/15      Goldman Sachs International     16.837%        USD        9,300,000        (1,260,597)        (687,021)        (573,576)   

Republic of Indonesia
6.750%, due 3/10/14

    1.000%        09/20/15      Citibank N.A.     0.295%        USD        1,400,000        7,180        (31,728)        38,908   

Republic of Indonesia
6.750% due 3/10/14

    1.000%        06/20/16      Citibank N.A.     0.450%        USD        3,000,000        24,399        (55,608)        80,007   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        09/20/15      Barclays Bank plc     5.125%        USD        3,800,000        (111,488)        (48,575)        (62,913)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        09/20/15      Citibank N.A.     5.125%        USD        17,000,000        (498,764)        (198,559)        (300,205)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        09/20/15      Deutsche Bank AG     5.125%        USD        1,300,000        (38,141)        (15,901)        (22,240)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      BNP Paribas S.A.     4.827%        USD        10,900,000        (1,516,679)        (787,250)        (729,429)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     4.827%        USD        9,200,000        (1,280,133)        (664,468)        (615,665)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      Citibank N.A.     4.827%        USD        6,700,000        (932,270)        (511,648)        (420,622)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        03/20/19      Deutsche Bank AG     4.827%        USD        2,600,000        (361,777)        (195,608)        (166,169)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        09/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     4.793%        USD        28,000,000        (4,237,479)        (1,645,582)        (2,591,897)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        12/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     4.779%        USD        7,800,000        (1,225,979)        (557,835)        (668,144)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        12/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     4.779%        USD        7,800,000        (1,225,979)        (861,869)        (364,110)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        12/20/19      Citibank N.A.     4.779%        USD        15,000,000        (2,357,651)        (1,354,208)        (1,003,443)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        12/20/19      Goldman Sachs International     4.779%        USD        12,800,000        (2,011,862)        (907,148)        (1,104,714)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        12/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     4.779%        USD        17,900,000        (2,813,464)        (1,677,145)        (1,136,319)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        06/20/19      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     4.809%        USD        1,200,000        (174,369)        (69,247)        (105,122)   

Russian Government International Bond
7.500%, due 3/31/30

    1.000%        06/20/19      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     4.809%        USD        100,000        (14,531)        (5,680)        (8,851)   

Sberbank of Russia Via SB Capital S.A.
5.500%, due 7/7/15

    1.000%        09/20/15      Citibank N.A.     7.185%        USD        700,000        (30,491)        (12,110)        (18,381)   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate and Sovereign Issues—Sell Protection (a)—(Continued)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
Paid/
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Sberbank of Russia Via SB Capital S.A. 5.500%, due 7/7/15

    1.000%        09/20/15      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     7.185%        USD        200,000      $ (8,712)      $ (3,139)      $ (5,573)   

U.S. Treasury Note
4.875%, due 8/15/16

    0.250%        09/20/15      UBS AG, Stamford     0.097%        EUR        31,800,000        43,051        (477,132)        520,183   

U.S. Treasury Note
4.875%, due 8/15/16

    0.250%        03/20/16      BNP Paribas S.A.     0.099%        EUR        21,500,000        48,444        (303,267)        351,711   

Verizon Communications, Inc.
5.500%, due 4/1/17

    1.000%        09/20/18      Credit Suisse International     0.471%        USD        500,000        9,671        13,357        (3,686)   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

  

          $ (24,453,771)      $ (15,646,658)      $ (8,807,113)   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Credit Indices—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Markit CDX North America Investment Grade, Series 9

    0.553%        12/20/17      JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.     0.104%        USD         1,928,998      $ 25,539      $      $ 25,539   

Markit iTraxx Europe Sub Financials, Series 22

    1.000%        12/20/19      Barclays Bank plc     1.488%        EUR         12,500,000        (353,074)        (766,393)        413,319   

Markit iTraxx Europe Sub Financials, Series 22

    1.000%        12/20/19      Citibank N.A.     1.488%        EUR         2,800,000        (79,089)        (91,824)        12,735   

Markit iTraxx Europe Sub Financials, Series 22

    1.000%        12/20/19      Goldman Sachs International     1.488%        EUR         19,000,000        (536,673)        (423,911)        (112,762)   

Markit iTraxx Europe Sub Financials, Series 22

    1.000%        12/20/19      Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC     1.488%        EUR         5,600,000        (158,177)        (181,929)        23,752   

Markit iTraxx Europe Sub Financials, Series 22

    1.000%        12/20/19      Societe Generale Paris     1.488%        EUR         12,700,000        (358,723)        (740,110)        381,387   
              

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Totals

         $ (1,460,197)      $ (2,204,167)      $ 743,970   
              

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) If the Portfolio is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Portfolio will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index.
(b) Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate issues or indices as of period end serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced entity or obligation.
(c) The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted payments that the Portfolio could be required to make under a credit default swap contract would be the notional amount of the contract. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the referenced debt obligation or net amounts received from the settlement of purchased protection credit default swap contracts entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced debt obligation.
(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(BRL)— Brazilian Real
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CDI)— Brazil Interbank Deposit Rate
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(CPURNSA)— U.S. Consumer Price All Urban Non-Seasonally Adjusted
(DKK)— Danish Krone
(EUR)— Euro
(EURIBOR)— Euro Interbank Offered Rate
(GBP)— British Pound
(ILS)— Israeli Shekel
(INR)— Indian Rupee
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(TIIE)— Tasa de Interès Interbancaria de Equilibio
(USD)— United States Dollar

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $ —        $ 3,684,262,036      $ —         $ 3,684,262,036   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

     —          2,002,745,457        —           2,002,745,457   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          1,267,215,703        —           1,267,215,703   

Total Asset-Backed Securities*

     —          536,163,373        —           536,163,373   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —          381,187,855        —           381,187,855   

Total Municipals

     —          319,475,434        —           319,475,434   

Total Floating Rate Loans*

     —          45,283,157        —           45,283,157   

Total Convertible Preferred Stock*

     44,561,700        —          —           44,561,700   

Total Convertible Bond*

     —          43,623,373        —           43,623,373   

Total Preferred Stock*

     29,830,504        —          —           29,830,504   
Purchased Options          

Put Options

     26,406        483,080        —           509,486   
Short-Term Investments          

Discount Notes

     —          325,747,327        —           325,747,327   

U.S. Treasury

     —          4,846,220        —           4,846,220   

Commercial Paper

     —          197,797,795        —           197,797,795   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          1,007,697        —           1,007,697   

Certificate of Deposit

     —          144,100,000        —           144,100,000   

Total Short-Term Investments

     —          673,499,039        —           673,499,039   

Total Investments

   $ 74,418,610      $ 8,953,938,507      $ —         $ 9,028,357,117   
                                   

Secured Borrowings (Liability)

   $ —        $ (16,230,026   $ —         $ (16,230,026
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 164,539,947      $ —         $ 164,539,947   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (48,727,284     —           (48,727,284

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 115,812,663      $ —         $ 115,812,663   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 39,797,856      $ —        $ —         $ 39,797,856   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (9,764,286     —          —           (9,764,286

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 30,033,570      $ —        $ —         $ 30,033,570   
Written Options          

Credit Default Swaptions at Value

   $ —        $ (147,463   $ —         $ (147,463

Foreign Currency Written Options at Value

     —          (7,530,143     —           (7,530,143

Inflation Capped Options at Value

     —          (24,222     —           (24,222

Interest Rate Swaptions at Value

     —          (6,483,630     —           (6,483,630

Total Written Options

   $ —        $ (14,185,458   $ —         $ (14,185,458

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts           

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —         $ 2,897,021      $ —         $ 2,897,021   

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —           (62,140,666     —           (62,140,666

Total Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts

   $ —         $ (59,243,645   $ —         $ (59,243,645
OTC Swap Contracts           

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Assets)

   $ —         $ 5,139,731      $ —         $ 5,139,731   

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

     —           (33,196,130     —           (33,196,130

Total OTC Swap Contracts

   $ —         $ (28,056,399   $ —         $ (28,056,399

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 9,028,357,117   

Cash

     5,191,666   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (b)

     8,257,492   

Cash collateral (c)

     4,228,000   

OTC swap contracts at market value (d)

     5,139,731   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     164,539,947   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     37,577,401   

TBA securities sold

     290,690,625   

Fund shares sold

     928,215   

Interest

     51,537,799   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     8,431,635   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     729,046   

Prepaid expenses

     22,179   

Other assets

     289,898   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     9,605,920,751   

Liabilities

  

Written options at value (e)

     14,185,458   

Secured borrowings

     16,230,026   

OTC swap contracts at market value (f)

     33,196,130   

Cash collateral (g)

     85,050,000   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     48,727,284   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     41,777,187   

TBA securities purchased

     1,269,641,250   

Fund shares redeemed

     2,675,717   

Deferred dollar roll income

     9,356   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     28,801   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     448,247   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     3,301,946   

Distribution and service fees

     812,087   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     1,094,477   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     1,517,245,390   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 8,088,675,361   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 7,706,092,165   

Undistributed net investment income

     268,293,149   

Accumulated net realized gain

     5,381,545   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, written options, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     108,908,502   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 8,088,675,361   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 4,267,556,495   

Class B

     3,764,406,018   

Class E

     56,712,848   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     352,995,662   

Class B

     316,637,898   

Class E

     4,730,069   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 12.09   

Class B

     11.89   

Class E

     11.99   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $8,997,264,800.
(b) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $7,960,396.
(c) Includes collateral of $296,000 for futures contracts and $3,932,000 for centrally cleared swap contracts.
(d) Net premium paid on OTC swap contracts was $1,000,218.
(e) Premiums received on written options were $18,996,001.
(f) Net premium received on OTC swap contracts was $16,897,759.
(g) Includes collateral of $84,054,000 for OTC swap contracts and $996,000 for TBAs.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 5,068,190   

Interest

     195,084,489   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     200,152,679   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     40,636,569   

Administration fees

     197,920   

Custodian and accounting fees

     2,101,584   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     10,041,640   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     91,374   

Audit and tax services

     117,228   

Legal

     34,321   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     413,136   

Insurance

     55,773   

Miscellaneous

     58,746   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     53,792,051   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     146,360,628   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     (47,882,630

Futures contracts

     78,757,633   

Written options

     22,482,422   

Swap contracts

     6,603,244   

Foreign currency transactions

     160,720,596   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     220,681,265   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (11,649,837

Futures contracts

     50,459,453   

Written options

     1,184,814   

Swap contracts

     (173,056,875

Foreign currency transactions

     130,135,982   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (2,926,463
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     217,754,802   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 364,115,430   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 146,360,628      $ 145,139,469   

Net realized gain (loss)

     220,681,265        (13,049,859

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (2,926,463     (295,005,004
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     364,115,430        (162,915,394
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (113,343,451     (188,927,907

Class B

     (93,757,690     (187,898,207

Class E

     (1,475,047     (3,143,930

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     0        (82,935,566

Class B

     0        (87,419,822

Class E

     0        (1,435,014
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (208,576,188     (551,760,446
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (722,976,956     (387,471,910
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (567,437,714     (1,102,147,750

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     8,656,113,075        9,758,260,825   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 8,088,675,361      $ 8,656,113,075   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 268,293,149      $ 218,706,171   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     16,955,506      $ 200,931,838        31,368,544      $ 382,765,466   

Reinvestments

     9,621,685        113,343,451        22,283,891        271,863,473   

Redemptions

     (46,143,775     (549,895,247     (74,095,563     (940,755,909
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (19,566,584   $ (235,619,958     (20,443,128   $ (286,126,970
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     18,639,838      $ 219,572,207        28,480,356      $ 344,219,656   

Reinvestments

     8,075,598        93,757,690        22,904,994        275,318,029   

Redemptions

     (67,151,454     (791,543,544     (59,841,603     (713,042,429
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (40,436,018   $ (478,213,647     (8,456,253   $ (93,504,744
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     104,505      $ 1,239,608        188,927      $ 2,306,266   

Reinvestments

     126,072        1,475,047        378,113        4,578,944   

Redemptions

     (997,969     (11,858,006     (1,226,055     (14,725,406
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (767,392   $ (9,143,351     (659,015   $ (7,840,196
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (722,976,956     $ (387,471,910
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.87      $ 12.86      $ 12.14      $ 12.47       $ 12.02   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)

     0.22        0.21        0.25        0.30         0.28   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.31        (0.41     0.89        0.12         0.71   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.53        (0.20     1.14        0.42         0.99   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

           

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.31     (0.55     (0.42     (0.36      (0.47

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00        (0.24     0.00        (0.39      (0.07
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.31     (0.79     (0.42     (0.75      (0.54
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.09      $ 11.87      $ 12.86      $ 12.14       $ 12.47   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.49        (1.72     9.56        3.42         8.41   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.51        0.51        0.51        0.51         0.51   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.51        0.51        0.51        0.51         0.51   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.85        1.73        1.97        2.47         2.31   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     283  (c)      352  (c)      424  (c)      516         714   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 4,267.6      $ 4,422.4      $ 5,052.8      $ 5,249.4       $ 5,543.8   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.68      $ 12.66      $ 11.96      $ 12.30       $ 11.87   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)

     0.19        0.18        0.21        0.27         0.25   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.29        (0.40     0.88        0.11         0.70   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.48        (0.22     1.09        0.38         0.95   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

           

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.27     (0.52     (0.39     (0.33      (0.45

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00        (0.24     0.00        (0.39      (0.07
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.27     (0.76     (0.39     (0.72      (0.52
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.89      $ 11.68      $ 12.66      $ 11.96       $ 12.30   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.19        (1.92     9.27        3.17         8.17   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.76        0.76        0.76        0.76         0.76   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.76        0.76        0.76        0.76         0.76   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.59        1.49        1.72        2.23         2.06   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     283  (c)      352  (c)      424  (c)      516         714   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 3,764.4      $ 4,169.0      $ 4,626.9      $ 4,436.1       $ 3,958.7   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

 

Selected per share data                                
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.77      $ 12.75      $ 12.05      $ 12.37       $ 11.93   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

           

Net investment income (a)

     0.20        0.19        0.23        0.28         0.27   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.30        (0.40     0.86        0.13         0.69   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.50        (0.21     1.09        0.41         0.96   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

           

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.28     (0.53     (0.39     (0.34      (0.45

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00        (0.24     0.00        (0.39      (0.07
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.28     (0.77     (0.39     (0.73      (0.52
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.99      $ 11.77      $ 12.75      $ 12.05       $ 12.37   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.34        (1.82     9.27        3.37         8.24   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

           

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.66        0.66        0.66        0.66         0.66   

Ratio of expenses to average net assets excluding interest expense (%)

     0.66        0.66        0.66        0.66         0.66   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.69        1.59        1.82        2.31         2.17   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     283  (c)      352  (c)      424  (c)      516         714   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 56.7      $ 64.7      $ 78.5      $ 83.2       $ 118.5   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes mortgage dollar roll and TBA transactions; excluding these transactions the portfolio turnover rate would have been 112%, 140% and 183% for 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is PIMCO Total Return Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to futures transactions, foreign currency transactions, option transactions, swap transactions, premium amortization adjustments, deflationary sell adjustments, paydown reclasses and treasury rolls. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $1,007,697, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Secured Borrowing Transactions - The Portfolio may enter into transactions consisting of a transfer of a security by the Portfolio to a financial institution or counterparty, with a simultaneous agreement to reacquire the same, or substantially the same security, at an agreed-upon price and future settlement date. Such transactions are treated as secured borrowings, and not as purchases and sales. The Portfolio receives cash from the transfer of the security to use for other investment purposes. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into secured borrowing transactions involving U.S. Treasury and Federal Agency securities. During the term of the borrowing, the Portfolio is not entitled to receive principal and interest payments, if any, made on the security transferred to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. The difference between the transfer price and the reacquisition price, known as the “price drop”, is included in net investment income with the cost of the secured borrowing transaction being recorded as interest expense over the term of the borrowing. The agreed-upon proceeds for securities to be reacquired by the Portfolio are reflected as a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had an outstanding secured borrowing transaction balance for 140 days. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio’s average amount of borrowings was $61,176,015 and the weighted average interest rate was (0.97)% during the 140 day period. At December 31, 2014, the amount of the Portfolio’s outstanding borrowings was $16,230,026.

The Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreement (“MSFTA”) is a master netting agreement (“MNA”) which provides both parties with the rights to set-off in the event of default by either party. The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

liabilities represented in the statement of assets and liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities. The following table presents the Portfolio’s secured borrowings by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under the MSFTA agreement and net of the related collateral pledged or received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014:

 

Counterparty

   Payable for
Secured
Borrowings
    Financial
Instruments
Available for
Offset(a)
     Collateral
Received(b)
     Net Amount(c)  

Barclays Capital Inc.

   $ (16,230,026   $ 16,230,026       $       $   

 

  (a) Represents market value of borrowings as of December 31, 2014.
  (b) Under the terms of the MSFTA, the Portfolio and the counterparties are not permitted to sell, repledge, or use the collateral associated with the transaction.
  (c) Net amount represents the net amount payable to the counterparty in the event of default. Exposure from borrowings and other financing transactions can only be netted across transactions governed under the same master agreement with the same legal entity.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls - The Portfolio may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Portfolio sells to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon, and maturity) securities on a specified future date. For the duration of the transaction, or roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal (including prepayments of principal) and interest paid on the securities sold. Dollar rolls are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions; gain or loss is recognized at the commencement of the term of the dollar roll and each time the mortgage-backed security is rolled.

Secured borrowing transactions and mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Portfolio is required to reacquire may be less than the agreed-upon repurchase price of those securities and that the investment performance of securities purchased with proceeds from these transactions does not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities transferred or sold, as applicable, as part of the secured borrowing transaction or mortgage dollar roll.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage-backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage, and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

TBA Purchase & Forward Sale Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into TBA commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA commitments are considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases prior to settlement date, which is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the Portfolio’s other assets. TBA forward sale commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities, according to the procedures described under “Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements”. Securities with a market value of $260,261 have been received by the Portfolio as collateral for TBAs as of December 31, 2014.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Short Sales - The Portfolio may enter into a “short sale” of securities in circumstances in which, at the time the short position is open, the Portfolio owns an equal amount of the securities sold short or owns preferred stocks or debt securities, convertible or exchangeable without payment of further consideration, into an equal number of securities sold short. This kind of short sale, which is referred to as one “against the box,” may be entered into by the Portfolio to, for example, lock in a sale price for a security the Portfolio does not wish to sell immediately.

The Portfolio may also make short sales of a security it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the Portfolio must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Portfolio then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold short by the Portfolio. Until the security is replaced, the Portfolio is required to pay to the lender any dividends or interest which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Portfolio also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold short. Until the Portfolio replaces a borrowed security, the Portfolio will segregate with its custodian, or set aside in the Portfolio’s records, cash or other liquid assets at such a level that (i) the amount segregated, or set aside, plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short and (ii) the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time it was sold short. The proceeds received from a short sale are recorded as a liability. The Portfolio will realize a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Portfolio replaces the borrowed security. Conversely, the Portfolio will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. The latter result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the Portfolio may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. No more than one third of the Portfolio’s net assets will be, when added together: (i) deposited as collateral for the obligation to replace securities borrowed to effect short sales; and (ii) segregated in connection with short sales.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters

 

MIST-45


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

The purpose of inflation-capped options is to protect the buyer from inflation, above a specified rate, eroding the value of investments in inflation-linked products with a given notional exposure. Inflation-capped options are used to give downside protection to investments in inflation-linked products by establishing a floor on the value of such products.

Options on swaps (“swaptions”) are similar to options on securities except that instead of selling or purchasing the right to buy or sell a security, the writer or purchaser of the swaptions is granting or buying the right to enter into a previously agreed upon interest rate or credit default swap agreement (interest rate risk and/or credit risk) at any time before the expiration of the option.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults of corporate and/or sovereign issuers, or to create exposure to corporate and/or sovereign issuers to which they are not otherwise exposed. Credit default swaps involve one party making a stream of payments (referred to as the buyer of protection) to another party (the seller of protection) in exchange for the right to receive a specified return if a credit event occurs for the

 

MIST-46


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

referenced entity, obligation or index. A credit event is defined under the terms of each swap agreement and may include, but is not limited to, underlying entity default, bankruptcy, write-down, principal shortfall or interest shortfall. As the seller of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either pay the buyer an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). In return, the Portfolio would receive from the counterparty an upfront or periodic stream of payments throughout the life of the credit default swap agreement provided that no credit event has occurred. As the seller of protection, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the credit default swap.

The Portfolio may also purchase credit default swap contracts in order to hedge against the risk of default of debt securities held in its portfolio. This would involve the risk that the investment may be worthless when it expires and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve credit risk, whereby the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Portfolio in the event of a default. As the buyer of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). If no credit event occurs and the Portfolio is a buyer of protection, the Portfolio will typically recover nothing under the credit default swap agreement, but it will have had to pay the required upfront payment or stream of continuing payments under the credit default swap agreement. Recovery values are at times established through the credit event auction process in which market participants are ensured that a transparent price has been set for the defaulted obligation.

Credit default swap agreements on credit indices involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising the credit index. A credit index is a basket of credit instruments or exposures designed to be representative of some part of the credit market as a whole. An index credit default swap references all the names in the index, and if there is a credit event involving an entity in the index, the credit event is settled based on that entity’s weight in the index. A Portfolio may use credit default swaps on credit indices as a hedge for credit default swaps or bonds held in the portfolio, which is less expensive than it would be to buy many individual credit default swaps to achieve similar effect. Credit default swaps on indices are benchmarks for protecting investors owning bonds against default, and may be used to speculate on changes in credit quality.

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on a credit index or corporate or sovereign issuer, serve as some indication of the status of the payment/performance risk and the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity or index also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads generally represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the particular swap agreement. When no implied credit spread is available for a credit default swap, the current unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the position may be used as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Portfolio as a seller of protection could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. Notional amounts of all credit default swap agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2014, for which the Portfolio is the seller of protection, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced entity or entities.

Currency Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into currency swap agreements to gain or mitigate exposure to currency risk. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the

 

MIST-47


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Investments at market value (a)      509,486         
   OTC swap contracts at market value (b)    $ 2,598,768       OTC swap contracts at market value (b)    $ 4,741,199   
   Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (c)      2,897,021       Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (c)      62,139,831   
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (c)      39,797,856       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (c)      9,764,286   
         Written options at value      6,507,852   
Credit    OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      2,540,963       OTC swap contracts at market value (b)      28,454,931   
         Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (c)      835   
         Written options at value      147,463   
Foreign Exchange    Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      164,539,947       Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts      48,727,284   
         Written options at value      7,530,143   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 212,884,041          $ 168,013,824   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of investments as shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (b) Excludes OTC swap interest receivable of $729,046 and OTC swap interest payable of $448,247.
  (c) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA (see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
    Net Amount*  

Bank of America N.A.

   $ 228,320       $      $      $ 228,320   

Barclays Bank plc

     9,068,588         (9,068,588              

BNP Paribas S.A.

     16,876,228         (6,817,526     (10,058,702       

Citibank N.A.

     29,617,858         (27,696,946     (1,920,912       

Credit Suisse International

     16,862,862         (3,722,498     (12,236,000     904,364   

Deutsche Bank AG

     21,391,515         (9,074,478     (11,670,000     647,037   

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     10,468,646         (10,468,646              

Goldman Sachs International

     102,461         (102,461              

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     22,936,942         (11,200,275     (11,736,667       

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC

     629,523         (629,523              

Societe Generale Paris

     703,866         (631,151            72,715   

UBS AG, Stamford

     41,302,355         (1,608,303     (34,220,000     5,474,052   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 170,189,164       $ (81,020,395   $ (81,842,281   $ 7,326,488   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

MIST-48


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
    Net Amount**  

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 11,485,679       $ (9,068,588   $ (2,417,091   $   

BNP Paribas S.A.

     6,817,526         (6,817,526              

Citibank N.A.

     27,696,946         (27,696,946              

Credit Suisse International

     3,722,498         (3,722,498              

Deutsche Bank AG

     9,074,478         (9,074,478              

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

     14,690,276         (10,468,646     (4,221,630       

Goldman Sachs International

     5,516,829         (102,461     (5,414,368       

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     11,200,275         (11,200,275              

Morgan Stanley Capital Services, LLC

     3,579,563         (629,523     (2,950,040       

Societe Generale Paris

     631,151         (631,151              

UBS AG, Stamford

     1,608,303         (1,608,303              

Westpac Banking Corp.

     85,348                       85,348   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 96,108,872       $ (81,020,395   $ (15,003,129   $ 85,348   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Credit     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $      $ 161,350,821       $ 161,350,821   

Futures contracts

     78,757,633                       78,757,633   

Swap contracts

     (453,438     7,056,682                6,603,244   

Written options

     20,673,970        206,131        1,602,321         22,482,422   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 98,978,165      $ 7,262,813      $ 162,953,142       $ 269,194,120   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Credit     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Investments (a)

   $ (97,810   $      $       $ (97,810

Forward foreign currency transactions

                   130,811,526         130,811,526   

Futures contracts

     50,459,453                       50,459,453   

Swap contracts

     (160,790,000     (12,266,875             (173,056,875

Written options

     (894,439     226,238        1,853,015         1,184,814   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (111,322,796   $ (12,040,637   $ 132,664,541       $ 9,301,108   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 40,845,000   

Forward foreign currency transactions

     5,168,663,713   

Futures contracts long

     9,876,825,166   

Futures contracts short

     (801,038,108

Swap contracts

     4,669,885,241   

Written options

     (1,779,153,165

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-49


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Written Options

The Portfolio transactions in written options during the year December 31, 2014:

 

Call Options

   Notional
Amount
     Number of
Contracts
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

     717,700,000                 1,441,459   

Options written

     2,761,300,000         425         11,100,973   

Options bought back

     (9,100,000              (216,521

Options exercised

     (919,700,000      (425      (3,700,632

Options expired

     (1,926,200,000              (4,432,600
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

     624,000,000                 4,192,679   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Put Options

   Notional
Amount
     Number of
Contracts
     Premium
Received
 

Options outstanding December 31, 2013

     1,153,500,000         724         6,461,553   

Options written

     3,680,400,000         8,159         28,008,737   

Options bought back

     (763,400,000      (2,094      (4,768,680

Options exercised

     (143,300,000      (1,076      (1,139,404

Options expired

     (2,329,900,000      (5,713      (13,758,884
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Options outstanding December 31, 2014

     1,597,300,000                 14,803,322   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability

 

MIST-50


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements (“MSFTA”) govern the considerations and factors surrounding the settlement of certain forward settling transactions, such as TBA securities and delayed-delivery or secured borrowings transactions by and between the Portfolio and select counterparties. The MSFTA maintain provisions for, among other things, initiation and confirmation, payment and transfer, events of default, termination, and maintenance of collateral.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, including mortgage dollar roll and TBA transactions but excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$10,027,703,518    $ 12,632,201,967       $ 13,014,093,878       $ 10,944,442,188   

Purchases and sales of mortgage dollar rolls and TBA transactions for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

   Sales  
$14,644,486,423    $ 15,165,315,298   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$40,636,569      0.500   First $1.2 billion
     0.475   Over $1.2 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Pacific Investment Management Company LLC is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

 

MIST-51


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$208,576,188    $ 472,507,003       $       $ 79,253,443       $ 208,576,188       $ 551,760,446   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$376,892,707    $ 84,019,535       $ (78,261,621   $       $ 382,650,621   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized $96,936,671 in capital loss carryforwards.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

 

MIST-52


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-53


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of PIMCO Total Return Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of the PIMCO Total Return Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and agent banks; when replies were not received from brokers or agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the PIMCO Total Return Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-54


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-55


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-56


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-57


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-58


Met Investors Series Trust

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

PIMCO Total Return Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Pacific Investment Management Co. LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one- and three-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the five-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index, for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014. The Board also took into account the recent change in the investment management team in September 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were slightly above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Adviser was in the final stages of negotiating reductions to the Portfolio’s sub-advisory fee schedule, and that the Adviser intended to waive a corresponding portion of its advisory fees in order for contractholders to benefit from the lower sub-advisory fees and that those changes would be presented to the Board in February 2015 to be effective later in 2015.

 

MIST-59


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Managed by Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the Pioneer Fund Portfolio returned 11.16% and 10.93%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index1, returned 13.69%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Despite a weather-weakened first quarter, the U.S. economy continued to expand in 2014, with employment, personal incomes, and corporate profits hitting new highs, gasoline prices falling, and interest rates and inflation remaining low.

After a difficult 2013, and despite the Federal Reserve eliminating its Quantitative Easing bond-buying program, longer-term bonds rallied in 2014, with the yield on ten-year Treasuries falling from roughly 3% to roughly 2%. The Barclay U.S. Universal Bond Index, a broad measure of the U.S. bond market, returned 5.6% for the year.

The S&P 500 Index returned 13.7% in 2014. Falling interest rates helped Utilities to a market-leading 28% return in 2014. Health Care (up 25%) and Information Technology (up 20%) also outperformed. The Energy sector, down 8% on lower oil prices, was the only sector to post a decline in 2014. Telecom Services (up 3%) and Materials (up 7%) also lagged the broad market.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

While up in absolute terms, Portfolio returns lagged those of the benchmark S&P 500 Index as holdings in Energy, Financials, and Information Technology (“IT”) lagged Index sector returns. Calendar year Portfolio returns benefited most from a large weighting and solid returns within the Health Care sector.

The Portfolio’s worst results, by far, came in the Energy sector. Exposure to the sector was in line with that of the S&P 500 Index, however the Portfolio had higher exposure to “upstream” energy service companies and oil & gas producers and less exposure to “downstream” refiners and integrated oil companies. This made the Portfolio’s holdings more commodity price sensitive than the Index sector. As a result, Energy had the largest negative impact on both absolute and benchmark-relative returns in 2014.

The largest drag on Index-relative returns in the Financials sector in 2014 was a lack of real estate investment trust (REIT) exposure in a year when that industry group returned over 30%. In IT, the Portfolio held too many specialty semiconductor companies and an underweight position in Intel (up 44% for the year). Similarly detracting from results, Apple (up 41%) was one of our largest positions but was underweight (2.2% vs 3.3%) relative to the S&P 500 Index.

The Portfolio’s Consumer Discretionary sector exposure outperformed that of the Index’s, due in large part to owning off-price retailer Ross Stores (up 27%) and not holding Amazon (down 22%). Additionally, the Portfolio’s Industrials sector exposure, largely due to an overweight to the railroad industry, contributed to performance.

Our trading decisions were based more on bottom-up analysis of company fundamentals and relative valuations than on top-down views of the economy: we are not top-down investors. Positions with a weight above 1% at the beginning of 2014 which were sold during the year were Colgate-Palmolive, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Citigroup, Chevron, Ford Motor, and Amgen. The largest new positions initiated in 2014 (none over 1% at year-end) included infant nutrition company Mead Johnson Nutrition, Coca-Cola, electric utility NextEra Energy, paint maker Valspar, and custody bank State Street.

As is typical of our strategy, at year end most sector weights were close to those of the S&P 500 Index, with Health Care and Consumer Staples the most overweighted and IT and Telecom Services the most underweighted. As always, our strategy remains to focus on identifying individual companies we think have longer-term merit and which can withstand pressures that may be exerted by economic turbulence.

John A. Carey

Walter Hunnewell

Portfolio Managers

Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE S&P 500 INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception2  
Pioneer Fund Portfolio                      

Class A

       11.16           12.66           6.90             

Class B

       10.93           12.38                     16.26   
S&P 500 Index        13.69           15.45           7.67             

1 The Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index is an unmanaged index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-weighted index (stock price times number of shares outstanding) with each stock’s weight in the Index proportionate to its market value.

2 Inception dates of the Class A and Class B shares are 2/4/1994 and 4/28/2009, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Wells Fargo & Co.      2.6   
Microsoft Corp.      2.5   
Apple, Inc.      2.4   
Hershey Co. (The)      2.3   
C.R. Bard, Inc.      2.1   
CVS Health Corp.      2.0   
Chubb Corp. (The)      1.8   
United Technologies Corp.      1.7   
Johnson & Johnson      1.6   
Walt Disney Co. (The)      1.6   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 

Health Care

     20.4   

Financials

     15.9   

Information Technology

     15.5   

Consumer Discretionary

     12.7   

Consumer Staples

     11.1   

Industrials

     10.4   

Energy

     8.2   

Materials

     3.6   

Utilities

     1.6   

Telecommunication Services

     0.4   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

  

  

   Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.66    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,041.70         $ 3.40   
   Hypothetical*      0.66    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.88         $ 3.36   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.91    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,040.80         $ 4.68   
   Hypothetical*      0.91    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.62         $ 4.63   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—99.8% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—2.1%

   

Honeywell International, Inc.

    20,020      $ 2,000,398   

United Technologies Corp.

    70,059        8,056,785   
   

 

 

 
      10,057,183   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.4%

   

American Airlines Group, Inc.

    37,006        1,984,632   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.4%

   

BorgWarner, Inc.

    37,033        2,034,963   
   

 

 

 

Banks—9.0%

   

Bank of America Corp.

    296,687        5,307,731   

BB&T Corp.

    92,397        3,593,319   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (a)

    20,063        1,724,415   

KeyCorp

    367,996        5,115,144   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    84,370        7,697,075   

Regions Financial Corp.

    92,089        972,460   

U.S. Bancorp

    147,146        6,614,213   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    229,276        12,568,910   
   

 

 

 
      43,593,267   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—2.2%

   

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

    104,179        4,398,437   

Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.

    93,777        4,146,819   

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

    31,604        2,265,375   
   

 

 

 
      10,810,631   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—2.3%

   

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    30,604        2,968,588   

Celgene Corp. (b)

    54,670        6,115,386   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (b)

    23,183        2,185,230   
   

 

 

 
      11,269,204   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—0.6%

   

Allegion plc

    30,662        1,700,514   

Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (a)

    22,932        1,038,132   
   

 

 

 
      2,738,646   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—3.1%

   

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

    100,525        3,034,850   

Franklin Resources, Inc.

    65,187        3,609,404   

Invesco, Ltd.

    64,277        2,540,227   

Morgan Stanley

    63,507        2,464,072   

State Street Corp.

    44,922        3,526,377   
   

 

 

 
      15,174,930   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—3.6%

   

Airgas, Inc.

    21,761        2,506,432   

Dow Chemical Co. (The)

    68,194        3,110,328   

Ecolab, Inc.

    45,998        4,807,711   

Givaudan S.A. (b)

    925        1,653,952   

Monsanto Co.

    17,067        2,038,995   

Valspar Corp. (The)

    40,008        3,459,892   
   

 

 

 
      17,577,310   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—0.8%

   

F5 Networks, Inc. (b)

    30,129      $ 3,930,780   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—1.0%

   

American Express Co.

    31,694        2,948,810   

Discover Financial Services

    31,488        2,062,149   
   

 

 

 
      5,010,959   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services—0.1%

   

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co. (b)

    26,574        550,348   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—0.4%

  

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    41,443        1,938,704   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—1.5%

   

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

    70,854        4,302,255   

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    30,071        3,196,246   
   

 

 

 
      7,498,501   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.8%

   

Eaton Corp. plc

    31,164        2,117,906   

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

    14,911        1,658,103   
   

 

 

 
      3,776,009   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—2.4%

   

Cameron International Corp. (b)

    35,405        1,768,480   

FMC Technologies, Inc. (b)

    31,642        1,482,111   

Halliburton Co.

    30,065        1,182,456   

Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

    16,780        1,131,308   

National Oilwell Varco, Inc.

    28,906        1,894,210   

Schlumberger, Ltd.

    41,017        3,503,262   

Superior Energy Services, Inc.

    28,068        565,570   
   

 

 

 
      11,527,397   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—2.0%

   

CVS Health Corp.

    98,664        9,502,330   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—5.5%

   

Campbell Soup Co. (a)

    28,481        1,253,164   

General Mills, Inc.

    56,291        3,001,999   

Hershey Co. (The)

    108,402        11,266,220   

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

    34,763        2,178,250   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

    42,721        4,295,169   

Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A

    132,121        4,799,295   
   

 

 

 
      26,794,097   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—4.8%

  

Abbott Laboratories

    98,166        4,419,433   

Becton Dickinson & Co.

    41,159        5,727,686   

C.R. Bard, Inc.

    60,083        10,011,030   

Smith & Nephew plc (ADR)

    84,570        3,107,102   
   

 

 

 
      23,265,251   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—3.1%

   

Aetna, Inc.

    40,114        3,563,327   

DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc. (b)

    28,675        2,171,845   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Health Care Providers & Services—(Continued)

  

Express Scripts Holding Co. (b)

    24,147      $ 2,044,526   

Humana, Inc.

    9,763        1,402,260   

McKesson Corp.

    28,011        5,814,523   
   

 

 

 
      14,996,481   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—1.1%

   

Electrolux AB - Series B

    91,340        2,680,032   

Whirlpool Corp.

    12,967        2,512,226   
   

 

 

 
      5,192,258   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—1.4%

   

Clorox Co. (The)

    18,310        1,908,085   

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

    53,993        4,918,222   
   

 

 

 
      6,826,307   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—2.4%

   

3M Co.

    36,656        6,023,314   

General Electric Co.

    220,981        5,584,190   
   

 

 

 
      11,607,504   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—2.7%

   

Chubb Corp. (The)

    85,761        8,873,691   

Travelers Cos., Inc. (The)

    41,499        4,392,669   
   

 

 

 
      13,266,360   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—2.3%

   

eBay, Inc. (b)

    36,320        2,038,278   

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (b)

    58,154        4,537,175   

Google, Inc. - Class A (b)

    4,087        2,168,808   

Google, Inc. - Class C (b)

    4,486        2,361,430   
   

 

 

 
      11,105,691   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—2.7%

   

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

    41,552        3,464,190   

DST Systems, Inc.

    30,592        2,880,237   

Fiserv, Inc. (b)

    57,236        4,062,039   

Fujitsu, Ltd.

    94,000        500,725   

Visa, Inc. - Class A (a)

    8,890        2,330,958   
   

 

 

 
      13,238,149   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—1.0%

   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    39,561        4,956,598   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—1.8%

   

Cummins, Inc.

    12,858        1,853,738   

Ingersoll-Rand plc

    69,706        4,418,663   

PACCAR, Inc.

    35,292        2,400,209   
   

 

 

 
      8,672,610   
   

 

 

 

Media—5.6%

   

CBS Corp. - Class B

    33,137        1,833,802   

Gannett Co., Inc.

    28,117        897,776   

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. - Class A

    96,119        5,694,090   

Media—(Continued)

  

Pearson plc

    150,962      2,776,980   

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. - Class A (a)

    70,025        5,270,782   

Time Warner, Inc.

    30,574        2,611,631   

Time, Inc.

    3,173        78,087   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

    82,501        7,770,769   
   

 

 

 
      26,933,917   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—1.7%

   

Macy’s, Inc.

    79,887        5,252,570   

Nordstrom, Inc.

    39,201        3,112,168   
   

 

 

 
      8,364,738   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—5.8%

   

Apache Corp.

    51,618        3,234,900   

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.

    128,652        3,809,386   

California Resources Corp. (b)

    8,918        49,138   

ConocoPhillips

    51,058        3,526,066   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    25,359        2,334,803   

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

    62,880        2,660,453   

Marathon Oil Corp.

    112,173        3,173,374   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.

    37,693        3,402,170   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    22,296        1,797,281   

Phillips 66

    37,529        2,690,829   

Southwestern Energy Co. (b)

    61,470        1,677,516   
   

 

 

 
      28,355,916   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—9.2%

   

AbbVie, Inc.

    85,656        5,605,329   

Actavis plc (b)

    17,029        4,383,435   

AstraZeneca plc (ADR)

    33,676        2,370,117   

Eli Lilly & Co. (a)

    33,825        2,333,587   

GlaxoSmithKline plc (ADR)

    51,487        2,200,554   

Johnson & Johnson

    74,539        7,794,543   

Mallinckrodt plc (a) (b)

    29,366        2,908,115   

Merck & Co., Inc.

    74,340        4,221,769   

Pfizer, Inc.

    81,659        2,543,678   

Roche Holding AG

    7,446        2,018,167   

Shire plc

    37,399        2,646,101   

Zoetis, Inc.

    129,077        5,554,183   
   

 

 

 
      44,579,578   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.1%

   

OUTFRONT Media, Inc.

    10,354        277,901   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—2.4%

   

Kansas City Southern

    9,177        1,119,869   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

    42,318        4,638,476   

Union Pacific Corp.

    47,837        5,698,822   
   

 

 

 
      11,457,167   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—2.4%

  

 

Analog Devices, Inc.

    69,684        3,868,856   

ASML Holding NV

    24,790        2,673,106   

Intel Corp.

    61,826        2,243,665   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—(Continued)

  

Xilinx, Inc.

    64,856      $ 2,807,616   
   

 

 

 
      11,593,243   
   

 

 

 

Software—3.1%

   

CDK Global, Inc.

    11,941        486,715   

Microsoft Corp.

    265,303        12,323,324   

Symantec Corp.

    81,601        2,093,474   
   

 

 

 
      14,903,513   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—3.3%

  

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    33,198        3,484,794   

Ross Stores, Inc.

    69,459        6,547,205   

TJX Cos., Inc. (The)

    88,591        6,075,571   
   

 

 

 
      16,107,570   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—4.2%

  

Apple, Inc.

    106,779        11,786,266   

EMC Corp.

    186,217        5,538,093   

NetApp, Inc.

    70,828        2,935,821   
   

 

 

 
      20,260,180   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.5%

  

PVH Corp.

    18,263        2,340,769   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.0%

  

NOW, Inc. (a) (b)

    7,226        185,925   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $342,004,783)

      484,257,517   
   

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Investment—2.6%   
Security Description   Shares     Value  

Mutual Fund—2.6%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    12,380,249      $ 12,380,249   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment
(Cost $12,380,249)

      12,380,249   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—102.4%
(Cost $354,385,032) (d)

      496,637,766   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(2.4)%

      (11,455,729
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 485,182,037   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $14,354,366 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $12,380,249 and non-cash collateral with a value of $2,410,031. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $354,832,186. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $147,413,000 and $(5,607,420), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $141,805,580 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks           

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 10,057,183       $ —        $ —         $ 10,057,183   

Airlines

     1,984,632         —          —           1,984,632   

Auto Components

     2,034,963         —          —           2,034,963   

Banks

     43,593,267         —          —           43,593,267   

Beverages

     10,810,631         —          —           10,810,631   

Biotechnology

     11,269,204         —          —           11,269,204   

Building Products

     2,738,646         —          —           2,738,646   

Capital Markets

     15,174,930         —          —           15,174,930   

Chemicals

     15,923,358         1,653,952        —           17,577,310   

Communications Equipment

     3,930,780         —          —           3,930,780   

Consumer Finance

     5,010,959         —          —           5,010,959   

Diversified Consumer Services

     550,348         —          —           550,348   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     1,938,704         —          —           1,938,704   

Electric Utilities

     7,498,501         —          —           7,498,501   

Electrical Equipment

     3,776,009         —          —           3,776,009   

Energy Equipment & Services

     11,527,397         —          —           11,527,397   

Food & Staples Retailing

     9,502,330         —          —           9,502,330   

Food Products

     26,794,097         —          —           26,794,097   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     23,265,251         —          —           23,265,251   

Health Care Providers & Services

     14,996,481         —          —           14,996,481   

Household Durables

     2,512,226         2,680,032        —           5,192,258   

Household Products

     6,826,307         —          —           6,826,307   

Industrial Conglomerates

     11,607,504         —          —           11,607,504   

Insurance

     13,266,360         —          —           13,266,360   

Internet Software & Services

     11,105,691         —          —           11,105,691   

IT Services

     12,737,424         500,725        —           13,238,149   

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     4,956,598         —          —           4,956,598   

Machinery

     8,672,610         —          —           8,672,610   

Media

     24,156,937         2,776,980        —           26,933,917   

Multiline Retail

     8,364,738         —          —           8,364,738   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     28,355,916         —          —           28,355,916   

Pharmaceuticals

     39,915,310         4,664,268        —           44,579,578   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     277,901         —          —           277,901   

Road & Rail

     11,457,167         —          —           11,457,167   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     11,593,243         —          —           11,593,243   

Software

     14,903,513         —          —           14,903,513   

Specialty Retail

     16,107,570         —          —           16,107,570   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     20,260,180         —          —           20,260,180   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     2,340,769         —          —           2,340,769   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     185,925         —          —           185,925   

Total Common Stocks

     471,981,560         12,275,957        —           484,257,517   

Total Short-Term Investment*

     12,380,249         —          —           12,380,249   

Total Investments

   $ 484,361,809       $ 12,275,957      $ —         $ 496,637,766   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (12,380,249   $ —         $ (12,380,249

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 496,637,766   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     871,303   

Fund shares sold

     56,633   

Dividends

     699,328   

Prepaid expenses

     1,253   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     498,266,283   

Liabilities

  

Due to custodian

     174,241   

Collateral for securities loaned

     12,380,249   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     75,761   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     256,941   

Distribution and service fees

     18,316   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     68,207   

Other expenses

     110,531   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     13,084,246   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 485,182,037   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 294,086,900   

Undistributed net investment income

     5,592,003   

Accumulated net realized gain

     43,250,394   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     142,252,740   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 485,182,037   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 398,434,715   

Class B

     86,747,322   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     27,497,128   

Class B

     6,071,303   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 14.49   

Class B

     14.29   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $354,385,032.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $14,354,366.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 9,117,814   

Securities lending income

     37,415   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     9,155,229   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     3,230,906   

Administration fees

     11,762   

Custodian and accounting fees

     49,324   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     203,415   

Audit and tax services

     39,511   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     44,443   

Shareholder reporting

     25,599   

Insurance

     2,976   

Miscellaneous

     12,676   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     3,654,932   

Less management fee waiver

     (240,887

Less broker commission recapture

     (15,250
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     3,398,795   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     5,756,434   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     43,904,555   

Foreign currency transactions

     1,313   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     43,905,868   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:   

Investments

     1,072,363   

Foreign currency transactions

     13   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     1,072,376   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     44,978,244   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 50,734,678   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $15,185.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 5,756,434      $ 8,008,162   

Net realized gain

     43,905,868        185,099,147   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     1,072,376        (6,781,422
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     50,734,678        186,325,887   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (6,786,696     (12,370,049

Class B

     (1,198,381     (1,961,396

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (112,709,894     0   

Class B

     (22,654,500     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (143,349,471     (14,331,445
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     91,558,397        (617,923,964
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (1,056,396     (445,929,522

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     486,238,433        932,167,955   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 485,182,037      $ 486,238,433   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 5,592,003      $ 7,888,043   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     298,155      $ 4,394,024        1,309,171      $ 21,053,690   

Reinvestments

     9,170,882        119,496,590        806,392        12,370,049   

Redemptions

     (3,933,324     (58,681,345     (40,355,872     (653,396,117
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     5,535,713      $ 65,209,269        (38,240,309   $ (619,972,378
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     1,389,118      $ 21,148,481        1,193,633      $ 19,794,938   

Reinvestments

     1,853,370        23,852,881        128,954        1,961,396   

Redemptions

     (1,267,672     (18,652,234     (1,190,490     (19,707,920
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     1,974,816      $ 26,349,128        132,097      $ 2,048,414   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 91,558,397        $ (617,923,964
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 18.69       $ 14.54       $ 13.35       $ 14.15       $ 12.28   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.19         0.22         0.23         0.22         0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.26         4.47         1.18         (0.85      1.80   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.45         4.69         1.41         (0.63      1.98   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.32      (0.54      (0.22      (0.17      (0.11

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (5.33      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (5.65      (0.54      (0.22      (0.17      (0.11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.49       $ 18.69       $ 14.54       $ 13.35       $ 14.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     11.16         33.08         10.59         (4.55      16.22   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.72         0.70         0.68         0.69         0.69   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.67         0.66         0.66         0.68         0.67   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.24         1.34         1.60         1.56         1.46   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     24         11         49         20         10   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 398.4       $ 410.4       $ 875.1       $ 789.0       $ 938.0   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 18.50       $ 14.40       $ 13.22       $ 14.04       $ 12.20   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.15         0.18         0.19         0.19         0.15   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.25         4.42         1.18         (0.86      1.79   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.40         4.60         1.37         (0.67      1.94   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.28      (0.50      (0.19      (0.15      (0.10

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (5.33      0.00         0.00         0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (5.61      (0.50      (0.19      (0.15      (0.10
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.29       $ 18.50       $ 14.40       $ 13.22       $ 14.04   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     10.93         32.71         10.38         (4.87      15.93   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.97         0.95         0.93         0.94         0.94   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.92         0.91         0.91         0.93         0.92   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.99         1.09         1.34         1.37         1.20   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     24         11         49         20         10   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 86.7       $ 75.8       $ 57.1       $ 61.6       $ 32.6   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 5 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Pioneer Fund Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A and B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to broker commission recapture, foreign currency transactions and return of capital adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 117,330,424       $ 0       $ 159,862,527   

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$3,230,906      0.700   First $200 million
     0.650   $200 million to $500 million
     0.600   $500 million to $2 billion
     0.550   Over $2 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period April 28, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.075%    First $200 million
0.025%    $200 million to $400 million
0.050%    $400 million to $500 million
0.050%    $900 million to $2 billion

An identical agreement was in place for the period April 29, 2013 through April 27, 2014. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A and Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

6. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

7. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$7,985,077    $ 14,331,445       $ 135,364,394       $       $ 143,349,471       $ 14,331,445   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$5,797,694    $ 43,560,065       $ 141,805,585       $       $ 191,163,344   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

8. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Pioneer Fund Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Pioneer Fund Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Pioneer Fund Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Fund Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Pioneer Fund Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Pioneer Investment Management Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further noted that the Portfolio underperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance in light of current market conditions and a recent trend toward improved performance.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further considered that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Managed by Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio returned 4.58%, 4.40%, and 4.44%, respectively. The Portfolio’s primary benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Universal Index1, returned 5.56%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The U.S. Dollar and U.S. markets, including most surprisingly longer-term U.S. Treasuries, were the big winners in 2014, supported by strong profits, easy monetary policy and low inflation. U.S. assets benefited particularly from diverging growth prospects of the U.S. relative to most other developed and emerging market economies, and the increasing divergence between U.S. and foreign central bank monetary policies. Although geopolitical risk and volatility rose during the year, responding to intermittent concerns about the Ukraine conflict, the emerging of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Middle East, and Ebola, these risks subsided and investors embraced U.S. equities.

While first quarter real U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”) turned sharply negative due to a record cold winter, growth recovered dramatically to 4.6% in the second quarter and 5.0% in third quarter, as the U.S. economy exhibited broad-based improvement. Monthly employment gains averaged over 255,000 since February, and weekly jobless claims fell below an average 300,000 in the second half of the year, so that the unemployment rate fell by almost 1% from 6.7% to 5.8%. Even more important to the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) may have been the larger decline in long-term unemployment from 3.6% to 2.6% by year-end. While the U.S. experienced improving growth, the Eurozone, China and Japan suffered from lower than expected growth and disinflation, and in the case of Europe, deflationary fears. With its greater dependence on emerging market and Russian trade (the latter hurt by Ukraine sanctions), as well as the legacy of tighter monetary policy, Eurozone GDP quarterly growth fell from 0.3% to 0.2% in the third quarter. China continued to grapple with its transition from a more capital-intensive to consumer-oriented economy, as third quarter growth fell to a five-year low of 7.3%. Falling commodities demand from China hurt economies, particularly emerging market economies dependent upon hard commodity exports. Finally, Japan fell into recession in the third quarter, as consumer spending was stymied by higher sales taxes and exports were hurt by lower demand from China and emerging markets.

Lower global growth contributed to a sharp sell-off in oil, which plummeted almost 50% from a mid-June peak of $115, as measured by Brent crude prices, to a year-end level of $55. Prices responded to lower projected demand as well as to increased supply, reflecting increased production from the U.S. shale oil industry. In particular, Saudi Arabia’s unexpected decision in November to maintain production in the face of lower demand, in an effort to weed out high cost producers, including U.S. shale producers, represented a watershed event for oil prices, testing the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)’s ability to control the oil market. Lower oil prices had a devastating effect on net oil producers, including Russia and Venezuela, with the Ruble down over 40% relative to the U.S. Dollar in the second half of the year.

The differing growth paths between the U.S. and non-U.S. economies resulted in diverging monetary policies. The Fed continued upon its path to rate normalization, ending its asset purchase program (“QE3”) on schedule in October, and becoming increasingly vocal about raising interest rates in 2015. The European Central Bank (the “ECB”) cut interest rates, which helped drive down German Bund yields to record lows, and announced a plan at year end to spur inflation by expanding its balance sheet by €1 trillion with purchases of government, corporate and asset-backed securities of troubled peripheral countries. The Bank of Japan announced additional quantitative easing of $700 billion in September. Finally, China enacted its first rate cut in three years, and extended increased credit to banks.

U.S. Treasury markets delivered a highly unexpected outcome in 2014; the yield curve flattened dramatically as intermediate and longer-term Treasuries rallied and short term Treasuries rose over the year. While most investors were positioned for rising interest rates across the curve, instead they experienced a strong rally in longer-term U.S. Treasuries, with the 30-year yield declining from 3.94% to 2.75%, returning 29.4%, and the 10-year yield falling from 3.01% to 2.17%. This rally resulted first from uncertainty about U.S. growth early in the year, but was extended as foreign investors demanded high quality, higher yielding assets, particularly in the wake of negative deposit rates in Europe, and as inflation expectations and breakeven rates fell. 2-year Treasury yields rose from 0.39% to 0.68% in the expectation of rising interest rates in 2015; 5-year Treasuries fell modestly from 1.74% to 1.66%.

Over the year, the Securitized markets significantly outperformed the Corporate markets, the latter of which was hurt by a sell-off in Energy and Basic Materials issues in the second half of the year. Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) returned 6.08%, for a 0.40% excess return (which is defined as the performance over like-duration U.S. Treasuries), as the option-adjusted spread tightened from 0.34% to 0.27%. Fears about the negative impact of the end of QE3 buying by the Fed, and reduced involvement of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the market proved to be unfounded. Limited new issuance, their role as a high quality U.S. asset, and the Fed’s reinvestment of pay-downs bolstered demand for Agency MBS over the year. Commercial MBS (“CMBS”) enjoyed a banner year, returning 3.86% for a 1.08% excess return, as the sector outperformed in the wake of lower than expected issuance and a strong commercial real estate market. Asset-Backed Securities (“ABS”), including credit cards and autos, returned 1.88%, for a 0.53% excess return. Finally, floating rate Non-Agency Residential MBS (“RMBS”), and Home Equity Loans returned 3.33%.

Investment Grade Corporates underperformed, returning 7.46% for a -0.48% excess return, as the second half sell-off of Industrials

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Managed by Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

(focused in the Energy, Basic Materials, and Telecommunications sectors) weighed on performance. Industrials returned 7.60% for a -1.10% excess return, while Financials outperformed, returning 6.16% for a 0.55% excess return, and Utilities held up, delivering a 11.45% return, for a -0.15% excess return. The High Yield market also suffered a sell-off in the second half, returning 2.50% for the year, for a -1.29% excess return, as the Energy sector, which accounted for 14% of the market at the beginning of the year, was down 7.44%. High Yield spreads widened from 400 basis points (“bps”) to 504 bps over the year.

High Yield Convertibles returned 6.41%, buoyed by the equity markets: the S&P 500 Index returned 13.69% for the year. Despite reduced inflation expectations, floating rate assets performed reasonably well. Bank Loans returned 1.54%, reflecting strong demand from Collateralized Loan Obligation funds, which enjoyed their highest issuance since 2007. Event-Linked (Catastrophe) Bonds returned 6.41%, benefiting from strong demand and a benign hurricane season. Despite a year end sell-off, higher quality Emerging Markets delivered positive returns: Sovereigns returned 6.15% and Corporates returned 3.58%. Emerging Market High Yield Corporates returned -0.86%. The U.S. Dollar enjoyed its strongest rally since 2008, rising 9.2% on a trade-weighted basis, benefiting from strong growth and tightening U.S. monetary policy. The U.S. Dollar rose 13.6% vs. the Euro and 13.7% vs. the Yen.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio underperformed its benchmark for the year. The major detractors from performance were duration positioning and currency positions. The approximate 1.7 year (average) short duration position detracted from performance. Longer maturity yields, in particular, fell as the path of U.S. economic growth remained in doubt for the first half of the year, and did not recover as the team had anticipated. Only the release of the second quarter GDP report convinced investors that U.S. growth was improving. Furthermore, faltering global growth and rate cuts by the ECB in the third quarter drove investors to seek out higher yielding high quality assets in the form of U.S. Treasuries, furthering a rally in longer term Treasury yields. Although the Portfolio held its highest ever net dollar position relative to its historical positioning, reflecting the team’s bullish view of the U.S. Dollar, currency detracted from performance, as the U.S. Dollar rallied against almost all foreign currencies. A 2.5% average exposure to the Norwegian Krone was the major detractor from performance; the 1.1% position in the Mexican Peso and the 0.3% position in the Russian Ruble also detracted from relative returns. The negative impact of these positions was only partly offset by the outperformance of the 1.7% average short position in the Euro and the 0.8% short position in the Yen.

Asset allocation was the major contributor to relative performance; yield curve positioning also helped. Security selection was neutral to performance. Asset allocation reflected the benefit of exposure to non-benchmark asset classes, including the 3.8% average allocation to Convertible securities, 9.2% to Bank Loans, 3.0% to Event-Linked (Catastrophe) bonds, 2.1% to Preferred Stock, 3.8% to Municipals, and 5.2% to Non-Agency MBS. A barbelled yield curve position, in which the Portfolio was neutral to the very short end, significantly underweight to the 2 and 5-year part of the yield curve, and relatively neutral to the long end of the yield curve, was a significant contributor to performance, as the short end sold off, and the long end rallied. Quality reflected the benefit of the lower relative quality within Financials, ABS, and Utilities. While security selection outperformed within Financials and Agency MBS, this benefit was offset by underperformance within Industrials, particularly High Yield Energy and Emerging Market issues, and Agency issues.

Significant actions the team took in managing the Portfolio over the year included reducing overall credit risk, increasing the relative short duration position, and reducing Emerging Markets exposure. The team reduced overall risk through the third quarter, as lower spreads provided less compensation for risk. The team increased exposure to Agency MBS, while reducing its exposure to higher risk issues, within Bank Loans, High Yield Corporates, Emerging Markets, and Investment Grade Insurance and Banking issues. The team also reduced exposure to Municipals, as prices rallied and relative value became less compelling. In addition, as longer yields rallied, the team increased its relative short duration position through the first three quarters of the year. Finally, the team reduced exposure to Emerging Markets, both with respect to currency and country exposure, as the outlook dimmed for the asset class and volatility rose.

The Portfolio used Treasury Futures to manage duration and yield curve positioning, and Currency Forwards to establish positions in currencies that may not offer viable or attractive alternatives for investment, as well as to hedge out currency risk. Over the year, the Portfolio held average long positions in Ultra-Long Bond Futures, and short positions in 2-year, 5-year, 10-year and 30-year Treasury Futures.

The Portfolio also held Currency Forwards in developed and emerging market currencies, and used them both to hedge currency exposures in cash bonds, and to establish currency positions. Finally, we held High Yield CDX exposure in the Portfolio in the second half of the year, which, along with Investment Grade CDX, we may use periodically as an efficient means to reduce exposure or to increase exposure to High Yield or Investment Grade Corporates. High Yield CDX exposure in the second half, including a 1.7% average exposure in the fourth quarter to High Yield CDX, added high yield risk at the peak of the spread widening in October flash crash and contributed to performance.

At the end of the period, the Portfolio held a duration of 3.66 years, compared to 5.42 years for the Index. With respect to sector exposures, the Portfolio held a 1.8% weighting in U.S. Treasuries, representing a 28.2% underweight relative to the Index. As interest rates rallied over the year, and with near record-low yields, we believed

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Managed by Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

U.S. Treasuries offer little value to investors. While the Portfolio added exposure to Agency MBS over the year, the Portfolio continued to hold a 17.9% position, representing a 6.2% underweight to Agency MBS. The Portfolio held its most significant exposure to corporate bonds, totaling 43.5%; this amount included overweights relative to the Index of 11.0% for U.S. Investment Grade Corporates, 1.6% for U.S. High Yield Corporates and 2.3% for Developed Market Corporates. The Portfolio reduced its Emerging Market exposure over the year, but continued to hold 10.9% in Emerging Market issues, representing a 3.3% overweight relative to the Index. The Portfolio held 97.7% net U.S. Dollar and 76.3% U.S. country exposure.

Ken Taubes

Andrew Feltus

Charles Melchreit

Portfolio Managers

Pioneer Investment Management, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. UNIVERSAL INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception2  
Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio                      

Class A

       4.58           6.62           6.76             

Class B

       4.40                               4.04   

Class E

       4.44           6.47                     7.22   
Barclays U.S. Universal Index        5.56           4.81           4.91             

1 The Barclays U.S. Universal Index represents the union of the U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, U.S. Corporate High Yield Index, Investment Grade 144A Index, Eurodollar Index, U.S. Emerging Markets Index, and the non-ERISA eligible portion of the CMBS Index. The index covers USD-denominated, taxable bonds that are rated either investment grade or high-yield.

2 Inception dates of the Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 6/16/1994, 7/17/2013 and 4/28/2008, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes      44.0   
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      21.3   
Floating Rate Loans      8.2   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      8.2   
Foreign Government      4.8   
Asset-Backed Securities      4.0   
Municipals      3.4   
Convertible Bonds      2.3   
Preferred Stocks      2.0   
Convertible Preferred Stocks      0.6   

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A

   Actual      0.62    $ 1,000.00         $ 994.60         $ 3.12   
   Hypothetical*      0.62    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.08         $ 3.16   

Class B

   Actual      0.87    $ 1,000.00         $ 993.50         $ 4.37   
   Hypothetical*      0.87    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.82         $ 4.43   

Class E

   Actual      0.77    $ 1,000.00         $ 993.60         $ 3.87   
   Hypothetical*      0.77    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.32         $ 3.92   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—44.0% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Aerospace/Defense—0.2%

  

Moog, Inc.
5.250%, 12/01/22 (144A)

    2,245,000      $ 2,273,062   
   

 

 

 

Agriculture—0.5%

  

Alliance One International, Inc.
9.875%, 07/15/21 (a)

    1,875,000        1,673,437   

Lorillard Tobacco Co.
3.750%, 05/20/23

    800,000        792,382   

MHP S.A.
8.250%, 04/02/20 (144A)

    1,800,000        1,224,000   

Viterra, Inc.
5.950%, 08/01/20 (144A)

    2,760,000        3,047,206   
   

 

 

 
      6,737,025   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.4%

  

Air Canada Pass-Through Trust
4.125%, 05/15/25 (144A)

    785,652        793,509   

Delta Air Lines Pass-Through Trust
4.950%, 05/23/19

    440,876        471,737   

6.375%, 01/02/16 (144A)

    725,000        754,000   

Hawaiian Airlines Pass-Through Certificates
3.900%, 01/15/26

    475,000        466,688   

TAM Capital 3, Inc.
8.375%, 06/03/21 (144A) (a)

    660,000        678,150   

United Continental Holdings, Inc.
6.000%, 07/15/26 (a)

    1,975,000        1,900,937   
   

 

 

 
      5,065,021   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.2%

  

Navistar International Corp.
8.250%, 11/01/21 (a)

    2,030,000        2,002,087   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.2%

  

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.
7.875%, 04/15/19 (a)

    250,000        258,125   

Dana Holding Corp.
6.000%, 09/15/23

    2,265,000        2,366,925   
   

 

 

 
      2,625,050   
   

 

 

 

Banks—6.1%

  

Akbank TAS
7.500%, 02/05/18 (144A) (TRY)

    300,000        117,625   

Alfa Bank OJSC Via Alfa Bond Issuance plc
7.500%, 09/26/19 (144A) (a)

    2,150,000        1,814,170   

8.625%, 04/26/16 (144A) (RUB)

    41,800,000        581,416   

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.
4.500%, 03/19/24 (144A)

    1,470,000        1,500,607   

Banco de Credito del Peru
6.875%, 09/16/26 (144A) (a) (b)

    1,915,000        2,082,563   

9.750%, 11/06/69 (144A) (b)

    110,000        133,100   

Banco do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul S.A.
7.375%, 02/02/22 (144A) (a)

    700,000        711,648   

Banco Nacional de Costa Rica
4.875%, 11/01/18 (144A)

    1,000,000        990,000   

Banco Santander S.A.
6.375%, 05/19/19 (b)

    1,400,000        1,368,500   

Banks—(Continued)

  

Bank of America Corp.
6.110%, 01/29/37

    1,600,000      1,889,206   

6.250%, 09/05/24 (b)

    2,950,000        2,915,889   

7.750%, 05/14/38

    3,200,000        4,519,373   

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (The)
4.500%, 06/20/23 (a) (b)

    925,000        852,734   

BBVA Bancomer S.A.
4.375%, 04/10/24 (144A)

    650,000        653,250   

5.350%, 11/12/29 (144A) (b)

    400,000        396,000   

6.500%, 03/10/21 (144A)

    4,110,000        4,450,719   

Citigroup, Inc.
5.950%, 01/30/23 (b)

    3,016,000        2,970,760   

CorpGroup Banking S.A.
6.750%, 03/15/23 (144A) (a)

    1,300,000        1,281,199   

Credit Agricole S.A.
6.625%, 09/23/19 (144A) (b)

    3,325,000        3,222,756   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)
5.200%, 12/17/19 (NZD)

    2,480,000        1,944,694   

6.450%, 05/01/36

    875,000        1,057,616   

6.750%, 10/01/37

    600,000        754,425   

Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.
3.625%, 08/12/15 (144A)

    911,000        923,304   

6.500%, 02/24/21 (144A) (a)

    1,175,000        1,359,302   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
4.250%, 11/02/18 (NZD)

    2,600,000        2,010,928   

5.150%, 05/01/23 (a) (b)

    1,450,000        1,365,900   

6.750%, 02/01/24 (b)

    2,475,000        2,611,125   

7.900%, 04/30/18 (b)

    1,889,000        2,033,131   

Morgan Stanley
4.100%, 05/22/23

    2,500,000        2,531,095   

4.875%, 11/01/22

    450,000        477,935   

6.625%, 04/01/18

    714,000        813,271   

Nordea Bank AB
4.250%, 09/21/22 (144A)

    3,400,000        3,530,308   

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.
4.000%, 10/15/24 (144A) (a) (b)

    800,000        819,144   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
4.451%, 11/21/14 (b)

    2,749,000        2,749,000   

6.750%, 08/01/21 (a) (b)

    5,295,000        5,811,263   

Russian Agricultural Bank OJSC Via RSHB Capital S.A.
8.500%, 10/16/23 (144A)

    3,365,000        2,254,550   

Scotia Bank Peru DPR Finance Co.
2.991%, 03/15/17 (144A) (b)

    473,684        473,111   

Scotiabank Peru S.A.
4.500%, 12/13/27 (144A) (a) (b)

    1,900,000        1,844,900   

Standard Chartered plc
3.950%, 01/11/23 (144A) (a)

    3,275,000        3,160,503   

Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A/S
7.375%, 03/07/18 (144A) (TRY)

    2,700,000        1,034,120   

UBS AG
7.625%, 08/17/22

    2,850,000        3,355,465   

VTB Bank OJSC Via VTB Capital S.A.
6.000%, 04/12/17 (144A)

    1,000,000        862,500   

6.950%, 10/17/22 (144A) (a)

    1,100,000        814,000   
   

 

 

 
      77,043,105   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Beverages—0.1%

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc.
7.750%, 01/15/19

    1,254,000      $ 1,518,895   

Constellation Brands, Inc.
4.750%, 11/15/24

    455,000        460,687   
   

 

 

 
      1,979,582   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.8%

  

Building Materials Corp. of America
5.375%, 11/15/24 (144A)

    1,640,000        1,635,900   

Cemex Espana Luxembourg
9.875%, 04/30/19 (144A) (a)

    1,420,000        1,558,450   

Cemex S.A.B. de C.V.
7.250%, 01/15/21 (144A) (a)

    800,000        838,000   

Desarrolladora Homex S.A.B. de C.V.
9.500%, 12/11/19 (144A) (c) (d)

    855,000        59,850   

9.750%, 03/25/20 (144A) (c) (d)

    905,000        63,350   

Holcim U.S. Finance Sarl & Cie SCS
6.000%, 12/30/19 (144A)

    225,000        257,527   

Masco Corp.
5.950%, 03/15/22

    1,425,000        1,581,750   

7.125%, 03/15/20

    2,905,000        3,355,275   

Owens Corning
4.200%, 12/01/24

    200,000        197,373   

Union Andina de Cementos SAA
5.875%, 10/30/21 (144A) (a)

    770,000        781,165   

Urbi Desarrollos Urbanos S.A.B. de C.V.
9.500%, 01/21/20 (144A) (c)

    346,000        34,600   

9.750%, 02/03/22 (144A) (c) (d)

    375,000        37,500   
   

 

 

 
      10,400,740   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.8%

  

Agrium, Inc.
5.250%, 01/15/45

    4,475,000        4,833,515   

Eastman Chemical Co.
4.800%, 09/01/42

    740,000        748,335   

EuroChem Mineral & Chemical Co. OJSC via EuroChem GI, Ltd.
5.125%, 12/12/17 (144A)

    600,000        514,800   

Hexion U.S. Finance Corp. / Hexion Nova Scotia Finance ULC
8.875%, 02/01/18 (a)

    640,000        569,600   

9.000%, 11/15/20 (a)

    655,000        468,325   

NOVA Chemicals Corp.
5.000%, 05/01/25 (144A)

    645,000        640,162   

Phosagro OAO via Phosagro Bond Funding, Ltd.
4.204%, 02/13/18 (144A)

    900,000        774,000   

Rain CII Carbon LLC / CII Carbon Corp.
8.000%, 12/01/18 (144A)

    1,275,000        1,287,750   

Rentech Nitrogen Partners L.P. / Rentech Nitrogen Finance Corp.
6.500%, 04/15/21 (144A)

    360,000        320,400   
   

 

 

 
      10,156,887   
   

 

 

 

Coal—0.1%

  

Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.
6.000%, 06/01/19 (a)

    820,000      254,200   

Berau Coal Energy Tbk PT
7.250%, 03/13/17 (144A)

    1,500,000        693,750   
   

 

 

 
      947,950   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—1.0%

  

Amherst College
3.794%, 11/01/42

    400,000        398,580   

Board of Trustees of The Leland Stanford Junior University (The)
4.750%, 05/01/19

    950,000        1,058,768   

Bowdoin College
4.693%, 07/01/2112

    800,000        832,622   

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5.600%, 07/01/2111

    800,000        1,101,377   

President and Fellows of Harvard College
2.300%, 10/01/23

    1,000,000        966,498   

Red de Carreteras de Occidente SAPIB de C.V.
9.000%, 06/10/28 (144A) (MXN)

    15,000,000        985,152   

Rent-A-Center, Inc.
6.625%, 11/15/20 (a)

    350,000        336,000   

SFX Entertainment, Inc.
9.625%, 02/01/19 (144A) (a)

    2,950,000        2,721,375   

Tufts University
5.017%, 04/15/2112

    2,700,000        2,944,442   

University of Southern California
5.250%, 10/01/2111

    550,000        744,852   

William Marsh Rice University
4.626%, 05/15/63

    900,000        979,552   
   

 

 

 
      13,069,218   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.4%

  

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
4.625%, 01/15/23

    550,000        528,000   

NCR Corp.
6.375%, 12/15/23

    1,085,000        1,128,400   

Seagate HDD Cayman
4.750%, 06/01/23

    3,165,000        3,287,321   
   

 

 

 
      4,943,721   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—2.8%

  

Alterra Finance LLC
6.250%, 09/30/20

    2,100,000        2,437,884   

Ausdrill Finance Pty, Ltd.
6.875%, 11/01/19 (144A)

    810,000        664,200   

BM&FBovespa S.A.
5.500%, 07/16/20 (144A) (a)

    2,000,000        2,120,000   

Cantor Fitzgerald L.P.
7.875%, 10/15/19 (144A)

    2,345,000        2,561,912   

Carlyle Holdings II Finance LLC
5.625%, 03/30/43 (144A)

    3,645,000        4,215,727   

DTEK Finance plc
7.875%, 04/04/18 (144A)

    500,000        225,000   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Diversified Financial Services—(Continued)

  

E*TRADE Financial Corp.
5.375%, 11/15/22

    1,160,000      $ 1,186,100   

Eden Re II, Ltd.
Zero Coupon, 04/19/18 (144A)

    1,300,000        1,300,000   

Fly Leasing, Ltd.
6.750%, 12/15/20

    770,000        777,700   

General Electric Capital Corp.
7.125%, 06/15/22 (b)

    4,000,000        4,655,000   

Grain Spectrum Funding II LLC
3.290%, 10/10/19 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,005,200   

Hyundai Capital Services, Inc.
3.500%, 09/13/17 (144A)

    660,000        682,755   

KKR Group Finance Co. II LLC
5.500%, 02/01/43 (144A)

    3,750,000        4,270,601   

Legg Mason, Inc.
5.625%, 01/15/44

    1,150,000        1,315,436   

Macquarie Group, Ltd.
6.000%, 01/14/20 (144A) (a)

    1,400,000        1,585,744   

6.250%, 01/14/21 (144A) (a)

    400,000        457,769   

Magnesita Finance, Ltd.
8.625%, 04/05/17 (144A)

    750,000        720,000   

Nationstar Mortgage LLC / Nationstar Capital Corp.
6.500%, 06/01/22

    835,000        761,937   

Sector Re V, Ltd.
Zero Coupon, 12/01/19 (144A)

    750,000        753,900   

SUAM Finance B.V.
4.875%, 04/17/24 (144A)

    975,000        975,000   

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.
3.625%, 04/01/25 (a)

    2,500,000        2,533,782   
   

 

 

 
      35,205,647   
   

 

 

 

Electric—2.3%

  

Consolidated Edison Co. of New York, Inc.
4.625%, 12/01/54

    3,225,000        3,531,988   

Electricite de France S.A.
5.250%, 01/29/23 (144A) (a) (b)

    950,000        973,750   

6.000%, 01/22/14 (144A)

    4,000,000        4,659,768   

Empresa Electrica Angamos S.A.
4.875%, 05/25/29 (144A) (a)

    1,670,000        1,640,775   

Enel S.p.A.
8.750%, 09/24/73 (144A) (b)

    2,090,000        2,427,013   

FPL Energy American Wind LLC
6.639%, 06/20/23 (144A)

    207,570        207,570   

FPL Energy Wind Funding LLC
6.876%, 06/27/17 (144A)

    98,195        98,440   

Iberdrola International B.V.
6.750%, 07/15/36

    2,125,000        2,708,961   

Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad
6.375%, 05/15/43 (144A)

    850,000        709,750   

6.950%, 11/10/21 (144A)

    1,520,000        1,579,067   

InterGen NV
7.000%, 06/30/23 (144A)

    900,000        855,000   

Israel Electric Corp., Ltd.
6.700%, 02/10/17 (144A)

    770,000        825,825   

Electric—(Continued)

  

Israel Electric Corp., Ltd.
7.250%, 01/15/19 (144A)

    845,000      941,161   

9.375%, 01/28/20 (144A)

    410,000        502,250   

Kiowa Power Partners LLC
5.737%, 03/30/21 (144A)

    762,724        818,936   

Panoche Energy Center LLC
6.885%, 07/31/29 (144A)

    774,672        891,261   

Public Service Co. of New Mexico
7.950%, 05/15/18

    625,000        735,538   

RJS Power Holdings LLC
5.125%, 07/15/19 (144A) (a)

    1,285,000        1,268,938   

Southern California Edison Co.
6.250%, 02/01/22 (b)

    1,575,000        1,746,281   

Star Energy Geothermal Wayang Windu, Ltd.
6.125%, 03/27/20 (144A) (a)

    1,300,000        1,280,500   

West Penn Power Co.
5.950%, 12/15/17 (144A)

    1,197,000        1,332,462   
   

 

 

 
      29,735,234   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.0%

  

Legrand France S.A.
8.500%, 02/15/25

    20,000        28,088   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.3%

  

Flextronics International, Ltd.
4.625%, 02/15/20

    780,000        791,700   

5.000%, 02/15/23

    1,300,000        1,326,000   

Viasystems, Inc.
7.875%, 05/01/19 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,160,500   
   

 

 

 
      3,278,200   
   

 

 

 

Energy-Alternate Sources—0.0%

  

Alta Wind Holdings LLC
7.000%, 06/30/35 (144A)

    283,146        321,563   
   

 

 

 

Engineering & Construction—0.3%

  

Abengoa Finance SAU
8.875%, 11/01/17 (144A)

    500,000        475,000   

Dycom Investments, Inc.
7.125%, 01/15/21

    1,000,000        1,050,000   

Empresas ICA S.A.B. de C.V.
8.375%, 07/24/17 (144A)

    550,000        544,500   

8.900%, 02/04/21 (144A) (a)

    1,500,000        1,440,000   

OAS Investments GmbH
8.250%, 10/19/19 (144A)

    2,400,000        816,000   
   

 

 

 
      4,325,500   
   

 

 

 

Entertainment—0.5%

  

GLP Capital L.P. / GLP Financing II, Inc.
4.375%, 11/01/18

    1,010,000        1,032,725   

4.875%, 11/01/20

    985,000        997,312   

Gtech S.p.A.
8.250%, 03/31/66 (144A) (EUR) (b)

    1,957,000        2,557,514   

Mashantucket Western Pequot Tribe
6.500%, 07/01/36 (e) (f)

    21,197        212   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Entertainment—(Continued)

  

Scientific Games International, Inc.
10.000%, 12/01/22 (144A)

    2,600,000      $ 2,382,250   
   

 

 

 
      6,970,013   
   

 

 

 

Food—1.3%

  

BRF S.A.
3.950%, 05/22/23 (144A) (a)

    600,000        554,700   

5.875%, 06/06/22 (144A)

    1,425,000        1,507,650   

CFG Investment SAC
9.750%, 07/30/19 (144A)

    995,000        865,650   

Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V.
3.875%, 06/27/24 (144A) (a)

    1,800,000        1,807,074   

JBS Finance II, Ltd.
8.250%, 01/29/18 (144A)

    1,430,000        1,462,175   

JBS Investments GmbH
7.750%, 10/28/20 (144A) (a)

    890,000        921,595   

Marfrig Holding Europe B.V.
6.875%, 06/24/19 (144A)

    2,885,000        2,683,050   

8.375%, 05/09/18 (144A)

    1,200,000        1,182,000   

Marfrig Overseas, Ltd.
9.500%, 05/04/20 (144A)

    825,000        833,250   

Minerva Luxembourg S.A.
7.750%, 01/31/23 (144A) (a)

    1,700,000        1,666,000   

12.250%, 02/10/22 (144A)

    800,000        920,800   

Mondelez International, Inc.
6.500%, 02/09/40

    1,282,000        1,708,566   
   

 

 

 
      16,112,510   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.2%

  

Inversiones CMPC S.A.
4.375%, 05/15/23 (144A)

    400,000        393,120   

Resolute Forest Products, Inc.
5.875%, 05/15/23

    1,880,000        1,786,000   
   

 

 

 
      2,179,120   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.2%

  

Nakilat, Inc.
6.067%, 12/31/33 (144A)

    520,000        581,100   

6.267%, 12/31/33 (144A)

    1,235,411        1,374,395   

Transportadora de Gas del Peru S.A.
4.250%, 04/30/28 (144A)

    1,000,000        965,000   
   

 

 

 
      2,920,495   
   

 

 

 

Hand/Machine Tools—0.1%

  

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
5.750%, 12/15/53 (b)

    1,525,000        1,643,187   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.2%

  

Physio-Control International, Inc.
9.875%, 01/15/19 (144A)

    2,280,000        2,416,800   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.3%

  

Gentiva Health Services, Inc.
11.500%, 09/01/18 (a)

    470,000        500,080   

Healthcare-Services—(Continued)

  

HCA, Inc.
6.500%, 02/15/20

    350,000      392,175   

7.690%, 06/15/25

    50,000        56,250   

8.360%, 04/15/24

    50,000        58,750   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.
6.375%, 04/15/22 (144A)

    600,000        571,500   

NYU Hospitals Center
4.428%, 07/01/42

    1,800,000        1,823,665   
   

 

 

 
      3,402,420   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—0.6%

  

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. / Brookfield Residential U.S. Corp.
6.125%, 07/01/22 (144A) (a)

    1,000,000        1,040,000   

DR Horton, Inc.
5.750%, 08/15/23 (a)

    1,375,000        1,457,500   

KB Home
7.000%, 12/15/21

    1,800,000        1,893,375   

Meritage Homes Corp.
7.000%, 04/01/22

    2,500,000        2,650,000   
   

 

 

 
      7,040,875   
   

 

 

 

Home Furnishings—0.1%

  

Arcelik A/S
5.000%, 04/03/23 (144A) (a)

    1,300,000        1,252,030   
   

 

 

 

Household Products/Wares—0.2%

  

Controladora Mabe S.A. de C.V.
7.875%, 10/28/19 (144A)

    2,121,000        2,327,797   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—7.2%

  

Aquarius + Investments plc for Swiss Reinsurance Co., Ltd.
6.375%, 09/01/24 (b)

    2,700,000        2,807,798   

Arlington Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 08/01/15 (f)

    600,000        648,900   

Armor Re, Ltd.
4.036%, 12/15/16 (144A) (b)

    600,000        600,060   

Atlas Reinsurance VII, Ltd.
8.125%, 01/07/16 (144A) (b)

    250,000        256,750   

AXA S.A.
8.600%, 12/15/30

    1,320,000        1,793,258   

Blue Danube II, Ltd.
4.279%, 05/23/16 (144A) (b)

    1,250,000        1,259,500   

Blue Danube, Ltd.
6.004%, 04/10/15 (144A) (b)

    250,000        251,075   

Bosphorus Re, Ltd.
2.536%, 05/03/16 (144A) (b)

    500,000        500,100   

Brown & Brown, Inc.
4.200%, 09/15/24

    3,000,000        3,034,080   

Caelus Re, Ltd.
5.286%, 03/07/16 (144A) (b)

    1,150,000        1,164,720   

6.886%, 04/07/17 (144A) (b)

    1,050,000        1,093,155   

Carnoustie Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 02/19/16

    960,000        960,000   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Combine Re, Ltd.
4.536%, 01/07/15 (144A) (b)

    750,000      $ 749,850   

Compass Re, Ltd.
9.036%, 01/08/15 (144A) (b)

    300,000        299,970   

10.286%, 01/08/15 (144A) (b)

    800,000        800,000   

Delphi Financial Group, Inc.
7.875%, 01/31/20

    2,190,000        2,628,228   

East Lane Re V, Ltd.
9.036%, 03/16/16 (144A) (b)

    250,000        265,425   

Embarcadero Reinsurance, Ltd.
5.036%, 08/07/15 (144A) (b)

    1,500,000        1,501,500   

Exeter Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 01/07/16

    1,644,300        1,644,300   

Foundation Re III, Ltd.
5.036%, 02/25/15 (144A) (b)

    750,000        753,075   

Galileo Re, Ltd.
7.436%, 01/09/17 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        1,029,900   

Gloucester Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 06/12/15 (f)

    1,300,000        1,232,530   

Golden State RE II, Ltd.
2.236%, 01/08/19 (144A) (b)

    1,250,000        1,243,375   

Gullane Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 01/23/17

    1,900,000        1,900,000   

Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (The)
7.500%, 03/01/20

    325,000        382,783   

7.625%, 10/15/25

    1,166,000        1,406,127   

Hereford Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 01/07/16

    504,600        504,600   

Ibis Re II, Ltd.
4.036%, 06/28/16 (144A) (b)

    750,000        762,000   

8.386%, 02/05/15 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        1,005,600   

13.536%, 02/05/15 (144A) (b)

    750,000        757,500   

Ironshore Holdings U.S., Inc.
8.500%, 05/15/20 (144A)

    1,635,000        1,964,389   

Kilimanjaro Re, Ltd.
3.786%, 11/25/19 (144A) (b)

    1,300,000        1,295,450   

4.536%, 04/30/18 (144A) (b)

    250,000        252,400   

4.786%, 04/30/18 (144A) (b)

    1,900,000        1,937,050   

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
7.697%, 10/15/97 (144A)

    2,600,000        3,284,369   

Loma Reinsurance, Ltd.
9.786%, 01/08/18 (144A) (b)

    300,000        312,690   

Longpoint Re, Ltd.
6.036%, 06/12/15 (144A) (b)

    750,000        762,975   

Longpoint Re, Ltd. III
3.996%, 05/18/16 (144A) (b)

    1,425,000        1,446,090   

Merna Re V, Ltd.
2.036%, 04/07/17 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        996,800   

Montpelier Re Holdings, Ltd.
4.700%, 10/15/22

    1,965,000        2,024,372   

Muirfield Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 01/07/16

    800,400        800,400   

Mystic Re, Ltd.
9.036%, 03/12/15 (144A) (b)

    500,000        505,250   

12.036%, 03/12/15 (144A) (b)

    750,000        761,400   

Mythen Re, Ltd.
8.006%, 05/07/15 (144A) (b)

    2,250,000        2,301,975   

8.036%, 07/09/15 (144A) (b)

    1,050,000        1,083,810   

8.557%, 01/05/17 (144A) (b)

    1,200,000        1,273,200   

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Northshore Re, Ltd.
7.286%, 07/05/16 (144A) (b)

    1,100,000      1,146,970   

OneBeacon U.S. Holdings, Inc.
4.600%, 11/09/22

    1,500,000        1,560,114   

Pangaea Re
Zero Coupon, 02/01/19 ()

    1,200,000        1,200,000   

Platinum Underwriters Finance, Inc.
7.500%, 06/01/17

    2,214,000        2,473,226   

Protective Life Corp.
7.375%, 10/15/19

    850,000        1,022,886   

Prudential Financial, Inc.
5.625%, 06/15/43 (b)

    1,750,000        1,789,025   

5.875%, 09/15/42 (a) (b)

    1,200,000        1,266,000   

8.875%, 06/15/38 (b)

    915,000        1,068,263   

QBE Insurance Group, Ltd.
2.400%, 05/01/18 (144A)

    850,000        850,088   

Queen Street IV Capital, Ltd.
7.536%, 04/09/15 (144A) (b)

    750,000        756,450   

Queen Street V Re, Ltd.
8.536%, 04/09/15 (144A) (b)

    600,000        606,360   

Queen Street VII Re, Ltd.
8.636%, 04/08/16 (144A) (b)

    1,200,000        1,246,800   

Residential Reinsurance 2011, Ltd.
8.786%, 06/06/15 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        1,023,200   

8.936%, 12/06/15 (144A) (b)

    250,000        257,875   

9.036%, 06/06/15 (144A) (b)

    1,175,000        1,206,020   

Residential Reinsurance 2012, Ltd.
4.536%, 12/06/16 (144A) (b)

    1,400,000        1,443,820   

5.786%, 12/06/16 (144A) (b)

    1,250,000        1,299,250   

8.036%, 06/06/16 (144A) (b)

    950,000        1,015,930   

10.036%, 06/06/16 (144A) (b)

    800,000        869,360   

Residential Reinsurance 2013, Ltd.
9.286%, 06/06/17 (144A) (b)

    350,000        372,260   

Sanders Re, Ltd.
3.036%, 05/25/18 (144A) (b)

    500,000        494,700   

3.536%, 05/05/17 (144A) (b)

    500,000        496,850   

4.036%, 05/05/17 (144A) (b)

    1,500,000        1,496,400   

Sirius International Group, Ltd.
7.506%, 06/30/17 (144A) (b)

    3,465,000        3,607,065   

St. Andrews Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 01/22/16

    1,200,000        1,200,000   

Successor X, Ltd.
11.036%, 01/27/15 (144A) (b)

    650,000        653,510   

11.286%, 11/10/15 (144A) (b)

    250,000        260,225   

Tar Heel Re, Ltd.
8.536%, 05/09/16 (144A) (b)

    400,000        422,960   

Tradewynd Re, Ltd.
6.250%, 01/08/15 (144A) (b)

    250,000        249,850   

Troon Segregated Account (Kane SAC, Ltd.)
Zero Coupon, 01/07/16

    825,900        825,900   

Ursa Re, Ltd.
3.536%, 12/07/17 (144A) (b)

    500,000        499,500   

Vita Capital V, Ltd.
2.726%, 01/15/17 (144A) (b)

    500,000        506,700   

3.426%, 01/15/17 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        1,018,300   

Vitality Re IV, Ltd.
2.786%, 01/09/17 (144A) (b)

    400,000        403,280   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Vitality Re V, Ltd.
1.786%, 01/07/19 (144A) (b)

    250,000      $ 244,600   

2.536%, 01/07/19 (144A) (b)

    250,000        248,875   

Voya Financial, Inc.
5.650%, 05/15/53 (a) (b)

    450,000        445,500   

Wilton Re Finance LLC
5.875%, 03/30/33 (144A) (b)

    1,050,000        1,104,504   
   

 

 

 
      90,891,395   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.2%

  

Equinix, Inc.
5.375%, 01/01/22

    900,000        908,460   

5.750%, 01/01/25

    1,100,000        1,109,625   

Expedia, Inc.
5.950%, 08/15/20

    675,000        754,295   
   

 

 

 
      2,772,380   
   

 

 

 

Investment Company Security—0.1%

  

Gruposura Finance
5.700%, 05/18/21 (144A)

    915,000        965,325   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.6%

  

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.
9.375%, 06/01/19

    1,135,000        1,320,504   

Evraz, Inc. N.A. Canada
7.500%, 11/15/19 (144A)

    2,050,000        1,983,375   

Ferrexpo Finance plc
7.875%, 04/07/16 (144A)

    650,000        494,000   

Glencore Funding LLC
4.125%, 05/30/23 (144A)

    875,000        853,789   

Metalloinvest Finance, Ltd.
5.625%, 04/17/20 (144A)

    1,000,000        758,820   

Metinvest B.V.
8.750%, 02/14/18 (144A) (a)

    1,200,000        660,000   

10.250%, 05/20/15 (144A)

    150,000        117,000   

Samarco Mineracao S.A.
4.125%, 11/01/22 (144A)

    1,275,000        1,122,000   

Worthington Industries, Inc.
4.550%, 04/15/26

    710,000        751,484   
   

 

 

 
      8,060,972   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Time—0.1%

  

NCL Corp., Ltd.
5.250%, 11/15/19 (144A)

    700,000        705,250   
   

 

 

 

Lodging—0.3%

  

MGM Resorts International
6.000%, 03/15/23 (a)

    2,085,000        2,095,425   

Wynn Las Vegas LLC / Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp.
4.250%, 05/30/23 (144A)

    920,000        874,000   

5.375%, 03/15/22 (a)

    1,115,000        1,131,725   
   

 

 

 
      4,101,150   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.1%

  

Ormat Funding Corp.
8.250%, 12/30/20

    699,027        706,018   
   

 

 

 
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Machinery-Diversified—0.3%

  

Cummins, Inc.
5.650%, 03/01/98

    2,375,000      $ 2,920,832   

6.750%, 02/15/27 (a)

    393,000        505,440   
   

 

 

 
      3,426,272   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.3%

  

CCOH Safari LLC
5.750%, 12/01/24

    1,400,000        1,415,750   

DIRECTV Holdings LLC / DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc.
3.950%, 01/15/25

    700,000        705,508   

Numericable-SFR
6.000%, 05/15/22 (144A)

    975,000        980,363   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.
8.750%, 02/14/19

    198,000        245,095   
   

 

 

 
      3,346,716   
   

 

 

 

Metal Fabricate/Hardware—0.0%

  

Valmont Industries, Inc.
6.625%, 04/20/20

    314,000        368,520   
   

 

 

 

Mining—1.0%

  

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
3.875%, 03/15/23 (a)

    1,605,000        1,513,252   

Fresnillo plc
5.500%, 11/13/23 (144A) (a)

    1,275,000        1,249,500   

Gold Fields Orogen Holding BVI, Ltd.
4.875%, 10/07/20 (144A)

    3,610,000        3,032,400   

IAMGOLD Corp.
6.750%, 10/01/20 (144A)

    500,000        376,600   

KGHM International, Ltd.
7.750%, 06/15/19 (144A)

    2,100,000        2,163,000   

MMC Norilsk Nickel OJSC via MMC Finance, Ltd.
5.550%, 10/28/20 (144A)

    1,400,000        1,268,400   

Vedanta Resources plc
6.000%, 01/31/19 (144A)

    1,150,000        1,121,250   

8.250%, 06/07/21 (144A) (a)

    395,000        391,050   

9.500%, 07/18/18 (144A)

    725,000        779,375   

Volcan Cia Minera SAA
5.375%, 02/02/22 (144A) (a)

    625,000        617,187   
   

 

 

 
      12,512,014   
   

 

 

 

Multi-National—1.1%

  

European Bank for Reconstruction & Development
6.000%, 03/03/16 (INR)

    46,650,000        737,694   

7.650%, 02/18/15 (INR)

    38,500,000        610,220   

Inter-American Development Bank
4.500%, 02/04/16 (IDR)

    21,400,000,000        1,672,929   

6.000%, 09/05/17 (INR)

    37,550,000        603,191   

7.200%, 11/14/17 (IDR)

    12,080,000,000        957,124   

7.250%, 07/17/17 (IDR)

    4,110,000,000        331,157   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Multi-National—(Continued)

  

International Bank for Reconstruction & Development
5.750%, 10/21/19 (AUD)

    1,600,000      $ 1,478,703   

International Finance Corp.
6.300%, 11/25/24 (INR)

    47,580,000        761,627   

7.750%, 12/03/16 (INR)

    189,120,000        3,107,236   

8.250%, 06/10/21 (INR)

    190,030,000        3,421,311   
   

 

 

 
      13,681,192   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—2.8%

  

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc.
7.500%, 09/15/20 (144A) (a)

    1,365,000        1,310,400   

8.625%, 10/15/18

    1,130,000        1,130,000   

Denbury Resources, Inc.
4.625%, 07/15/23 (a)

    2,120,000        1,839,100   

Dolphin Energy, Ltd.
5.500%, 12/15/21 (144A)

    470,000        528,985   

Ensco plc
4.500%, 10/01/24 (a)

    2,550,000        2,478,541   

EP Energy LLC / Everest Acquisition Finance, Inc.
9.375%, 05/01/20 (a)

    1,750,000        1,767,500   

Gazprom OAO Via Gaz Capital S.A.
4.950%, 07/19/22 (144A)

    200,000        162,000   

8.146%, 04/11/18 (144A)

    190,000        188,100   

KazMunayGas National Co. JSC
4.400%, 04/30/23 (144A) (a)

    600,000        533,100   

Linn Energy LLC / Linn Energy Finance Corp.
6.250%, 11/01/19 (a)

    1,375,000        1,161,875   

8.625%, 04/15/20

    825,000        717,750   

Newfield Exploration Co.
5.625%, 07/01/24 (a)

    1,625,000        1,607,734   

Novatek OAO via Novatek Finance, Ltd.
4.422%, 12/13/22 (144A) (a)

    2,600,000        1,924,000   

Oasis Petroleum, Inc.
6.875%, 03/15/22 (a)

    600,000        546,000   

6.875%, 01/15/23

    2,050,000        1,865,500   

Offshore Group Investment, Ltd.
7.500%, 11/01/19 (a)

    650,000        484,250   

Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp.
5.375%, 01/26/19 (144A) (a)

    710,000        611,665   

Petrobras Global Finance B.V.
3.000%, 01/15/19 (a)

    2,375,000        2,099,666   

Petroleos Mexicanos
7.190%, 09/12/24 (144A) (MXN)

    2,715,000        183,230   

Precision Drilling Corp.
6.625%, 11/15/20

    1,100,000        990,000   

Rosetta Resources, Inc.
5.875%, 06/01/22

    1,070,000        963,000   

Rosneft Finance S.A.
6.625%, 03/20/17 (144A)

    375,000        348,750   

7.500%, 07/18/16 (144A) (a)

    1,090,000        1,045,583   

Rowan Cos., Inc.
4.750%, 01/15/24 (a)

    3,125,000        2,949,585   

Samson Investment Co.
9.750%, 02/15/20 (a)

    865,000        358,434   

Oil & Gas—(Continued)

  

SandRidge Energy, Inc.
7.500%, 03/15/21

    625,000      400,000   

SM Energy Co.
5.000%, 01/15/24

    210,000        181,650   

6.500%, 01/01/23

    195,000        187,200   

Swift Energy Co.
7.875%, 03/01/22 (a)

    1,600,000        828,000   

Tesoro Corp.
5.375%, 10/01/22 (a)

    1,630,000        1,650,375   

Transocean, Inc.
6.375%, 12/15/21 (a)

    3,100,000        2,859,592   

Valero Energy Corp.
9.375%, 03/15/19

    1,230,000        1,533,971   

W&T Offshore, Inc.
8.500%, 06/15/19 (a)

    600,000        393,000   
   

 

 

 
      35,828,536   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Services—0.6%

  

Calfrac Holdings L.P.
7.500%, 12/01/20 (144A)

    425,000        359,125   

Exterran Holdings, Inc.
7.250%, 12/01/18

    1,525,000        1,494,500   

Freeport-McMoran Oil & Gas LLC / FCX Oil & Gas, Inc.
6.750%, 02/01/22

    2,278,000        2,505,800   

SESI LLC
7.125%, 12/15/21 (a)

    1,460,000        1,401,600   

Weatherford International, Ltd.
5.950%, 04/15/42

    475,000        402,195   

9.625%, 03/01/19

    1,209,000        1,433,971   
   

 

 

 
      7,597,191   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—0.5%

  

AEP Industries, Inc.
8.250%, 04/15/19

    290,000        292,900   

Ardagh Packaging Finance plc
9.125%, 10/15/20 (144A)

    2,325,000        2,476,125   

9.250%, 10/15/20 (144A) (EUR)

    400,000        510,641   

Ardagh Packaging Finance plc / Ardagh MP Holdings USA, Inc.
6.750%, 01/31/21 (144A) (a)

    300,000        298,500   

7.000%, 11/15/20 (144A)

    211,765        213,883   

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc. / Reynolds Group Issuer LLC
7.125%, 04/15/19

    1,300,000        1,343,875   

9.875%, 08/15/19

    705,000        747,300   
   

 

 

 
      5,883,224   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.2%

  

Endo Finance Co.
5.750%, 01/15/22 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,000,000   

Endo Finance LLC & Endo Finco, Inc.
5.375%, 01/15/23 (144A)

    480,000        470,400   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
7.500%, 07/15/21 (144A)

    1,390,000        1,501,200   
   

 

 

 
      2,971,600   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Pipelines—3.0%

  

Boardwalk Pipelines L.P.
4.950%, 12/15/24

    1,650,000      $ 1,640,410   

Buckeye Partners L.P.
6.050%, 01/15/18

    505,000        557,157   

DCP Midstream LLC
5.850%, 05/21/43 (144A) (a) (b)

    2,951,000        2,862,470   

9.750%, 03/15/19 (144A)

    1,267,000        1,584,771   

Energy Transfer Partners L.P.
3.250%, 11/01/66 (b)

    900,000        805,500   

EnLink Midstream Partners L.P.
4.400%, 04/01/24

    3,135,000        3,175,884   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC
3.750%, 02/15/25

    1,375,000        1,380,236   

8.375%, 08/01/66 (b)

    1,059,000        1,137,101   

Gibson Energy, Inc.
6.750%, 07/15/21 (144A)

    2,735,000        2,728,163   

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P.
4.150%, 03/01/22 (a)

    2,300,000        2,317,779   

5.950%, 02/15/18

    1,559,000        1,721,141   

MarkWest Energy Partners L.P. / MarkWest Energy Finance Corp.
4.875%, 12/01/24 (a)

    2,745,000        2,683,238   

ONEOK, Inc.
6.875%, 09/30/28

    1,850,000        2,101,927   

Plains All American Pipeline L.P. / PAA Finance Corp.
6.125%, 01/15/17

    1,467,000        1,598,788   

Questar Pipeline Co.
5.830%, 02/01/18

    1,441,000        1,598,215   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC
5.625%, 02/01/21

    2,150,000        2,112,375   

Spectra Energy Capital LLC
6.200%, 04/15/18

    1,109,000        1,232,276   

6.750%, 07/15/18 (a)

    600,000        677,938   

Sunoco Logistics Partners Operations L.P.
6.100%, 02/15/42

    1,700,000        1,843,856   

Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A.
9.625%, 05/14/20 (144A)

    703,895        703,895   

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)
7.750%, 06/15/31

    1,549,000        1,658,867   

Williams Partners L.P.
4.300%, 03/04/24

    2,440,000        2,435,515   
   

 

 

 
      38,557,502   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.1%

  

WP Carey, Inc.
4.600%, 04/01/24

    1,210,000        1,270,500   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.5%

  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
2.750%, 01/15/20

    1,575,000        1,559,940   

3.900%, 06/15/23

    811,000        813,620   

4.600%, 04/01/22

    575,000        611,605   

BioMed Realty L.P.
4.250%, 07/15/22 (a)

    685,000        710,015   

Real Estate Investment Trusts—(Continued)

  

Corporate Office Properties L.P.
3.600%, 05/15/23

    870,000      835,936   

CubeSmart L.P.
4.800%, 07/15/22 (a)

    550,000        603,964   

DCT Industrial Operating Partnership L.P.
4.500%, 10/15/23

    1,250,000        1,301,739   

Digital Realty Trust L.P.
4.500%, 07/15/15 (a)

    900,000        908,544   

5.875%, 02/01/20 (a)

    350,000        391,467   

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc.
5.750%, 01/15/21

    630,000        704,441   

Highwoods Realty L.P.
3.625%, 01/15/23 (a)

    1,525,000        1,529,261   

Hospitality Properties Trust
5.000%, 08/15/22

    674,000        710,248   

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.
4.950%, 04/01/24

    3,120,000        3,246,797   

Piedmont Operating Partnership L.P.
3.400%, 06/01/23

    1,880,000        1,821,831   

Senior Housing Properties Trust
6.750%, 04/15/20

    2,235,000        2,525,532   

Trust F/1401
5.250%, 12/15/24 (144A)

    940,000        968,294   
   

 

 

 
      19,243,234   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.4%

  

CVS Pass-Through Trust
5.773%, 01/10/33 (144A)

    846,734        974,163   

Outerwall, Inc.
6.000%, 03/15/19

    965,000        950,525   

QVC, Inc.
4.450%, 02/15/25

    3,250,000        3,176,433   
   

 

 

 
      5,101,121   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.2%

  

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
7.000%, 07/01/24 (a)

    2,650,000        2,245,875   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.3%

  

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
5.625%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,155,000   

Audatex North America, Inc.
6.000%, 06/15/21 (144A)

    2,350,000        2,420,500   
   

 

 

 
      3,575,500   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—2.5%

  

Altice Financing S.A.
6.500%, 01/15/22 (144A)

    1,250,000        1,221,875   

CenturyLink, Inc.
6.450%, 06/15/21 (a)

    700,000        750,750   

7.600%, 09/15/39

    700,000        693,000   

Cincinnati Bell, Inc.
8.375%, 10/15/20

    1,408,000        1,478,400   

Crown Castle Towers LLC
4.883%, 08/15/20 (144A) (a)

    1,600,000        1,758,762   

6.113%, 01/15/20 (144A)

    785,000        901,684   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Telecommunications—(Continued)

  

Digicel, Ltd.
8.250%, 09/01/17 (144A) (a)

    1,350,000      $ 1,366,875   

Frontier Communications Corp.
8.500%, 04/15/20

    1,775,000        1,979,125   

8.750%, 04/15/22 (a)

    1,950,000        2,179,125   

GCI, Inc.
8.625%, 11/15/19

    370,000        388,038   

GTP Acquisition Partners I LLC
7.628%, 06/15/16 (144A)

    1,800,000        1,884,074   

GTP Cellular Sites LLC
3.721%, 03/15/17 (144A)

    586,164        601,908   

MTN Mauritius Investments, Ltd.
4.755%, 11/11/24 (144A)

    1,425,000        1,396,500   

Oi S.A.
5.750%, 02/10/22 (144A) (a)

    685,000        626,775   

PAETEC Holding Corp.
9.875%, 12/01/18

    500,000        525,000   

Sprint Corp.
7.250%, 09/15/21

    1,850,000        1,833,812   

T-Mobile USA, Inc.
6.625%, 11/15/20

    875,000        890,312   

Unison Ground Lease Funding LLC
2.981%, 03/15/20 (144A)

    1,100,000        1,112,290   

Verizon Communications, Inc.
5.012%, 08/21/54 (144A)

    1,652,000        1,709,075   

6.550%, 09/15/43

    1,649,000        2,112,615   

VimpelCom Holdings B.V.
7.504%, 03/01/22 (144A)

    2,500,000        2,025,000   

9.000%, 02/13/18 (144A) (RUB)

    34,300,000        389,722   

WCP Wireless Site Funding LLC
6.829%, 11/15/15 (144A)

    1,850,000        1,899,284   

Windstream Corp.
6.375%, 08/01/23 (a)

    265,000        247,775   

7.750%, 10/15/20

    1,615,000        1,663,450   

8.125%, 09/01/18

    400,000        415,000   
   

 

 

 
      32,050,226   
   

 

 

 

Textiles—0.0%

   

Mohawk Industries, Inc.
3.850%, 02/01/23

    575,000        575,231   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.2%

  

Far East Capital, Ltd. S.A.
8.000%, 05/02/18 (144A) (a)

    600,000        246,000   

Golar LNG Partners L.P.
6.840%, 10/12/17 (NOK) (b)

    6,000,000        796,994   

Inversiones Alsacia S.A.
8.000%, 12/31/18 (144A)

    1,405,889        1,013,767   

Escrow (c) (f) (m)

    1,790,000        0   
   

 

 

 
      2,056,761   
   

 

 

 

Trucking & Leasing—0.2%

  

GATX Corp.
6.000%, 02/15/18

    1,896,000        2,108,339   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $552,423,430)

      557,004,971   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—21.3%   
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—18.5%

  

Fannie Mae 15 Yr. Pool

   

3.000%, TBA (g)

    3,100,000      3,222,184   

3.500%, TBA (g)

    2,900,000        3,063,578   

4.000%, 07/01/18

    125,964        133,496   

4.000%, 08/01/18

    142,317        150,792   

4.000%, 03/01/19

    162,673        172,364   

5.000%, 02/01/20

    64,508        68,689   

5.000%, 10/01/20

    311,594        334,578   

5.000%, 12/01/21

    33,345        35,997   

5.000%, 02/01/22

    11,401        12,312   

5.000%, 06/01/22

    28,438        30,699   

5.000%, 09/01/22

    265,547        280,289   

5.000%, 07/01/23

    204,731        220,969   

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool

   

3.000%, TBA (g)

    6,225,000        6,296,977   

3.500%, 11/01/40

    3,140,798        3,278,872   

3.500%, 08/01/42

    12,257,499        12,792,772   

3.500%, 12/01/42

    1,028,030        1,076,452   

3.500%, 07/01/43

    2,844,190        2,968,179   

3.500%, 02/01/44

    4,509,189        4,705,761   

3.500%, TBA (g)

    11,447,000        11,932,605   

4.000%, 12/01/40

    1,137,383        1,228,576   

4.000%, 07/01/41

    1,193,144        1,279,864   

4.000%, 12/01/41

    770,545        823,339   

4.000%, 01/01/42

    826,794        883,441   

4.000%, 04/01/42

    1,282,034        1,369,873   

4.000%, 07/01/42

    4,118,531        4,425,571   

4.000%, 08/01/42

    3,784,250        4,050,559   

4.000%, 12/01/42

    120,800        129,327   

4.000%, 05/01/44

    2,798,855        2,990,619   

4.000%, 07/01/44

    3,374,028        3,605,200   

4.000%, 08/01/44

    641,110        685,036   

4.000%, 11/01/44

    2,235,824        2,389,098   

4.000%, TBA (g)

    8,269,000        8,825,122   

4.500%, 03/01/35

    65,245        71,201   

4.500%, 07/01/35

    121,702        132,616   

4.500%, 05/01/39

    3,266,570        3,595,420   

4.500%, 11/01/40

    5,368,066        5,832,683   

4.500%, 12/01/40

    816,085        893,485   

4.500%, 05/01/41

    313,245        340,314   

4.500%, 07/01/41

    4,042,884        4,426,109   

4.500%, 11/01/41

    559,736        611,178   

4.500%, 12/01/41

    112,869        122,996   

4.500%, 11/01/43

    870,754        956,189   

4.500%, 01/01/44

    9,392,093        10,204,900   

4.500%, TBA (g)

    5,800,000        6,295,719   

5.000%, 01/01/38

    4,722,897        5,233,557   

5.000%, 01/01/39

    760,979        840,145   

5.000%, 06/01/40

    366,975        406,118   

5.000%, 07/01/40

    301,316        333,331   

5.000%, TBA (g)

    20,000,000        22,096,484   

6.000%, 03/01/32

    716        820   

6.000%, 07/01/37

    50,090        56,846   

6.000%, 07/01/38

    457,748        518,823   

6.500%, 07/01/31

    120        137   

6.500%, 10/01/31

    616        702   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool

   

6.500%, 02/01/32

    483      $ 551   

6.500%, 12/01/36

    2,760        3,307   

6.500%, 03/01/37

    52,602        59,905   

6.500%, 10/01/37

    42,777        48,715   

7.000%, 09/01/29

    327        371   

7.500%, 01/01/30

    720        841   

7.500%, 10/01/30

    101        115   

Fannie Mae REMICS (CMO)

   

3.500%, 01/25/29 (h)

    328,495        21,013   

4.500%, 06/25/29

    613,245        665,432   

5.000%, 09/25/39

    90,958        94,279   

Freddie Mac 15 Yr. Gold Pool

   

3.500%, 11/01/28

    1,716,081        1,825,804   

4.500%, 11/01/18

    70,581        74,411   

5.000%, 12/01/21

    110,706        118,974   

5.500%, 10/01/16

    701        741   

6.000%, 06/01/17

    9,415        9,847   

Freddie Mac 30 Yr. Gold Pool

   

3.500%, 10/01/40

    736,204        766,694   

3.500%, 08/01/43

    3,540,403        3,685,147   

4.000%, 01/01/44

    3,597,114        3,838,986   

4.000%, 02/01/44

    477,844        511,948   

4.000%, 04/01/44

    6,863,004        7,324,476   

4.000%, 07/01/44

    19,154,004        20,455,213   

4.500%, 04/01/41

    2,194,819        2,381,513   

4.500%, 03/01/42

    3,290,126        3,570,925   

4.500%, 05/01/44

    1,343,104        1,457,012   

5.000%, 05/01/34

    320,471        354,643   

5.000%, 06/01/35

    83,314        91,837   

5.000%, 05/01/37

    369,564        407,419   

5.000%, 09/01/38

    64,228        70,799   

5.000%, 10/01/38

    156,087        172,055   

5.000%, 11/01/39

    1,383,415        1,533,374   

5.000%, 12/01/39

    314,052        352,714   

6.000%, 06/01/35

    25,040        28,293   

6.000%, 12/01/36

    29,607        33,470   

Freddie Mac REMICS (CMO)
5.000%, 06/15/34

    20,517        20,510   

Ginnie Mae I 15 Yr. Pool
5.000%, 10/15/18

    83,555        89,022   

5.500%, 08/15/19

    31,387        33,266   

5.500%, 10/15/19

    163,550        172,978   

6.000%, 05/15/17

    851        880   

6.000%, 06/15/17

    1,086        1,128   

6.000%, 08/15/19

    9,190        9,723   

Ginnie Mae I 30 Yr. Pool

   

3.500%, TBA (g)

    4,188,000        4,396,091   

4.000%, 02/15/41

    702,951        764,118   

4.000%, TBA (g)

    10,195,000        10,937,204   

4.500%, 09/15/33

    137,313        151,059   

4.500%, 05/15/34

    259,968        285,993   

4.500%, 12/15/34

    94,064        103,346   

4.500%, 04/15/35

    312,516        342,608   

4.500%, 10/15/35

    105,241        115,206   

4.500%, 04/15/39

    2,252,931        2,463,109   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Ginnie Mae I 30 Yr. Pool

   

4.500%, 01/15/40

    3,347,215      3,687,645   

4.500%, 09/15/40

    472,769        520,334   

4.500%, 07/15/41

    698,458        764,560   

4.500%, 08/15/41

    668,232        731,340   

5.000%, 05/15/34

    1,084,679        1,200,727   

5.000%, 04/15/35

    15,197        17,019   

5.500%, 01/15/34

    89,524        102,709   

5.500%, 04/15/34

    32,268        36,218   

5.500%, 07/15/34

    168,460        190,060   

5.500%, 10/15/34

    117,038        132,062   

5.500%, 06/15/35

    47,631        53,410   

5.500%, 11/15/35

    60,085        67,465   

5.750%, 10/15/38

    145,647        163,948   

6.000%, 02/15/24

    2,117        2,392   

6.000%, 11/15/28

    1,029        1,164   

6.000%, 02/15/33

    2,801        3,242   

6.000%, 03/15/33

    11,664        13,485   

6.000%, 06/15/33

    11,550        13,245   

6.000%, 07/15/33

    10,429        11,946   

6.000%, 09/15/33

    12,620        14,411   

6.000%, 10/15/33

    4,104        4,639   

6.000%, 08/15/34

    42,247        48,296   

6.500%, 03/15/29

    4,120        4,708   

6.500%, 02/15/32

    1,649        1,891   

6.500%, 03/15/32

    1,736        2,035   

6.500%, 11/15/32

    5,417        6,249   

7.000%, 03/15/31

    342        388   

Ginnie Mae II 30 Yr. Pool

   

4.000%, 10/20/44

    2,648,882        2,845,879   

4.500%, 09/20/41

    766,829        840,079   

5.000%, 08/20/34

    124,462        138,187   

5.500%, 03/20/34

    13,881        15,669   

6.000%, 05/20/32

    19,846        22,822   

6.000%, 11/20/33

    23,430        26,951   

Government National Mortgage Association
1.006%, 02/16/53 (b) (h)

    8,886,831        659,385   

1.016%, 03/16/53 (b) (h)

    5,916,676        399,677   

1.021%, 08/16/52 (b) (h)

    8,704,023        515,591   

1.045%, 09/16/52 (b) (h)

    9,011,377        666,671   

4.973%, 04/16/42

    82,856        84,815   

Government National Mortgage Association (CMO)
3.000%, 04/20/41

    1,223,878        1,265,466   

4.500%, 09/20/39

    2,235,000        2,414,915   
   

 

 

 
      233,971,723   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—2.8%

   

U.S. Treasury Bonds
3.000%, 11/15/44

    8,000,000        8,407,504   

4.500%, 08/15/39

    10,200,000        13,593,091   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Notes
0.125%, 07/15/24

    13,200,396        12,712,602   
   

 

 

 
      34,713,197   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $263,110,286)

      268,684,920   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (n)—8.2%

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Advertising—0.1%

   

Affinion Group, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.750%, 04/30/18

    1,339,354      $ 1,257,318   
   

 

 

 

Aerospace/Defense—0.3%

  

DAE Aviation Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B1, 5.000%, 11/02/18

    1,424,904        1,421,342   

DigitalGlobe, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 01/31/20

    935,340        929,202   

DynCorp International LLC
Term Loan B, 6.250%, 07/07/16

    154,176        153,663   

Standard Aero, Ltd.
Term Loan B2, 5.000%, 11/02/18

    645,948        644,333   

TASC, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.500%, 05/30/20

    298,096        290,830   
   

 

 

 
      3,439,370   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—0.0%

  

FTS International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.750%, 04/16/21

    43,636        34,836   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.1%

  

Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Term Loan B1, 3.250%, 10/18/18

    980,000        966,219   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.1%

  

Federal-Mogul Holdings Corp.
Term Loan C, 4.750%, 04/15/21

    767,247        762,691   

MPG Holdco I, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 10/20/21

    763,623        760,951   
   

 

 

 
      1,523,642   
   

 

 

 

Auto Manufacturers—0.2%

   

Chrysler Group LLC
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 05/24/17

    3,005,975        3,002,217   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.5%

   

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (The)
2nd Lien Term Loan, 4.750%, 04/30/19

    750,000        748,313   

Remy International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 03/05/20

    609,351        606,304   

TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 07/02/21

    1,228,744        1,213,384   

Tower Automotive Holdings USA LLC
Term Loan, 4.000%, 04/23/20

    2,497,149        2,458,131   

UCI International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.500%, 07/26/17

    960,000        956,800   
   

 

 

 
      5,982,932   
   

 

 

 

Building Materials—0.0%

   

U.S. Silica Co.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 07/17/20

    361,988        348,413   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.0%

  

Ozburn-Hessey Holding Co. LLC
Term Loan, 6.750%, 05/23/19

    581,150        579,697   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.3%

  

Axalta Coating Systems U.S. Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.750%, 02/01/20

    1,662,438      1,623,994   

Chemtura Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 08/27/16

    166,929        166,998   

Huntsman International LLC
Extended Term Loan B, 2.706%,
04/19/17

    151,603        148,887   

Univar, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 06/30/17

    949,954        921,626   

WR Grace & Co.
Delayed Draw Term Loan, 1.000%, 02/03/21 (i)

    192,572        191,850   

Term Loan, 3.000%, 02/03/21

    535,157        533,150   
   

 

 

 
      3,586,505   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.3%

   

Interactive Data Corp.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 05/02/21

    385,844        384,011   

Laureate Education, Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 06/15/18

    475,106        454,914   

Monitronics International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 03/23/18

    689,447        682,553   

ON Assignment, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 04/30/20

    593,392        586,717   

Scitor Corp.
Term Loan B, 5.000%, 02/15/17

    463,977        460,498   

Truven Health Analytics, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.500%, 06/06/19

    1,267,671        1,234,394   

WCA Waste Corp.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 03/23/18

    646,713        640,245   
   

 

 

 
      4,443,332   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.2%

  

Expert Global Solutions, Inc.
Term Loan B, 8.522%, 04/03/18

    786,140        782,538   

SkillSoft Corp.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 04/28/21

    1,695,750        1,667,770   
   

 

 

 
      2,450,308   
   

 

 

 

Distribution/Wholesale—0.1%

  

WESCO Distribution, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 12/12/19

    787,623        785,162   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services—0.1%

  

Darling International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 01/06/21 (EUR)

    977,613        1,177,908   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.3%

  

Ocwen Financial Corp.
Term Loan, 5.000%, 02/15/18

    2,741,175        2,581,274   

RPI Finance Trust
Term Loan B3, 3.250%, 11/09/18

    1,357,418        1,356,146   
   

 

 

 
      3,937,420   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (n)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—0.3%

  

Calpine Construction Finance Co. L.P.
Term Loan B1, 3.000%, 05/03/20

    1,157,375      $ 1,121,931   

Calpine Corp.
Term Loan B1, 4.000%, 04/01/18

    1,183,875        1,174,996   

NRG Energy, Inc.
Term Loan B, 2.750%, 07/02/18

    892,908        877,282   

NSG Holdings LLC
Term Loan, 3.750%, 12/11/19

    670,981        664,271   
   

 

 

 
      3,838,480   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.0%

  

Star West Generation LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 03/13/20

    485,690        480,833   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.0%

  

Pelican Products, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.250%, 04/10/20

    276,438        275,056   
   

 

 

 

Entertainment—0.1%

  

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 08/13/20

    551,130        545,447   

Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.501%, 12/20/18

    696,594        696,014   
   

 

 

 
      1,241,461   
   

 

 

 

Environmental Control—0.1%

  

Waste Industries USA., Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 03/17/17

    690,420        686,104   
   

 

 

 

Food—0.1%

  

AdvancePierre Foods, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.750%, 07/10/17

    170,880        170,026   

Big Heart Pet Brands
Term Loan, 3.500%, 03/08/20

    455,096        438,030   

Pinnacle Foods Finance LLC
Term Loan G, 3.000%, 04/29/20

    856,153        832,180   

Rack Merger Sub, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.750%, 10/01/21

    379,050        378,576   
   

 

 

 
      1,818,812   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.2%

  

Appvion, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.753%, 06/28/19

    1,876,250        1,856,315   

Exopack Holdings S.A.
Term Loan B, 5.250%, 05/08/19

    796,950        795,290   
   

 

 

 
      2,651,605   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.1%

  

Immucor, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 5.000%, 08/17/18

    1,524,264        1,510,927   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—1.1%

  

Accentcare, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.513%, 12/22/16

    483,799        430,581   

Healthcare-Services—(Continued)

  

Alliance Healthcare Services, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 06/03/19

    738,753      731,366   

Ardent Medical Services, Inc.
Term Loan, 6.750%, 07/02/18

    391,745        392,602   

Gentiva Health Services, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.500%, 10/18/19

    2,495,098        2,498,216   

HCA, Inc.
Extended Term Loan B4, 3.005%, 05/01/18

    103,500        102,837   

Term Loan B5, 2.919%, 03/31/17

    248,213        246,786   

Iasis Healthcare LLC
Term Loan B2, 4.500%, 05/03/18

    698,066        692,831   

IMS Health, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 03/17/21

    634,325        621,903   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc.
Bridge Term Loan, 0.000%, 12/09/15 (j)

    2,810,000        2,810,000   

Term Loan, 4.250%, 04/09/21

    1,571,814        1,528,589   

MMM Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 9.750%, 12/12/17

    321,920        312,262   

MSO of Puerto Rico, Inc.
Term Loan, 9.750%, 12/12/17

    234,039        231,699   

Select Medical Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/01/18

    387,982        378,283   

Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc.
Incremental Term Loan, 4.000%,
06/29/18

    2,418,175        2,400,039   

Virtual Radiologic Corp.
Term Loan A, 7.250%, 12/22/16 (f)

    977,832        777,376   
   

 

 

 
      14,155,370   
   

 

 

 

Home Furnishings—0.1%

  

Tempur-Pedic International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 03/18/20

    1,351,751        1,334,854   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.1%

  

Revlon Consumer Products Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 11/20/17

    664,796        659,810   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—0.1%

  

Mirror BidCo Corp.
Term Loan, 4.250%, 12/28/19

    1,205,523        1,193,468   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.7%

  

Alliant Holdings I, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 12/20/19

    484,895        478,683   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.
Term Loan B2, 3.750%, 09/28/18

    827,729        809,105   

Confie Seguros Holding II Co.
1st Lien Term Loan, 5.750%, 11/09/18

    3,345,369        3,338,401   

USI, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 12/27/19

    4,518,232        4,441,987   
   

 

 

 
      9,068,176   
   

 

 

 

Iron/Steel—0.0%

  

Essar Steel Algoma, Inc.
Term Loan, 7.500%, 08/09/19

    374,063        372,660   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Floating Rate Loans (n)—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Machinery—0.1%

  

Paladin Brands Holding, Inc.
Term Loan B, 6.750%, 08/16/19

    938,474      $ 936,128   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.0%

  

Terex Corp.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 08/13/21

    313,873        310,735   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.2%

  

Charter Communications Operating LLC
Term Loan F, 3.000%, 01/03/21

    1,108,125        1,087,942   

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 05/22/18

    403,588        402,578   

Kasima LLC
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 05/17/21

    435,937        426,129   
   

 

 

 
      1,916,649   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.1%

  

Novelis, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.750%, 03/10/17

    792,031        785,843   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.3%

  

Drillships Financing Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B1, 6.000%, 03/31/21

    938,125        748,155   

Fieldwood Energy LLC
2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.375%, 09/30/20

    1,000,000        736,500   

Glenn Pool Oil & Gas Trust
Term Loan, 4.500%, 05/02/16

    673,647        670,279   

Samson Investments Co.
2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.000%, 09/25/18

    1,898,630        1,501,499   
   

 

 

 
      3,656,433   
   

 

 

 

Packaging & Containers—0.0%

  

BWAY Holding Co., Inc.
Term Loan B, 5.552%, 08/14/20

    124,375        123,870   

Reynolds Group Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan, 4.000%, 12/01/18

    245,025        241,152   
   

 

 

 
      365,022   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.3%

  

Grifols Worldwide Operations USA, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.169%, 02/27/21

    1,012,350        1,000,202   

Par Pharmaceutical Cos., Inc.
Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 09/30/19

    1,862,225        1,821,102   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 12/11/19

    341,117        338,346   

Term Loan B, 3.500%, 08/05/20

    1,094,770        1,086,787   
   

 

 

 
      4,246,437   
   

 

 

 

Retail—0.2%

   

Michaels Stores, Inc.
Incremental Term Loan B2, 4.000%, 01/28/20

    698,250        689,522   

Pilot Travel Centers LLC
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 10/01/21

    509,397        510,989   

Retail—(Continued)

   

Wendy’s International, Inc.
Term Loan B, 3.250%, 05/15/19

    786,479      781,563   
   

 

 

 
      1,982,074   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.0%

  

Microsemi Corp.
Term Loan B1, 3.250%, 02/19/20

    352,229        346,330   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.3%

  

Cinedigm Digital Funding I LLC
Term Loan, 3.750%, 02/28/18

    206,540        206,798   

Epiq Systems, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.250%, 08/27/20

    691,250        688,658   

First Data Corp.
Extended Term Loan, 3.667%, 03/23/18

    372,933        365,940   

MedAssets, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 12/13/19

    259,550        258,330   

Nuance Communications, Inc.
Term Loan C, 2.919%, 08/07/19

    715,152        697,273   

Rovi Solutions Corp.
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 07/02/21

    608,452        598,311   

Verint Systems, Inc.
Term Loan, 3.500%, 09/06/19

    782,837        777,749   

Vertafore, Inc.
1st Lien Term Loan, 4.250%, 10/03/19

    359,455        356,610   
   

 

 

 
      3,949,669   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—0.1%

  

Camping World, Inc.
Term Loan, 5.750%, 02/20/20

    1,218,750        1,214,180   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.9%

  

Cincinnati Bell, Inc.
Term Loan B, 4.000%, 09/10/20

    1,426,938        1,412,668   

CommScope, Inc.
Term Loan B3, 2.829%, 01/21/17

    219,389        217,927   

Term Loan B4, 3.250%, 01/14/18

    329,084        326,890   

MCC Iowa LLC
Term Loan H, 3.250%, 01/29/21

    945,600        912,504   

Telesat Canada
Term Loan B2, 3.500%, 03/28/19

    2,535,341        2,497,311   

Virgin Media Bristol LLC
Term Loan B, 3.500%, 06/07/20

    4,285,000        4,220,725   

Ziggo Financing Partnership
Term Loan B1, 3.500%, 01/15/22

    471,479        459,692   

Term Loan B2A, 3.500%, 01/15/22

    303,830        296,234   

Term Loan B3, 3.500%, 01/15/22

    499,691        487,199   
   

 

 

 
      10,831,150   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.1%

   

Swift Transportation Co. LLC
Term Loan B, 3.750%, 06/09/21

    845,884        837,002   
   

 

 

 

Total Floating Rate Loans
(Cost $105,961,344)

      104,180,547   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—8.2%

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—4.1%

  

Alternative Loan Trust
0.810%, 07/25/35 (b)

    1,300,000      $ 1,163,200   

American Home Mortgage Investment Trust
6.000%, 02/25/45

    610,000        515,960   

Banc of America Alternative Loan Trust
5.250%, 05/25/34

    399,665        403,748   

5.500%, 01/25/20

    398,346        403,524   

5.500%, 09/25/33

    581,375        605,101   

5.750%, 04/25/33

    609,967        632,157   

6.000%, 04/25/34

    227,545        229,678   

6.000%, 11/25/34

    376,542        383,710   

Banc of America Funding Corp. Trust
0.285%, 08/26/36 (144A) (b)

    175,371        174,678   

Banc of America Mortgage Securities, Inc.
4.750%, 10/25/20

    25,036        25,195   

5.750%, 01/25/35

    659,848        670,678   

Bayview Opportunity Master Fund Trust
2.981%, 01/28/33 (144A) (b)

    272,917        271,154   

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust
3.857%, 02/25/35 (b)

    232,698        231,136   

Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust
2.681%, 10/25/33 (b)

    217,890        217,872   

Charlie Mac Trust
5.000%, 10/25/34

    138,583        138,547   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc.
1.155%, 09/25/37 (144A) (b)

    741,509        741,286   

4.000%, 01/25/35 (144A) (b)

    607,168        631,480   

5.500%, 08/25/34

    796,310        857,061   

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust
5.250%, 09/25/33

    659,445        695,102   

5.750%, 12/25/33

    1,099,903        1,151,014   

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
2.904%, 09/25/33 (b)

    4,124        3,815   

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.
2.583%, 11/25/33 (b)

    365,092        362,917   

5.000%, 08/25/20

    115,210        115,097   

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates Trust
3.719%, 06/25/50 (144A) (b)

    285,724        288,422   

EverBank Mortgage Loan Trust
2.500%, 03/25/43 (144A) (b)

    1,631,540        1,553,915   

Global Mortgage Securitization, Ltd.
0.440%, 04/25/32 (b)

    1,428,797        1,370,948   

5.250%, 04/25/32

    544,913        526,419   

Homestar Mortgage Acceptance Corp.
1.270%, 01/25/35 (b)

    1,705,000        1,662,752   

Impac CMB Trust
0.690%, 04/25/35 (b)

    1,480,221        1,353,722   

0.795%, 09/25/34 (b)

    1,034,188        987,270   

0.930%, 01/25/35 (b)

    546,910        493,453   

0.970%, 10/25/34 (b)

    478,768        455,549   

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust
2.500%, 03/25/43 (144A) (b)

    3,263,704        3,226,701   

3.000%, 10/25/29 (144A) (b)

    3,391,095        3,482,363   

3.500%, 05/25/43 (144A) (b)

    1,267,484        1,283,228   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust

   

3.500%, 01/25/44 (144A) (b)

    671,026      685,669   

3.709%, 05/25/43 (144A) (b)

    653,286        652,310   

6.000%, 09/25/34

    647,348        681,225   

MASTR Alternative Loan Trust
6.000%, 07/25/34

    1,212,542        1,234,182   

6.028%, 01/25/35 (b)

    262,186        278,645   

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust
2.350%, 10/25/35 (b)

    194,301        195,748   

New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust
3.750%, 01/25/54 (144A) (b)

    1,320,228        1,356,426   

Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp. Alternative Loan Trust
5.500%, 08/25/33

    496,355        520,248   

NRP Mortgage Trust
3.250%, 07/25/43 (144A) (b)

    888,666        906,134   

PHH Mortgage Capital LLC
6.600%, 12/25/27 (144A)

    193,336        194,899   

RALI Trust
0.720%, 07/25/33 (b)

    594,963        551,450   

RESI Finance L.P.
1.562%, 09/10/35 (144A) (b)

    628,738        528,189   

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. Trust
0.770%, 04/25/34 (b)

    160,298        158,189   

4.750%, 04/25/34

    244,323        250,243   

5.000%, 03/25/19

    77,979        79,138   

5.500%, 09/25/32

    159,283        163,622   

Residential Asset Securitization Trust
0.620%, 10/25/34 (b)

    516,292        468,998   

5.500%, 02/25/35

    138,702        141,121   

RFMSI Trust
5.250%, 04/25/34

    1,416,917        1,276,569   

5.250%, 07/25/35

    652,463        673,195   

Sequoia Mortgage Trust

   

0.386%, 03/20/35 (b)

    431,193        385,153   

0.786%, 09/20/33 (b)

    1,241,435        1,208,003   

1.742%, 06/20/34 (b)

    1,437,515        1,396,849   

2.250%, 06/25/43 (b)

    575,498        561,651   

2.500%, 04/25/43 (b)

    1,593,774        1,534,880   

3.000%, 06/25/43 (b)

    1,724,068        1,703,889   

3.500%, 07/25/43 (144A)

    710,884        682,403   

Springleaf Mortgage Loan Trust
5.300%, 12/25/59 (144A) (b)

    175,000        180,506   

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust

   

1.003%, 11/25/34 (b)

    2,007,862        1,842,125   

2.457%, 07/25/34 (b)

    659,776        658,966   

2.525%, 02/25/34 (b)

    270,168        271,553   

2.857%, 03/25/34 (b)

    159,639        159,774   

Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Certificates
2.581%, 10/25/33 (b)

    572,268        567,550   

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust
1.637%, 03/25/44 (b)

    681,849        666,711   

2.153%, 06/25/43 (b)

    612,205        608,061   

Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust
2.614%, 06/25/35 (b)

    488,202        483,897   

4.621%, 04/25/35 (b)

    58,729        58,821   
   

 

 

 
      51,275,844   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—4.1%

  

A10 Securitization LLC
2.400%, 11/15/25 (144A)

    641,121      $ 642,887   

Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage, Inc.
5.268%, 07/10/43 (144A) (b)

    840,000        839,698   

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust
Zero Coupon, 07/25/37 (144A) (h)

    5,320,828        1   

1.170%, 01/25/35 (144A) (b)

    341,448        314,496   

3.513%, 09/25/37 (144A) (h)

    7,737,243        387,636   

City Center Trust
4.650%, 07/15/28 (144A) (b)

    850,000        849,237   

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
2.822%, 10/15/45

    720,000        720,631   

Commercial Mortgage Trust
2.111%, 07/13/31 (144A) (b)

    920,000        921,308   

2.436%, 10/15/45

    690,000        687,895   

2.941%, 01/10/46

    1,350,000        1,356,572   

3.147%, 08/15/45

    550,000        563,435   

4.934%, 12/10/44 (b)

    330,000        363,592   

DBUBS Mortgage Trust
5.419%, 08/10/44 (144A) (b)

    1,400,000        1,585,175   

5.557%, 11/10/46 (144A) (b)

    600,000        673,219   

Del Coronado Trust
2.111%, 03/15/26 (144A) (b)

    484,000        483,476   

FREMF Mortgage Trust
3.165%, 04/25/46 (144A) (b)

    600,000        595,163   

3.195%, 03/25/45 (144A) (b)

    700,000        694,611   

3.458%, 11/25/46 (144A) (b)

    800,000        816,347   

3.741%, 04/25/45 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        1,028,383   

4.027%, 11/25/44 (144A) (b)

    535,000        544,542   

4.176%, 05/25/45 (144A) (b)

    988,000        983,301   

4.286%, 07/25/48 (144A) (b)

    1,825,000        1,890,216   

4.347%, 01/25/46 (144A) (b)

    765,000        809,671   

4.615%, 11/25/49 (144A) (b)

    1,050,000        1,127,699   

4.884%, 07/25/44 (144A) (b)

    900,000        960,799   

5.159%, 02/25/47 (144A) (b)

    400,000        441,817   

5.194%, 09/25/45 (144A) (b)

    900,000        993,246   

5.238%, 09/25/43 (144A) (b)

    400,000        442,146   

5.435%, 04/25/20 (144A) (b)

    600,000        668,173   

GE Business Loan Trust
0.331%, 04/16/35 (144A) (b)

    689,764        655,520   

0.411%, 06/15/33 (144A) (b)

    1,302,417        1,264,356   

GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II
3.682%, 02/10/46 (144A)

    750,000        762,372   

4.782%, 07/10/39

    1,084,887        1,090,112   

GS Mortgage Securities Trust
1.911%, 07/15/31 (144A) (b)

    885,000        884,011   

3.135%, 06/10/46

    1,250,000        1,265,002   

3.377%, 05/10/45

    1,000,000        1,038,440   

Irvine Core Office Trust
3.173%, 05/15/48 (144A) (b)

    1,250,000        1,269,079   

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
0.521%, 11/15/18 (144A) (b)

    602,399        581,325   

3.070%, 12/15/46

    1,925,000        1,995,205   

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—(Continued)

  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust

   

3.977%, 10/15/45 (144A) (b)

    700,000      730,416   

5.040%, 10/15/42 (b)

    2,575,000        2,605,097   

5.506%, 11/15/43 (144A) (b)

    300,000        333,851   

5.623%, 05/12/45

    730,000        748,084   

6.011%, 02/15/51 (b)

    1,350,000        1,367,289   

Lehman Brothers Small Balance Commercial
0.420%, 02/25/30 (144A) (b)

    826,059        779,407   

0.420%, 09/25/30 (144A) (b)

    360,630        339,557   

Lehman Brothers Small Balance Commercial Mortgage Trust
0.370%, 09/25/36 (144A) (b)

    343,314        320,745   

1.120%, 10/25/37 (144A) (b)

    206,265        204,967   

LSTAR Commercial Mortgage Trust
5.354%, 06/25/43 (144A) (b)

    594,469        597,078   

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust
2.979%, 04/15/47

    920,000        947,697   

NorthStar Mortgage Trust
4.400%, 08/25/29 (144A) (b)

    800,000        803,695   

ORES NPL LLC
3.081%, 09/25/25 (144A)

    554,892        554,892   

RAIT Trust
2.311%, 05/13/31 (144A) (b)

    500,000        493,497   

Resource Capital Corp. Ltd.
2.311%, 12/15/28 (144A) (b)

    2,000,000        2,008,974   

Timberstar Trust
5.668%, 10/15/36 (144A)

    540,000        574,871   

7.530%, 10/15/36 (144A)

    1,549,000        1,616,699   

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust
2.819%, 08/15/50

    400,000        409,405   

5.583%, 11/15/43 (144A) (b)

    950,000        1,054,943   

WF-RBS Commercial Mortgage Trust
2.862%, 03/15/47

    1,550,000        1,591,684   

3.998%, 03/15/44 (144A)

    520,000        553,996   

5.245%, 06/15/44 (144A) (b)

    400,000        435,028   

5.392%, 02/15/44 (144A) (b)

    250,000        274,064   
   

 

 

 
      52,536,730   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $101,659,976)

      103,812,574   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—4.8%   

Municipal—0.3%

  

Brazil Minas SPE via State of Minas Gerais
5.333%, 02/15/28 (144A)

    3,000,000        2,962,500   

Province of Salta Argentina
9.500%, 03/16/22 (144A)

    767,700        748,508   
   

 

 

 
      3,711,008   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Foreign Government—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Sovereign—4.5%

  

Croatia Government International Bond
5.500%, 04/04/23 (144A)

    1,300,000      $ 1,346,800   

Indonesia Treasury Bonds
6.125%, 05/15/28 (IDR)

    4,898,000,000        327,919   

7.000%, 05/15/22 (IDR)

    4,500,000,000        348,809   

7.000%, 05/15/27 (IDR)

    4,400,000,000        325,092   

8.250%, 06/15/32 (IDR)

    24,816,000,000        2,008,723   

IPIC GMTN, Ltd.
5.500%, 03/01/22 (144A)

    1,680,000        1,921,500   

Ireland Government Bond
5.000%, 10/18/20 (EUR)

    1,820,000        2,755,507   

Kenya Government International Bonds
5.875%, 06/24/19 (144A)

    735,000        744,188   

6.875%, 06/24/24 (144A)

    1,565,000        1,639,337   

Mexican Bonos
6.500%, 06/09/22 (MXN)

    53,750,000        3,819,747   

7.500%, 06/03/27 (MXN)

    56,500,000        4,273,543   

Mexican Udibonos
2.000%, 06/09/22 (MXN)

    19,131,436        1,273,766   

3.500%, 12/14/17 (MXN)

    26,246,433        1,898,583   

Norwegian Government Bonds
2.000%, 05/24/23 (NOK)

    10,000,000        1,400,217   

4.250%, 05/19/17 (NOK)

    52,440,000        7,596,461   

4.500%, 05/22/19 (NOK)

    17,550,000        2,707,758   

5.000%, 05/15/15 (NOK)

    83,350,000        11,338,329   

Poland Government International Bond
4.000%, 01/22/24 (a)

    1,325,000        1,406,156   

Republic of Ghana
7.875%, 08/07/23 (144A)

    3,060,000        2,830,500   

Romania Government Bonds
5.850%, 04/26/23 (RON)

    14,070,000        4,404,274   

5.950%, 06/11/21 (RON)

    7,310,000        2,275,038   

Russian Foreign Bond - Eurobond
7.500%, 03/31/30 (144A)

    784,363        813,384   
   

 

 

 
      57,455,631   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $69,624,404)

      61,166,639   
   

 

 

 
Asset-Backed Securities—4.0%   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—0.5%

  

American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust
4.050%, 02/15/18 (144A)

    321,000        322,543   

AmeriCredit Automobile Receivables Trust
4.040%, 07/10/17

    300,000        305,390   

Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust
2.190%, 09/20/21

    500,000        500,821   

Capital Automotive REIT
3.660%, 10/15/44 (144A)

    1,900,000        1,891,232   

CarNow Auto Receivables Trust
2.980%, 11/15/17 (144A)

    473,000        473,759   

Chesapeake Funding LLC
1.307%, 05/07/24 (144A) (b)

    300,000        301,338   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—(Continued)

  

First Investors Auto Owner Trust
2.530%, 01/15/20 (144A)

    275,000      274,871   

Flagship Credit Auto Trust
5.380%, 07/15/20 (144A)

    700,000        712,977   

Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust
2.700%, 08/15/18

    650,000        661,258   

Tidewater Auto Receivables Trust
2.830%, 10/15/19 (144A)

    500,000        504,438   

United Auto Credit Securitization Trust
2.900%, 12/15/17 (144A)

    400,000        401,935   
   

 

 

 
      6,350,562   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Home Equity—0.2%

  

Accredited Mortgage Loan Trust
0.320%, 09/25/36 (b)

    769,655        760,148   

Home Equity Asset Trust
0.280%, 03/25/37 (b)

    273,113        269,152   

Irwin Whole Loan Home Equity Trust
1.205%, 03/25/25 (b)

    141,757        141,606   

Nationstar Home Equity Loan Trust
0.320%, 03/25/37 (b)

    242,225        235,906   

Option One Mortgage Loan Trust
0.430%, 11/25/35 (b)

    313,283        309,078   

Truman Capital Mortgage Loan Trust
1.870%, 01/25/34 (144A) (b)

    553,160        547,017   

Wells Fargo Home Equity Trust
0.580%, 11/25/35 (b)

    105,963        105,794   
   

 

 

 
      2,368,701   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Manufactured Housing—0.2%

  

Conseco Financial Corp.
6.240%, 12/01/28 (b)

    35,259        36,384   

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing
8.450%, 06/20/31 (b)

    118,961        115,054   

Lehman ABS Manufactured Housing Contract Trust
5.873%, 04/15/40

    163,021        175,734   

Madison Avenue Manufactured Housing Contract
2.420%, 03/25/32 (b)

    516,432        516,308   

3.420%, 03/25/32 (b)

    250,000        244,598   

Mid-State Capital Trust
5.250%, 12/15/45 (144A)

    407,835        422,594   

7.000%, 12/15/45 (144A)

    481,986        519,062   

Mid-State Trust
7.540%, 02/15/36

    43,075        45,722   

Origen Manufactured Housing Contract Trust
1.355%, 01/15/35 (b)

    398,780        420,584   

5.460%, 11/15/35 (b)

    281,659        288,312   

5.460%, 06/15/36 (b)

    230,298        240,061   
   

 

 

 
      3,024,413   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Other—3.1%

  

American Homes 4 Rent
1.600%, 06/17/31 (144A) (b)

    500,000        490,495   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

  

American Homes 4 Rent Trust
4.596%, 12/17/36 (144A)

    1,000,000      $ 1,013,302   

5.040%, 12/17/36 (144A)

    1,000,000        1,012,983   

5.149%, 10/17/36 (144A)

    500,000        510,183   

Applebee’s/IHOP Funding LLC
4.277%, 09/05/44 (144A)

    1,900,000        1,906,219   

Bayview Opportunity Master Fund IIa Trust
3.721%, 08/28/44 (144A) (b)

    658,304        658,797   

Bayview Opportunity Master Fund Trust IIIa
3.623%, 07/28/19 (144A)

    460,494        457,427   

Beacon Container Finance LLC
3.720%, 09/20/27 (144A)

    194,029        196,446   

Carrington Mortgage Loan Trust
0.280%, 07/25/36 (b)

    223,673        219,124   

0.570%, 09/25/35 (b)

    39,510        39,144   

Citicorp Residential Mortgage Securities Trust
5.775%, 09/25/36

    727,271        761,667   

CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc.
4.474%, 03/20/43 (144A)

    3,018,625        3,061,067   

Colony American Homes Single-Family Rental Pass-Through Certificates
2.062%, 07/17/31 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        974,299   

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates
0.350%, 06/25/36 (b)

    306,741        299,240   

0.405%, 04/25/36 (b)

    168,425        166,737   

4.456%, 10/25/35 (b)

    121,236        121,235   

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC
0.245%, 04/25/37 (b)

    301,697        256,224   

Cronos Containers Program, Ltd.
3.810%, 09/18/27 (144A)

    387,500        387,681   

Dominos Pizza Master Issuer LLC

   

5.216%, 01/25/42 (144A)

    2,242,666        2,351,106   

Drug Royalty II L.P. 2

   

3.082%, 07/15/23 (144A) (b)

    713,015        717,148   

Ellington Loan Acquisition Trust

   

1.070%, 05/25/37 (144A) (b)

    198,605        196,552   

1.070%, 05/28/37 (144A) (b)

    1,014,784        998,069   

First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust

   

0.845%, 03/25/35 (b)

    52,034        51,903   

GLC Trust

   

3.000%, 07/15/21 (144A)

    1,069,730        1,064,595   

GMAT Trust

   

3.967%, 11/25/43 (144A)

    1,108,197        1,116,034   

Hercules Capital Funding Trust

   

3.320%, 12/16/17 (144A)

    55,856        55,699   

HOA Funding LLC

   

4.846%, 08/20/44 (144A)

    2,288,500        2,243,641   

Icon Brands Holdings LLC

   

4.229%, 01/25/43 (144A)

    1,044,688        1,040,763   

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust

   

0.305%, 05/25/36 (b)

    97,058        95,660   

Leaf Receivables Funding LLC

   

2.670%, 09/15/20 (144A)

    538,712        541,195   

5.110%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    531,000        540,664   

5.500%, 09/15/20 (144A)

    367,451        371,133   

Asset-Backed - Other—(Continued)

  

Progreso Receivables Funding I LLC

   

4.000%, 07/09/18 (144A)

    1,271,000      1,273,288   

Sierra Timeshare Receivables Funding LLC

   

1.870%, 08/20/29 (144A)

    177,295        177,989   

Silver Bay Realty Trust

   

2.212%, 09/17/31 (144A) (b)

    1,000,000        980,362   

Spirit Master Funding LLC

   

3.887%, 12/20/43 (144A)

    200,000        204,006   

4.629%, 01/20/45 (144A)

    1,600,000        1,614,080   

5.740%, 03/20/42 (144A)

    178,536        199,346   

Springleaf Funding Trust

   

2.410%, 12/15/22 (144A)

    900,000        899,255   

2.580%, 09/15/21 (144A)

    2,100,000        2,106,046   

STORE Master Funding LLC

   

4.160%, 03/20/43 (144A)

    194,502        197,968   

4.210%, 04/20/44 (144A)

    598,250        610,490   

Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust

   

0.370%, 01/25/36 (b)

    304,070        295,689   

Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Loan Trust

   

0.300%, 03/25/37 (b)

    163,492        162,721   

TAL Advantage V LLC

   

3.510%, 02/22/39 (144A)

    1,168,750        1,173,978   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Transferee LLC

   

3.125%, 04/27/54 (144A)

    673,938        670,016   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XIX LLC

   

3.875%, 04/26/55 (144A)

    1,000,000        995,000   

Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust XXIII LLC

   

3.625%, 11/25/53 (144A)

    767,270        770,088   

Westgate Resorts LLC

   

2.150%, 12/20/26 (144A)

    678,597        673,932   

2.250%, 08/20/25 (144A)

    337,697        338,223   

2.500%, 03/20/25 (144A)

    157,544        158,215   

3.250%, 12/20/26 (144A)

    1,447,675        1,445,413   

3.750%, 08/20/25 (144A)

    134,007        134,796   

4.500%, 01/20/25 (144A)

    202,256        203,900   
   

 

 

 
      39,201,233   
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $50,187,686)

      50,944,909   
   

 

 

 
Municipals—3.4%                

Baylor University

   

4.313%, 03/01/42

    800,000        811,152   

Brazos River Harbor, TX Navigation District Revenue Bonds Dow Chemical Co. Project

   

5.950%, 05/15/33

    3,360,000        3,760,378   

California Educational Facilities Authority Revenue

   

5.000%, 06/01/43

    1,470,000        1,994,863   

Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority

   

5.200%, 05/01/28

    945,000        990,823   

Indianapolis Airport Authority Federal Express Corp. Project

   

5.100%, 01/15/17

    660,000        711,982   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Municipals—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

JobsOhio Beverage System

   

3.985%, 01/01/29

    2,990,000      $ 3,099,613   

4.532%, 01/01/35

    760,000        815,548   

Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities Community Development Authority Revenue Westlake Chemical Corp. Projects

   

6.750%, 11/01/32

    1,550,000        1,758,568   

Massachusetts State Development Finance Agency Revenue Board Institute, Inc.

   

5.250%, 04/01/37

    1,350,000        1,560,559   

5.375%, 04/01/41

    400,000        464,004   

Massachusetts State Health & Educational Facilities Authority Revenue Massachusetts Institute of Technology

   

5.500%, 07/01/32

    950,000        1,325,297   

New Hampshire Health & Educational Facilities Authority Revenue, Wentworth Douglas Hospital

   

6.500%, 01/01/41

    600,000        709,956   

New Jersey Economic Development Authority Lease Revenue

   

Zero Coupon, 02/15/18

    3,400,000        3,143,436   

New Jersey State Transportation Trust Fund Authority Transportation Systems

   

5.500%, 06/15/41

    2,000,000        2,243,560   

New York City Transitional Finance Authority Revenue Future Tax Secured

   

5.000%, 11/01/33

    300,000        340,722   

North East Independent School District

   

5.250%, 02/01/31

    640,000        840,800   

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

   

4.458%, 10/01/62

    460,000        488,258   

Port of Corpus Christi Authority TX Celanese Project

   

6.700%, 11/01/30

    1,500,000        1,503,555   

Selma AL, Industrial Development Board Revenue Gulf Opportunity Zone, International Paper Co. Projects

   

6.250%, 11/01/33

    800,000        931,432   

St. John Baptist Parish LA, Revenue Bond Marathon Oil Corp.

   

5.125%, 06/01/37

    1,710,000        1,809,488   

State of Washington

   

3.000%, 07/01/28

    450,000        452,102   

Sweetwater County WY, Solid Waste Disposal Revenue FMC Corp. Project

   

5.600%, 12/01/35

    1,670,000        1,693,397   

Texas A&M University Permanent University Fund

   

5.000%, 07/01/30

    530,000        647,178   

Texas Brazos Harbor Industrial Development Corp., Environmental Facilities Revenue Dow Chemical Project.

   

5.900%, 05/01/38 (b)

    1,505,000        1,633,903   

Texas Municipal Gas Acquisition & Supply Corp. III

   

5.000%, 12/15/30

    750,000        825,757   

5.000%, 12/15/31

    1,550,000        1,700,939   

University of California CA, Revenue

   

3.380%, 05/15/28

    1,200,000        1,164,732   

University of Texas System

   

5.000%, 08/15/43

    395,000      452,710   

Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board

   

4.000%, 05/15/31

    1,300,000        1,395,459   

4.000%, 05/15/32

    1,300,000        1,390,012   

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
4.000%, 06/01/43

    960,000        1,006,790   

4.000%, 06/01/44

    930,000        974,566   

Yavapai County AZ, Industrial Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Waste Management, Inc. Project
4.900%, 03/01/28

    300,000        312,333   
   

 

 

 

Total Municipals
(Cost $39,598,173)

      42,953,872   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Bonds—2.3%   

Commercial Services—0.1%

  

Cardtronics, Inc.
1.000%, 12/01/20 (a)

    465,000        460,059   

Euronet Worldwide, Inc.
1.500%, 10/01/44 (144A)

    540,000        549,113   
   

 

 

 
      1,009,172   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.2%

  

Mentor Graphics Corp.
4.000%, 04/01/31 (a)

    2,213,000        2,650,067   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Components & Equipment—0.2%

  

General Cable Corp.
4.500%, 11/15/29 (k)

    2,420,000        1,746,937   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.2%

  

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.
2.250%, 05/15/41 (144A)

    2,545,000        2,293,681   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.0%

  

Sino-Forest Corp.

   

Escrow (c) (f) (m)

    1,246,000        0   

Escrow (c) (f) (m)

    500,000        0   
   

 

 

 
      0   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.4%

  

Hologic, Inc.
2.000%, 03/01/42 (a) (k)

    1,400,000        1,559,250   

NuVasive, Inc.
2.750%, 07/01/17

    2,580,000        3,279,825   
   

 

 

 
      4,839,075   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.1%

  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.
1.625%, 08/15/44 (a)

    1,155,000        1,284,938   
   

 

 

 

Home Builders—0.3%

  

KB Home
1.375%, 02/01/19 (a)

    1,275,000        1,263,844   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Convertible Bonds—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Home Builders—(Continued)

  

Ryland Group, Inc. (The)
0.250%, 06/01/19

    1,095,000      $ 1,013,559   

Standard Pacific Corp.
1.250%, 08/01/32

    1,210,000        1,356,713   
   

 

 

 
      3,634,116   
   

 

 

 

Internet—0.2%

  

Priceline Group, Inc. (The)
0.900%, 09/15/21 (144A) (a)

    1,375,000        1,309,687   

WebMD Health Corp.
2.500%, 01/31/18

    1,410,000        1,406,475   
   

 

 

 
      2,716,162   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.2%

  

Mirabela Nickel, Ltd.
9.500%, 06/20/19 (144A) (d)

    313,203        250,562   

Vedanta Resources Jersey, Ltd.
5.500%, 07/13/16

    2,200,000        2,128,500   
   

 

 

 
      2,379,062   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—0.2%

  

American Energy - Utica LLC
3.500%, 03/01/21 (144A) (e)

    860,000        610,600   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.
2.250%, 12/15/38

    1,250,000        1,122,656   

Cobalt International Energy, Inc.
2.625%, 12/01/19

    1,425,000        860,344   
   

 

 

 
      2,593,600   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors—0.0%

  

LDK Solar Co., Ltd.
5.535%, 12/31/18 (e)

    323,800        0   

ON Semiconductor Corp.
2.625%, 12/15/26 (a)

    225,000        267,469   
   

 

 

 
      267,469   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.1%

  

Nuance Communications, Inc.
2.750%, 11/01/31

    1,745,000        1,739,547   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.1%

  

Finisar Corp.
0.500%, 12/15/33

    915,000        866,963   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.0%

  

Golar LNG, Ltd.
3.750%, 03/07/17

    300,000        307,500   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Bonds
(Cost $27,816,711)

      28,328,289   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks—2.0%   

Air Freight & Logistics—0.1%

  

CEVA Holdings Inc. - Series A (f)

    864        669,383   
   

 

 

 

Banks—0.9%

  

Citigroup, Inc., 7.125% (b)

    150,000      4,068,000   

CoBank ACB, 6.250% (b)

    1,500        151,172   

Fifth Third Bancorp, 6.625% (b)

    22,310        609,732   

GMAC Capital Trust I, 8.125% (b)

    56,000        1,477,280   

U.S. Bancorp
Series F, 6.500% (a) (b)

    44,757        1,318,094   

Series G, 6.000% (a) (b)

    116,875        3,169,650   
   

 

 

 
      10,793,928   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.2%

  

Morgan Stanley

   

6.375% (a) (b)

    16,190        409,769   

7.125% (a) (b)

    50,000        1,376,500   

State Street Corp., 5.900% (b)

    43,000        1,111,980   
   

 

 

 
      2,898,249   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.0%

  

Ally Financial, Inc. , 7.000% (144A)

    250        249,898   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.3%

  

Citigroup Capital XIII, 7.875% (b)

    157,756        4,193,155   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—0.3%

  

Allstate Corp. (The), 5.100% (b)

    106,925        2,708,410   

Aspen Insurance Holdings, Ltd., 5.950% (b)

    50,000        1,263,000   
   

 

 

 
      3,971,410   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—0.2%

  

Qwest Corp., 7.375%

    109,000        2,921,200   
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $25,022,691)

      25,697,223   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stocks—0.6%   

Banks—0.5%

  

Bank of America Corp.
7.250%, 12/31/49

    462        537,292   

Wells Fargo & Co., Series L
7.500%, 12/31/49

    4,965        5,987,790   
   

 

 

 
      6,525,082   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.1%

  

AMG Capital Trust II
5.150%, 10/15/37

    20,000        1,235,000   
   

 

 

 

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks
(Cost $7,261,269)

      7,760,082   
   

 

 

 
Common Stocks—0.1%   

Air Freight & Logistics—0.1%

  

CEVA Holdings LLC (f) (l)

    399        309,225   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—0.0%

  

BTA Bank JSC (GDR) (144A) (l)

    1,133      $ 621   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.0%

  

Comdisco Holding Co., Inc. (l)

    83        539   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.0%

  

Smurfit Kappa Group plc

    219        4,924   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.0%

  

Horizon Lines, Inc. - Class A (f) (l)

    278,510        175,768   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.0%

  

Cengage Learning, Inc. (l)

    10,995        264,798   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.0%

  

Mirabela Nickel, Ltd. (f) (l) (m)

    2,370,320        56,119   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—0.0%

  

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (ADR) (l)

    22,685        2,495   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $2,348,926)

      814,489   
   

 

 

 
Warrant—0.0%   

Sovereign—0.0%

  

Venezuela Government Oil-Linked Payment Obligation, Expires 04/15/20 (f) (l) (Cost $0)

    1,700        14,450   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—12.2%   

Mutual Fund—6.5%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (o)

    82,128,493        82,128,493   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—5.7%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $72,133,321 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $71,960,000 U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Note at 0.125% due 04/15/18 with a value of $73,579,100.

    72,133,321        72,133,321   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $154,261,814)

      154,261,814   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—111.1%
(Cost $1,399,276,710)

      1,405,624,779   

Unfunded Loan Commitments—(0.0)%
(Cost $(192,572))

      (192,572

Net Investments—111.1%
(Cost $1,399,084,138) (p)

      1,405,432,207   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(11.1)%

      (140,339,216
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,265,092,991   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $82,896,410 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $82,128,493 and non-cash collateral with a value of $3,990,445. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(c) Non-income producing; Security is in default and/or issuer is in bankruptcy.
(d) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $411,262, which is 0.0% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
(e) Payment-in-kind security for which part of the income earned may be paid as additional principal.
(f) Illiquid security. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.3% of net assets.
(g) TBA (To Be Announced) Securities are purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and no defined maturity date. The actual principal and maturity date will be determined upon settlement date.
(h) Interest only security.
(i) Unfunded or partially unfunded loan commitments. The Portfolio may enter into certain credit agreements for which all or a portion may be unfunded. The Portfolio is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion.
(j) This loan will settle after December 31, 2014, at which time the interest rate will be determined.
(k) Security is a “step-down” bond where the coupon decreases or steps down at a predetermined date. Rate shown is current coupon rate.
(l) Non-income producing security.
(m) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent less than 0.05% of net assets.
(n) Floating rate loans (Senior Loans) often require prepayments from excess cash flows or permit the borrowers to repay at their election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturities shown. However, Senior Loans will have an expected average life of approximately two to four years. The stated interest rate represents the weighted average interest rate of all contracts within the senior loan facility and includes commitment fees on unfunded loan commitments, if any. Senior Loans typically have rates of interest which are determined either daily, monthly, quarterly or semi-annually by reference to a base lending rate, plus a premium. These base rates are primarily the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and secondarily, the prime rate offered by one or more major United States banks (the “Prime Rate”) and the certificate of deposit (“CD”) rate or other base lending rates used by commercial lenders.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

(o) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(p) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,402,148,306. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $45,208,215 and $(41,924,314), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $3,283,901 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $370,560,950, which is 29.3% of net assets.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CMO)— Collateralized Mortgage Obligation
(EUR)— Euro
(GDR)— A Global Depositary Receipt is a negotiable certificate issued by one country’s bank against a certain number of shares of a company’s stock held in its custody but traded on the stock exchange of another country.
(IDR)— Indonesian Rupiah
(INR)— Indian Rupee
(MXN)— Mexican Peso
(NOK)— Norwegian Krone
(NZD)— New Zealand Dollar
(RON)— New Romanian Leu
(RUB)— Russian Ruble
(TRY)— Turkish Lira

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Principal
Amount
     Cost      Value  

Desarrolladora Homex S.A.B. de C.V.

     02/02/12       $ 905,000       $ 895,705       $ 63,350   

Desarrolladora Homex S.A.B. de C.V.

     12/11/09         855,000         846,776         59,850   

Mirabela Nickel, Ltd.

     06/30/14         313,203         313,203         250,562   

Urbi Desarrollos Urbanos S.A.B. de C.V.

     01/27/12         375,000         370,319         37,500   
           

 

 

 
            $ 411,262   
           

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Deliver

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
       In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     1,878,783      

UBS AG

       03/04/15           USD        1,578,392         $ 51,000   
CAD     3,532,147      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/02/15           USD        3,110,366           74,101   
EUR     21,727,110      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/14/15           USD        27,585,065           1,291,649   
EUR     9,071,461      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/04/15           USD        11,260,256           277,343   
JPY     981,262,000      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       03/18/15           USD        8,372,365           174,916   
NZD     2,495,750      

Citibank N.A.

       01/12/15           USD        1,907,951           (37,711
NZD     2,476,504      

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

       01/20/15           USD        1,908,963           (20,177
RUB     66,297,483      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/23/15           USD        1,163,114           78,401   

Cross Currency Contracts to Buy

                                
EUR     5,955,288      

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

       01/29/15           NOK        53,972,604           (28,612
                     

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

     $ 1,860,910   
                     

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         101        USD         16,213,936      $ 470,002   

Futures Contracts—Short

                                

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         (133     USD         (18,790,418     (436,395

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         (1,237     USD         (156,030,135     (817,599

U.S. Treasury Note 2 Year Futures

     03/31/15         (36     USD         (7,879,400     10,025   

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         (878     USD         (104,391,324     (28,942
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Depreciation

  

  $ (802,909
            

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Swap Agreements

 

Centrally Cleared Credit Default Swap Agreements—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

   Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
     Maturity
Date
    

Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)

   Notional
Amount(c)
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Markit CDX North America High Yield Index, Series 23

     5.000%         12/20/19       3.557%      USD         24,500,000       $ 82,190   
                 

 

 

 

OTC Credit Default Swaps on Corporate Issues—Sell Protection (a)

 

Reference Obligation

  Fixed Deal
Receive Rate
    Maturity
Date
   

Counterparty

  Implied Credit
Spread at
December 31,
2014(b)
    Notional
Amount(c)
    Market
Value
    Upfront
Premium
(Received)
    Unrealized
Depreciation
 

Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. 4.875%, due 07/01/15

    1.000%        12/20/19      Morgan Stanley
Capital
Services LLC
    3.107%        USD        2,525,000      $ (237,560)      $ (92,038)      $ (145,522)   
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) If the Portfolio is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Portfolio will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index.
(b) Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate issues or indices as of period end serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. A credit spread identified as “Defaulted” indicates a credit event has occurred for the referenced entity or obligation.
(c) The maximum potential amount of future undiscounted payments that the Portfolio could be required to make under a credit default swap contract would be the notional amount of the contract. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the referenced debt obligation or net amounts received from the settlement of purchased protection credit default swap contracts entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced debt obligation.
(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(EUR)— Euro
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(NOK)— Norwegian Krone
(NZD)— New Zealand Dollar
(RUB)— Russian Ruble
(USD)— United States Dollar

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Corporate Bonds & Notes            

Aerospace/Defense

   $ —         $ 2,273,062       $ —         $ 2,273,062   

Agriculture

     —           6,737,025         —           6,737,025   

Airlines

     —           5,065,021         —           5,065,021   

Auto Manufacturers

     —           2,002,087         —           2,002,087   

Auto Parts & Equipment

     —           2,625,050         —           2,625,050   

Banks

     —           77,043,105         —           77,043,105   

Beverages

     —           1,979,582         —           1,979,582   

Building Materials

     —           10,400,740         —           10,400,740   

Chemicals

     —           10,156,887         —           10,156,887   

Coal

     —           947,950         —           947,950   

Commercial Services

     —           13,069,218         —           13,069,218   

Computers

     —           4,943,721         —           4,943,721   

Diversified Financial Services

     —           35,205,647         —           35,205,647   

Electric

     —           29,735,234         —           29,735,234   

Electrical Components & Equipment

     —           28,088         —           28,088   

Electronics

     —           3,278,200         —           3,278,200   

Energy-Alternate Sources

     —           321,563         —           321,563   

Engineering & Construction

     —           4,325,500         —           4,325,500   

Entertainment

     —           6,970,013         —           6,970,013   

Food

     —           16,112,510         —           16,112,510   

Forest Products & Paper

     —           2,179,120         —           2,179,120   

Gas

     —           2,920,495         —           2,920,495   

Hand/Machine Tools

     —           1,643,187         —           1,643,187   

Healthcare-Products

     —           2,416,800         —           2,416,800   

Healthcare-Services

     —           3,402,420         —           3,402,420   

Home Builders

     —           7,040,875         —           7,040,875   

Home Furnishings

     —           1,252,030         —           1,252,030   

Household Products/Wares

     —           2,327,797         —           2,327,797   

Insurance

     —           89,009,965         1,881,430         90,891,395   

Internet

     —           2,772,380         —           2,772,380   

Investment Company Security

     —           965,325         —           965,325   

Iron/Steel

     —           8,060,972         —           8,060,972   

Leisure Time

     —           705,250         —           705,250   

Lodging

     —           4,101,150         —           4,101,150   

Machinery-Construction & Mining

     —           706,018         —           706,018   

Machinery-Diversified

     —           3,426,272         —           3,426,272   

Media

     —           3,346,716         —           3,346,716   

Metal Fabricate/Hardware

     —           368,520         —           368,520   

Mining

     —           12,512,014         —           12,512,014   

Multi-National

     —           13,681,192         —           13,681,192   

Oil & Gas

     —           35,828,536         —           35,828,536   

Oil & Gas Services

     —           7,597,191         —           7,597,191   

Packaging & Containers

     —           5,883,224         —           5,883,224   

Pharmaceuticals

     —           2,971,600         —           2,971,600   

Pipelines

     —           38,557,502         —           38,557,502   

Real Estate

     —           1,270,500         —           1,270,500   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     —           19,243,234         —           19,243,234   

Retail

     —           5,101,121         —           5,101,121   

Semiconductors

     —           2,245,875         —           2,245,875   

Software

     —           3,575,500         —           3,575,500   

Telecommunications

     —           32,050,226         —           32,050,226   

Textiles

     —           575,231         —           575,231   

Transportation

     —           2,056,761         —           2,056,761   

Trucking & Leasing

     —           2,108,339         —           2,108,339   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes

     —           555,123,541         1,881,430         557,004,971   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $ —        $ 268,684,920      $ —         $ 268,684,920   

Total Floating Rate Loans (Less Unfunded Loan Commitments)*

     —          103,987,975        —           103,987,975   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —          103,812,574        —           103,812,574   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          61,166,639        —           61,166,639   

Total Asset-Backed Securities*

     —          50,944,909        —           50,944,909   

Total Municipals

     —          42,953,872        —           42,953,872   

Total Convertible Bonds*

     —          28,328,289        0         28,328,289   
Preferred Stocks          

Air Freight & Logistics

     —          669,383        —           669,383   

Banks

     10,642,756        151,172        —           10,793,928   

Capital Markets

     2,898,249        —          —           2,898,249   

Consumer Finance

     —          249,898        —           249,898   

Diversified Financial Services

     4,193,155        —          —           4,193,155   

Insurance

     3,971,410        —          —           3,971,410   

Telecommunications

     2,921,200        —          —           2,921,200   

Total Preferred Stocks

     24,626,770        1,070,453        —           25,697,223   
Convertible Preferred Stocks          

Banks

     6,525,082        —          —           6,525,082   

Diversified Financial Services

     —          1,235,000        —           1,235,000   

Total Convertible Preferred Stocks

     6,525,082        1,235,000        —           7,760,082   
Common Stocks          

Air Freight & Logistics

     —          309,225        —           309,225   

Banks

     —          621        —           621   

Commercial Services

     539        —          —           539   

Containers & Packaging

     —          4,924        —           4,924   

Marine

     175,768        —          —           175,768   

Media

     —          264,798        —           264,798   

Metals & Mining

     —          —          56,119         56,119   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     2,495        —          —           2,495   

Total Common Stocks

     178,802        579,568        56,119         814,489   

Total Warrant*

     —          14,450        —           14,450   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Fund

     82,128,493        —          —           82,128,493   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          72,133,321        —           72,133,321   

Total Short-Term Investments

     82,128,493        72,133,321        —           154,261,814   

Total Net Investments

   $ 113,459,147      $ 1,290,035,511      $ 1,937,549       $ 1,405,432,207   
                                   

Collateral for Securities Loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (82,128,493   $ —         $ (82,128,493
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 1,947,410      $ —         $ 1,947,410   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (86,500     —           (86,500

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ 1,860,910      $ —         $ 1,860,910   
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 480,027      $ —        $ —         $ 480,027   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (1,282,936     —          —           (1,282,936

Total Futures Contracts

   $ (802,909   $ —        $ —         $ (802,909
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 82,190      $ —         $ 82,190   
OTC Swap Contracts          

OTC Swap Contracts at Value (Liabilities)

   $ —        $ (237,560   $ —         $ (237,560

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

   Balance as of
December 31,
2013
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
    Purchases      Balance as of
December 31,
2014
     Change in Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation) from
Investments Still Held at
December 31, 2014
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes              

Insurance

   $       $ 143,930      $ 1,737,500       $ 1,881,430       $ 143,930   
Convertible Bonds              

Forest Products & Paper

     0         0                0         0   

Semiconductors

             0        0         0         0   
Common Stock              

Metals & Mining

             (1,954     58,073         56,119         (1,954
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $       $ 141,976      $ 1,795,573       $ 1,937,549       $ 141,976   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,405,432,207   

Cash

     577,490   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     10,454,543   

Cash collateral (d)

     4,075,482   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     1,947,410   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     517,000   

Fund shares sold

     147,510   

Dividends and interest

     11,608,536   

Interest on OTC swap contracts

     33,873   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     25,525   

Prepaid expenses

     3,351   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,434,822,927   

Liabilities

  

OTC swap contracts at market value (e)

     237,560   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     86,500   

Collateral for securities loaned

     82,128,493   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     8,536,407   

TBA securities purchased

     77,022,602   

Fund shares redeemed

     334,657   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     412,153   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     609,053   

Distribution and service fees

     45,357   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     249,730   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     169,729,936   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,265,092,991   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,190,489,633   

Undistributed net investment income

     57,208,673   

Accumulated net realized gain

     11,758,970   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     5,635,715   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,265,092,991   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 952,661,526   

Class B

     67,081,796   

Class E

     245,349,669   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     86,971,458   

Class B

     6,253,137   

Class E

     22,552,186   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 10.95   

Class B

     10.73   

Class E

     10.88   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,399,084,138.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $82,896,410.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $12,006,990.
(d) Includes collateral of $2,445,482 for futures contracts, $1,350,000 for centrally cleared swaps and $280,000 for OTC swap contracts.
(e) Net premium received on OTC swap contracts was $92,038.

 

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 2,267,414   

Interest (a)

     58,767,017   

Securities lending income

     321,256   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     61,355,687   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     7,276,073   

Administration fees

     30,202   

Custodian and accounting fees

     407,895   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     120,263   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     371,101   

Audit and tax services

     66,683   

Legal

     34,183   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     130,729   

Insurance

     8,140   

Miscellaneous

     14,568   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     8,503,597   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     52,852,090   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     22,467,257   

Futures contracts

     (3,957,997

Swap contracts

     362,827   

Foreign currency transactions

     4,094,672   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     22,966,759   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (15,587,156

Futures contracts

     (3,204,229

Swap contracts

     (63,332

Foreign currency transactions

     417,882   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (18,436,835
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     4,529,924   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 57,382,014   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $18,451.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 52,852,090      $ 60,083,237   

Net realized gain

     22,966,759        13,618,754   

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (18,436,835     (55,262,680
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     57,382,014        18,439,311   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (50,319,138     (47,801,563

Class B

     (1,930,820     0   

Class E

     (11,977,710     (12,818,601

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (10,046,356     (2,724,441

Class B

     (405,931     0   

Class E

     (2,468,525     (751,357
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (77,148,480     (64,095,962
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     24,033,362        126,819,626   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     4,266,896        81,162,975   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,260,826,095        1,179,663,120   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,265,092,991      $ 1,260,826,095   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 57,208,673      $ 61,798,684   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     2,351,317      $ 26,108,142        12,451,227      $ 140,830,349   

Reinvestments

     5,589,398        60,365,494        4,511,250        50,526,004   

Redemptions

     (10,101,024     (111,845,559     (7,379,732     (82,574,493
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     (2,160,309   $ (25,371,923     9,582,745      $ 108,781,860   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B (a)

        

Sales

     4,387,077      $ 47,717,865        2,277,064      $ 24,567,925   

Reinvestments

     220,448        2,336,751        0        0   

Redemptions

     (601,273     (6,536,301     (30,179     (326,812
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     4,006,252      $ 43,518,315        2,246,885      $ 24,241,113   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     4,191,650      $ 46,087,571        5,580,038      $ 62,252,775   

Reinvestments

     1,345,087        14,446,235        1,218,129        13,569,958   

Redemptions

     (4,964,094     (54,646,836     (7,398,355     (82,026,080
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     572,643      $ 5,886,970        (600,188   $ (6,203,347
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 24,033,362        $ 126,819,626   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was July 17, 2013.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.14       $ 11.57       $ 10.95       $ 11.15       $ 10.47   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.46         0.55         0.57         0.62         0.64   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.05         (0.37      0.66         (0.22      0.60   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.51         0.18         1.23         0.40         1.24   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.58      (0.58      (0.57      (0.53      (0.56

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.12      (0.03      (0.04      (0.07      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.70      (0.61      (0.61      (0.60      (0.56
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.95       $ 11.14       $ 11.57       $ 10.95       $ 11.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.58         1.54         11.62         3.63         12.17   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.62         0.63         0.63         0.64         0.67   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     4.15         4.88         5.12         5.61         5.94   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     82  (f)       29         23         30         33   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 952.7       $ 993.0       $ 920.1       $ 743.2       $ 638.0   

 

     Class B  
     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2014      2013(c)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.92       $ 10.76   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

     

Net investment income (a)

     0.41         0.23   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.07         (0.07
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.48         0.16   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

     

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.55      0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.12      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.67      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.73       $ 10.92   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.40         1.49  (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

     

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.87         0.88  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     3.83         4.71  (e) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     82  (f)       29   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 67.1       $ 24.5   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.07       $ 11.50       $ 10.89       $ 11.10       $ 10.43   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.44         0.53         0.55         0.60         0.62   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.05         (0.37      0.65         (0.22      0.60   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.49         0.16         1.20         0.38         1.22   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.56      (0.56      (0.55      (0.52      (0.55

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.12      (0.03      (0.04      (0.07      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.68      (0.59      (0.59      (0.59      (0.55
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.88       $ 11.07       $ 11.50       $ 10.89       $ 11.10   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     4.44         1.41         11.45         3.46         12.04   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.77         0.78         0.78         0.79         0.82   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     3.99         4.73         4.97         5.46         5.79   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     82  (f)       29         23         30         33   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 245.3       $ 243.3       $ 259.6       $ 213.6       $ 155.9   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Commencement of operations was July 17, 2013.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) Computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Includes mortgage dollar roll and TBA transactions; excluding these transactions the portfolio turnover rate would have been 44% for 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946- Financial Services- Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, paydown reclasses, defaulted bonds, swap transactions, convertible preferred stock interest purchased, distribution re-designations, contingent payment debt instruments and premium amortization adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $72,133,321, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls - The Portfolio may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Portfolio sells to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon, and maturity) securities on a specified future date. For the duration of the transaction, or roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal (including prepayments of principal) and interest paid on the securities sold. Dollar rolls are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions; gain or loss is recognized at the commencement of the term of the dollar roll and each time the mortgage-backed security is rolled.

Mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Portfolio is required to reacquire may be less than the agreed-upon repurchase price of those securities and that the investment performance of securities purchased with proceeds from these transactions does not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities transferred or sold, as applicable, as part of the treasury or mortgage dollar roll.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

TBA Purchase & Forward Sale Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into TBA commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA commitments are considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases prior to settlement date, which is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the Portfolio’s other assets. TBA forward sale commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities, according to the procedures described under “Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements”.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no when-issued and delayed-delivery securities.

Stripped Securities - The Portfolio may invest in “stripped securities,” a term used collectively for certain structured fixed income securities. Stripped securities can be principal only securities (“POs”), which are debt obligations that have been stripped of unmatured interest coupons or interest only securities (“IOs”), which are unmatured interest coupons that have been stripped from debt obligations. Stripped securities do not make periodic payments of interest prior to maturity. As is the case with all securities, the market value of stripped securities will fluctuate in response to changes in economic conditions, interest rates and the market’s perception of the securities. However, fluctuations in response to interest rates may be greater in stripped securities than for debt obligations of comparable maturities that currently pay interest. The amount of fluctuation increases with a longer period of maturity.

The yield to maturity on IOs is sensitive to the rate of principal repayments (including prepayments) on the related underlying debt obligation and principal payments may have a material effect on yield to maturity. If the underlying debt obligation experiences greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Portfolio may not fully recoup the initial investment in IOs.

High Yield Debt Securities - The Portfolio may invest in high yield debt securities, or “junk bonds,” which are securities that are rated below “investment grade” or, if not rated, are of equivalent quality. A portfolio with high yield debt securities generally will be exposed to greater market risk and credit risk than a portfolio that invests only in investment grade debt securities because issuers of high yield debt securities are generally less secure financially, are more likely to default on their obligations, and their securities are more sensitive to interest rate changes and downturns in the economy. In addition, the secondary market for lower-rated debt securities may not be as liquid as that for more highly rated debt securities. As a result, the Portfolio’s Subadviser may find it more difficult to value lower-rated debt securities or sell them and may have to sell them at prices significantly lower than the values assigned to them by the Portfolio.

Floating Rate Loans - The Portfolio may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Portfolio’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations or an assignment, the Portfolio generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower. The Portfolio may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation or assignment.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Portfolio may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.

Unfunded Loan Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into certain credit agreements, all or a portion of which may be unfunded. The Portfolio is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion. These commitments, if any, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had open unfunded loan commitments of $192,572. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover these commitments.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Credit Default Swaps: The Portfolio is subject to credit risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Portfolio may enter into credit default swaps to manage its exposure to the market or certain sectors of the market, to reduce its risk exposure to defaults of corporate and/or sovereign issuers, or to create exposure to corporate and/or sovereign issuers to which they are not otherwise exposed. Credit default swaps involve one party making a stream of payments (referred to as the buyer of protection) to another party (the seller of protection) in exchange for the right to receive a specified return if a credit event occurs for the referenced entity, obligation or index. A credit event is defined under the terms of each swap agreement and may include, but is not limited to, underlying entity default, bankruptcy, write-down, principal shortfall or interest shortfall. As the seller of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either pay the buyer an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). In return, the Portfolio would receive from the counterparty an upfront or periodic stream of payments throughout the life of the credit default swap agreement provided that no credit event has occurred. As the seller of protection, the Portfolio would effectively add leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Portfolio would be subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the credit default swap.

The Portfolio may also purchase credit default swap contracts in order to hedge against the risk of default of debt securities held in its portfolio. This would involve the risk that the investment may be worthless when it expires and would only generate income in the event of an actual default by the issuer of the underlying obligation (as opposed to a credit downgrade or other indication of financial instability). It would also involve credit risk, whereby the seller may fail to satisfy its payment obligations to the Portfolio in the event of a default. As the buyer of protection, if an underlying credit event occurs, the Portfolio will either receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index), or receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation (or underlying securities comprising the referenced index). If no credit event occurs and the Portfolio is a buyer of protection, the Portfolio will typically recover nothing under the credit default swap agreement, but it will have had to pay the required upfront payment or stream of continuing payments under the credit default swap agreement. Recovery values are at times established through the credit event auction process in which market participants are ensured that a transparent price has been set for the defaulted obligation.

Credit default swap agreements on credit indices involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising the credit index. A credit index is a basket of credit instruments or exposures designed to be representative of some part of the credit market as a whole. An index credit default swap references all the names in the index, and if there is a credit event involving an entity in the index, the credit event is settled based on that entity’s weight in the index. A Portfolio may use credit default swaps on credit indices as a hedge for credit default swaps or bonds held in the portfolio, which is less expensive than it would be to buy many individual credit default swaps to achieve similar effect. Credit default swaps on indices are benchmarks for protecting investors owning bonds against default, and may be used to speculate on changes in credit quality.

Implied credit spreads, represented in absolute terms, utilized in determining the market value of credit default swap agreements on a credit index or corporate or sovereign issuer, serve as some indication of the status of the payment/performance risk and the likelihood or risk of default for the credit derivative. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity or index also reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may reflect upfront payments required to be made to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads generally represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the particular swap agreement. When no implied credit spread is available for a credit default swap, the current unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the position may be used as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

The maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Portfolio as a seller of protection could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. Notional amounts of all credit default swap agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2014, for which the Portfolio is the seller of protection, are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments. These potential amounts would be partially offset by any recovery values of the respective referenced obligations, upfront payments received upon entering into the agreement or net amounts received from the settlement of buy protection credit default swap agreements entered into by the Portfolio for the same referenced entity or entities.

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate   

Unrealized appreciation on futures

contracts* (a)

   $ 480,027      

Unrealized depreciation on futures

contracts* (a)

   $ 1,282,936   
Credit         

OTC swap contracts at market

value (b)

     237,560   
  

Unrealized appreciation on centrally

cleared swap contracts** (a)

     82,190         
Foreign Exchange   

Unrealized appreciation on forward

foreign currency exchange contracts

     1,947,410      

Unrealized depreciation on forward

foreign currency exchange contracts

     86,500   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 2,509,627          $ 1,606,996   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.
  (b) Excludes OTC swap interest receivable of $33,873.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”)(see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
     Net Amount*  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

   $ 1,896,410       $ (28,612   $       $ 1,867,798   

UBS AG

     51,000                        51,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 1,947,410       $ (28,612   $       $ 1,918,798   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
    Net Amount**  

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

   $ 20,177       $      $      $ 20,177   

Citibank N.A.

     37,711                       37,711   

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

     28,612         (28,612              

Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC

     237,560                (237,560       
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 324,060       $ (28,612   $ (237,560   $ 57,888   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Credit      Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $       $ 4,587,084       $ 4,587,084   

Futures contracts

     (3,957,997                     (3,957,997

Swap contracts

            362,827                 362,827   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (3,957,997   $ 362,827       $ 4,587,084       $ 991,914   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation
(Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Credit     Foreign
Exchange
     Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $      $ 1,995,487       $ 1,995,487   

Futures contracts

     (3,204,229                    (3,204,229

Swap contracts

            (63,332             (63,332
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ (3,204,229   $ (63,332   $ 1,995,487       $ (1,272,074
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 64,175,211   

Futures contracts long

     12,050,000   

Futures contracts short

     (214,575,000

Swap contracts

     16,319,067   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, including mortgage dollar roll and TBA transactions but excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$727,101,650    $ 306,290,514       $ 589,514,673       $ 421,366,222   

Purchases and sales of mortgage dollar rolls and TBA transactions for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

   Sales  
$504,167,229    $ 436,612,797   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. that amounted to $4,744,634 in purchases and $3,978,869 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$7,276,073      0.600   First $500 million
     0.550   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.530   Over $1 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Pioneer Investment Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$66,587,121    $ 61,252,127       $ 10,561,359       $ 2,843,835       $ 77,148,480       $ 64,095,962   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$60,684,321    $ 12,409,582       $ 1,576,880       $       $ 74,670,783   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-45


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and agent banks; when replies were not received from brokers or agent banks, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-46


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-47


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-48


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-49


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-50


Met Investors Series Trust

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Pioneer Strategic Income Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Pioneer Investment Management Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further noted that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Universal Bond Index, for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were above the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also took into account that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-51


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Managed by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the Pyramis Government Income Portfolio returned 7.56%. The Portfolio’s primary benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Government Bond Index1, returned 4.92%. The Portfolio’s secondary benchmark, the Custom Benchmark2, returned 7.91%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

For the twelve months ending December 31, 2014, the U.S. investment-grade bond market earned a return of 5.97%, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. It was the best calendar-year return for the bond market since 2011, and a strong comeback from 2013, when the bond market produced a return of -2.02%. The market environment during the year was characterized by rising short-term interest rates, falling intermediate-term and long-term interest rates, a flattening U.S. Treasury yield curve, collapsing oil prices, declining inflation expectations, widening yield spreads on credit-sensitive debt instruments, narrowing yield spreads on securitized debt instruments, and periodic spikes in volatility, all of which combined to generate positive returns for the broad Index.

U.S. Treasury yields were mixed during the year, rising modestly at the short end of the U.S. Treasury yield curve—only 2 basis points—but in a more pronounced fashion in the short-intermediate portion of the curve (12 to 32 basis points). The yields on intermediate-term issues fell during the period (10 to 87 basis points), and the decline was even more pronounced for long-term issues (120 to 125 basis points). All of these changes led to a noticeable flattening of the yield curve as the year wore on.

The decline in U.S. Treasury yields came as a surprise to many market pundits, who had predicted that bond yields would move higher this year as the U.S. economic recovery gathered momentum. In fact, bond prices in the first half of the year were supported by weak macroeconomic data, most notably the news that real U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”) in the first quarter had contracted at an annual rate of 2.9%, the worst quarterly print for real GDP in five years, and one that was commonly attributed to harsh winter weather. Bond prices were also supported by reassuring public statements from the Federal Reserve (the “Fed”), which served as a reminder of the Fed’s ongoing commitment to low interest rates; and by a modest “flight to safety” amid growing geopolitical tensions in many parts of the world, especially Ukraine, Syria, and Iraq.

In the second half of the year, economic conditions in the United States finally began to improve, as evidenced by a strong third-quarter real GDP report, which showed the U.S. economy growing at a brisk pace of 5.0% per year, and by a steadily-improving employment picture, underscored by the September jobs reports, which showed that the U.S. unemployment rate had dropped below 6% for the first time since the summer of 2008. Reports such as these put ongoing upward pressure on bond yields, as they raised concerns that the Fed might raise interest rates sooner than expected, even though the Fed’s Open Market Committee met in September and renewed its pledge to keep interest rates low for a “considerable time”. Meanwhile, there continued to be a strong flight-to-safety bid for U.S. Treasuries in the third quarter, as markets were roiled by a host of geopolitical concerns—e.g., the escalation of the military conflict in eastern Ukraine; the rise of the terrorist group known as Islamic State (ISIS); the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and the first reported cases of the virus in Europe and the United States; the Argentinian government debt default; and disappointing economic reports out of Europe, leading to renewed worries about the prospect for deflation in Euroland.

The events of the fourth quarter were driven by the remarkable collapse in the price of crude oil. When the quarter began, crude oil was trading at a price of $90 per barrel, roughly in line with its price over the last four years. When the quarter ended, the price of crude oil had plunged to $53 per barrel, a 41% decline in one quarter.

The collapse in crude oil prices sent a shock wave through the global financial markets, since oil is one of the world’s most important commodities, and almost every budget in the world is linked to the price of oil somehow. In the bond market, the sudden and dramatic re-pricing of oil had a number of important knock-on effects. First, it caused an immediate downward shift in investor expectations about inflation. Second, with inflationary expectations now lowered, any inflation premium built into the term structure of interest rates could be lowered, too, especially at the long end of the U.S. Treasury yield curve, and this set in motion a further decline in the yields of intermediate-term and long-term U.S. Treasuries. Third, while the yields on risk-free debt instruments declined, the yield spreads on credit-sensitive debt instruments widened, most notably for those bonds leveraged to the price of oil, such as certain U.S. investment-grade corporate bonds, U.S. high-yield corporate bonds, and emerging market debt instruments. Finally, the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar surged by about 5% during the fourth quarter, and at year end was trading at a nine-year high relative to a trade-weighted basket of foreign currencies. The strong dollar, too, is dampening any concern about the future prospects for inflation, since imported goods will now be far less expensive in dollar terms.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury note ended the year trading at a yield of 2.17%, 87 basis points lower than it had traded at the beginning of the year. U.S. Treasuries were one of the best-performing sectors in the U.S. investment-grade bond market, posting a solid return of 5.05%. Within Treasuries, there was wide disparity in performance by maturity, with intermediate-term Treasuries producing a return of only 2.57%, and long-dated Treasuries earning a return of 25.07%. U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) also proved to be a laggard, earning a return of only 3.64%, as the decline in inflation expectations throughout the year made the need for inflation protection less relevant.

Among the spread sectors, U.S. Agency debentures posted a total return of only 3.58%, but after adjusting for duration, they

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Managed by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

outperformed comparable U.S. Treasuries by 55 basis points. Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) mimicked the U.S. Agencies, producing a relatively modest total return of 1.88%, yet outperforming similar-duration U.S. Treasuries by 53 basis points.

Agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) were the top-performing sector on an absolute basis, producing a total return of 6.08% and outperforming similar-duration U.S. Treasuries by 40 basis points. Within this sector, the fixed-rate mortgages issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC” or “Freddie Mac”) were the strongest performers, followed by the fixed-rate mortgages issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA” or “Fannie Mae”). The fixed-rate mortgages issued by the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA” or “Ginnie Mae”) actually underperformed similar-duration U.S. Treasuries, although they produced a positive absolute return of 5.97%. The option-adjusted yield spreads on Ginnie Mae MBS widened by 2 basis points in the year, while the option-adjusted yield spreads on Fannie Mae MBS and Freddie Mac MBS narrowed by 9 basis points and 13 basis points, respectively.

Finally, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) were the top-performing sector on a relative basis, producing a total return of only 3.86%, but outperforming similar-duration U.S. Treasuries by 108 basis points.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio outperformed its primary benchmark over the one year period, and fell in line with its custom benchmark over the period. The relative returns were driven primarily by two factors—yield-curve positioning and sector allocation; favorable security selection made a small positive contribution.

The Portfolio’s relative performance versus the custom benchmark was positively affected by changes in the level, slope, and shape of the U.S. Treasury yield curve. The Portfolio maintained a slightly shorter-than-benchmark duration during the year, which ordinarily would have had a negative effect on relative performance, given the downward shift in the term structure of interest rates. However, the U.S. Treasury yield curve also flattened considerably, so the Portfolio’s yield-curve positioning strategy proved to be crucial. The Portfolio’s key-rate durations relative to those of its benchmark were fairly neutral, except at the 20-year node, where throughout the year the Portfolio was slightly short duration, and at the 10-year node and 30-year node, where the Portfolio was slightly long duration. The short-duration posture at the 20-year node proved to be detrimental, as yields on the 20-year U.S. Treasury bond fell by 125 basis points during the year, but these losses were more than offset by the long-duration posture at the 10-year node and the 30-year node, where yields fell by 35 basis points and 46 basis points, respectively, in the fourth quarter. The net result of this yield-curve positioning strategy was a significantly positive contribution to excess return.

The Portfolio made effective use of derivatives—in particular, interest-rate futures contracts and interest-rate swaps—in managing its duration posture and its yield-curve positioning strategy throughout the year. The notional value of these instruments represented about 9% of the Portfolio’s net assets, on average. Nevertheless, they played an important role in insuring that the Portfolio’s duration posture and yield-curve positioning came close to matching those of the benchmark. Derivatives were used solely for hedging purposes, and not as part of a for-profit investment strategy.

The Portfolio pursued a simple but effective sector allocation strategy: overweighting those sectors of the investment universe that offer the highest option-adjusted spreads, and underweighting those sectors that offer the lowest ones. In practice, this strategy expressed itself as a large overweight to both CMBS and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), and a small overweight to both MBS and ABS. These overweights were made possible by underweighting both U.S. Treasuries and U.S. Agency debentures, and doing so to a significant degree, although the U.S. Treasury component of the Portfolio did include a small allocation to U.S. TIPS beginning in August.

This asset allocation strategy worked out very well for the most part. The overweight to CMBS proved to be prescient, as CMBS was the best-performing sector during the period on a duration-adjusted basis. The overweight to Agency MBS also made a meaningful contribution to excess return, although the same could not be said of the overweights to ABS and CMOs. The ABS ended up making a negligible contribution to excess return, while the CMOs actually detracted from relative performance. Many of the CMOs were floating-rate, which tend to underperform in an environment where interest rates are falling, since the coupon rates reset at ever lower levels. Finally, the largest detractor to relative performance turned out to be the small allocation to TIPS, which performed poorly in the second half of the year as inflation expectations ratcheted down following the precipitous drop in oil prices.

In the security selection category, there was evidence of both astute and adverse bond-picking. Within the Agency MBS category, the Portfolio’s holdings in 15-year and 30-year Agency mortgage pass-throughs were especially important in making a positive contribution to excess return. Many of these securities had certain structural or idiosyncratic features that made them prepay more slowly than the market as a whole, which can be an important source of value-added in a declining interest-rate environment. The Portfolio also held a sizable stake in GNMA reverse mortgages, which outperformed over the twelve-month period, in part due to their attractive yields. Within the U.S. Agency debenture category, the Portfolio benefited by investing in debentures issued by U.S. Agencies other than Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—e.g., the Agency for International Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

That said, security selection also detracted from relative performance, and it did so in two primary ways: the Portfolio’s decision to invest in

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Managed by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

Agency hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (“ARMS”), which like CMOs, tend to underperform in a falling interest-rate environment, as coupon rates adjust at ever lower levels; and the Portfolio’s decision to invest in Non-Agency residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) and CMBS, which unlike their Agency counterparts, are not backed either implicitly or explicitly by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and are therefore credit-sensitive. The calendar year just past was one in which higher-quality issues generally outperformed lower-quality issues, at least in the securitized debt space; thus, Non-Agency RMBS and CMBS proved to be a drag on relative performance.

At the end of December, the Portfolio maintained a slightly shorter-than-benchmark duration posture and a fairly neutral yield-curve positioning posture relative to its custom benchmark. The Portfolio also maintained a large overweight to CMOs, a medium overweight to CMBS, and small overweights to ABS and Agency MBS. These overweights were made possible by maintaining a medium underweight to U.S. Treasuries and a large underweight to U.S. Agency debentures. Within the Agency MBS sector, the Portfolio continued to maintain its positions in MBS that offer significant protection against faster prepayments. The Portfolio also held less liquid types of securities, some of which offer attractive yields (e.g., GNMA reverse mortgages), and others of which offer protection in the event of rising interest rates (e.g., Agency hybrid ARMs).

William Irving

Franco Castagliuolo

Portfolio Managers

Pyramis Global Advisors

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE BARCLAYS U.S. GOVERNMENT BOND INDEX & THE CUSTOM BENCHMARK

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
Pyramis Government Income Portfolio            

Class B

       7.56           3.89   
Barclays U.S. Government Bond Index        4.92           3.27   
Custom Benchmark        7.91           4.30   

1 The Barclays U.S. Government Bond Index is an unmanaged index considered representative of fixed-income obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury, government agencies, and quasi-federal corporations.

2 The Custom Benchmark is a blended benchmark comprised of the Barclays 5+ Year Treasury Index (40%), the Barclays U.S. MBS Index (35%) and the Barclays U.S. Agency Bond Index (25%)

3 Inception date of the Class B shares is 5/2/2011. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      88.4   
Mortgage-Backed Securities      5.7   
Foreign Government      3.3   
Asset-Backed Securities      3.1   
Corporate Bonds & Notes      2.1   

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B

   Actual      0.71    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,028.60         $ 3.63   
   Hypothetical*      0.71    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.63         $ 3.62   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—88.4% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—48.1%

  

Fannie Mae 15 Yr. Pool
2.500%, 05/01/27

    99,370      $ 101,439   

2.500%, 09/01/27

    198,633        202,786   

2.500%, 01/01/28

    296,968        302,987   

2.500%, 06/01/28

    99,253        101,262   

2.500%, 09/01/28

    398,688        406,748   

2.500%, 07/01/29

    2,493,329        2,541,563   

2.500%, 08/01/29

    830,512        846,579   

2.500%, 09/01/29

    1,491,543        1,520,398   

2.500%, 10/01/29

    4,189,964        4,271,022   

2.500%, 11/01/29

    2,187,937        2,230,263   

2.500%, TBA (a)

    13,900,000        14,151,937   

3.000%, TBA (a)

    5,700,000        5,924,660   

3.500%, 12/01/25

    56,400        59,680   

3.500%, 12/01/29

    398,193        421,680   

3.500%, TBA (a)

    300,000        316,922   

4.000%, 09/01/26

    729,127        781,449   

4.000%, 11/01/26

    734,942        787,772   

4.500%, 12/01/23

    235,844        248,220   

5.000%, 03/01/23

    33,980        36,944   

Fannie Mae 20 Yr. Pool
3.500%, 01/01/34

    4,361,320        4,594,344   

5.500%, 01/01/29

    1,123,332        1,255,245   

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool
2.500%, 01/01/43

    3,676,681        3,594,703   

3.000%, 11/01/42

    253,328        256,759   

3.000%, 12/01/42

    2,403,712        2,436,396   

3.000%, 01/01/43

    1,300,677        1,318,241   

3.000%, 02/01/43

    6,753,258        6,846,185   

3.000%, 03/01/43

    16,239,835        16,453,791   

3.000%, 04/01/43

    272,538        276,182   

3.000%, 05/01/43

    302,046        306,038   

3.000%, 06/01/43

    110,245        111,731   

3.000%, 07/01/43

    74,568        75,539   

3.000%, 08/01/43

    287,698        291,449   

3.000%, 03/01/44

    76,984        77,990   

3.500%, 08/01/42

    3,582,437        3,739,609   

3.500%, 04/01/43

    7,756,529        8,094,666   

3.500%, 05/01/43

    675,609        706,770   

3.500%, 08/01/43

    9,004,413        9,421,564   

4.000%, 09/01/40

    560,772        599,383   

4.000%, 10/01/40

    448,101        478,915   

4.000%, 11/01/40

    12,035,579        12,879,075   

4.000%, 12/01/40

    96,224        102,856   

4.000%, 11/01/41

    206,796        222,236   

4.000%, 12/01/41

    105,298        113,134   

4.000%, 02/01/42

    76,583        82,282   

4.000%, 03/01/42

    980,387        1,053,496   

4.000%, 04/01/42

    2,199,711        2,359,553   

4.000%, 05/01/42

    649,002        697,562   

4.000%, 06/01/42

    575,276        618,921   

4.000%, 07/01/42

    213,543        229,481   

4.000%, 10/01/42

    548,056        588,494   

4.000%, 11/01/42

    369,409        396,256   

4.000%, 04/01/43

    326,498        350,110   

4.000%, 06/01/43

    1,626,433        1,744,169   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool

   

4.000%, 09/01/43

    6,853,546      7,353,321   

4.000%, 01/01/44

    5,265,861        5,649,583   

4.000%, TBA (a)

    7,000,000        7,465,855   

4.500%, 12/01/40

    3,862,564        4,199,561   

4.500%, 05/01/41

    2,660,468        2,892,039   

4.500%, 07/01/41

    614,710        673,130   

4.500%, 08/01/41

    314,478        344,291   

4.500%, 10/01/41

    3,498,613        3,801,794   

4.500%, 11/01/41

    7,876,842        8,630,594   

4.500%, 01/01/43

    4,938,753        5,363,114   

4.500%, TBA (a)

    1,000,000        1,085,469   

5.000%, 04/01/41

    99,498        110,789   

5.000%, 06/01/41

    99,459        110,175   

5.000%, 08/01/41

    244,320        269,814   

6.000%, 10/01/34

    285,181        328,341   

6.000%, 05/01/37

    1,215,502        1,380,130   

6.000%, 09/01/37

    89,722        103,271   

6.000%, 10/01/37

    959,693        1,104,508   

6.000%, 01/01/38

    952,728        1,095,289   

6.000%, 03/01/38

    332,715        383,357   

6.000%, 07/01/38

    191,182        220,067   

6.000%, 01/01/40

    851,453        980,429   

6.000%, 05/01/40

    1,274,903        1,467,274   

6.000%, 07/01/41

    1,307,878        1,504,899   

6.000%, 01/01/42

    125,050        144,447   

6.500%, 07/01/32

    208,761        241,275   

6.500%, 12/01/32

    63,073        72,994   

6.500%, 07/01/35

    70,294        81,333   

6.500%, 12/01/35

    642,059        740,982   

6.500%, 08/01/36

    1,112,424        1,280,624   

Fannie Mae ARM Pool
2.543%, 06/01/42 (b)

    215,304        221,649   

2.690%, 02/01/42 (b)

    1,172,447        1,224,395   

2.960%, 11/01/40 (b)

    127,696        134,345   

3.002%, 09/01/41 (b)

    142,092        148,190   

3.060%, 10/01/41 (b)

    79,348        83,087   

3.150%, 01/01/44 (b)

    3,496,510        3,649,257   

3.163%, 03/01/42 (b)

    5,863,202        6,129,551   

3.233%, 07/01/41 (b)

    238,623        250,875   

3.318%, 10/01/41 (b)

    117,096        123,220   

3.437%, 11/01/40 (b)

    1,693,080        1,792,735   

3.563%, 07/01/41 (b)

    230,697        244,171   

Fannie Mae REMICS (CMO)
1.090%, 03/25/36 (b)

    831,634        850,574   

1.100%, 06/25/36 (b)

    1,357,282        1,390,184   

5.000%, 12/25/23

    497,350        534,113   

5.000%, 12/25/34

    739,720        807,242   

5.000%, 03/25/35

    579,755        630,011   

5.000%, 08/25/39

    879,093        959,764   

5.500%, 05/25/34

    907,387        949,195   

5.500%, 07/25/34

    493,070        535,620   

5.500%, 06/25/35

    473,091        509,685   

5.500%, 08/25/35

    1,958,108        2,194,152   

Freddie Mac 15 Yr. Gold Pool
4.000%, 06/01/24

    710,832        756,884   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Freddie Mac 15 Yr. Gold Pool

   

4.000%, 07/01/24

    582,493      $ 620,211   

4.000%, 09/01/25

    482,024        513,300   

6.000%, 01/01/24

    677,879        748,379   

Freddie Mac 30 Yr. Gold Pool
3.000%, 11/01/42

    301,465        305,528   

3.000%, 01/01/43

    311,126        314,942   

3.000%, 02/01/43

    1,681,827        1,703,112   

3.000%, 03/01/43

    16,962,097        17,166,974   

3.000%, 06/01/43

    5,144,871        5,204,314   

3.500%, 02/01/42

    116,822        121,706   

3.500%, 04/01/42

    1,160,904        1,212,555   

3.500%, 05/01/42

    185,427        193,122   

3.500%, 06/01/42

    1,267,514        1,320,059   

3.500%, 07/01/42

    239,324        249,333   

3.500%, 08/01/42

    99,470        103,640   

3.500%, 09/01/42

    75,385        78,535   

3.500%, 10/01/42

    2,848,884        2,967,801   

3.500%, 11/01/42

    1,600,003        1,665,541   

3.500%, 01/01/43

    1,352,645        1,408,608   

3.500%, 02/01/43

    616,275        642,105   

3.500%, 03/01/43

    309,971        322,679   

3.500%, 04/01/43

    1,713,437        1,784,482   

3.500%, 05/01/43

    3,394,544        3,533,324   

3.500%, 11/01/43

    295,538        307,621   

3.500%, 10/01/44

    1,703,755        1,773,410   

3.500%, 11/01/44

    9,902,385        10,307,229   

4.000%, 09/01/41

    4,048,671        4,336,458   

4.000%, 10/01/41

    1,209,353        1,295,702   

4.000%, 11/01/41

    37,077        39,669   

4.000%, 01/01/42

    4,474,154        4,777,275   

4.000%, 03/01/42

    442,916        475,197   

4.000%, 04/01/42

    5,725,413        6,145,215   

4.000%, 09/01/42

    198,684        212,968   

4.000%, 10/01/42

    197,092        210,849   

4.000%, 11/01/42

    822,412        880,997   

4.000%, 12/01/42

    324,859        347,675   

4.000%, 01/01/43

    84,294        90,250   

4.000%, 02/01/43

    457,207        489,533   

4.000%, 03/01/43

    202,899        217,241   

4.000%, 04/01/43

    61,305        65,641   

4.000%, 05/01/43

    983,164        1,053,469   

4.000%, 06/01/43

    55,765        59,708   

4.000%, 07/01/43

    812,567        870,358   

4.000%, 08/01/43

    564,391        604,444   

4.000%, 09/01/43

    927,082        992,295   

4.000%, 10/01/43

    857,430        918,926   

4.000%, 11/01/43

    45,669        48,896   

4.000%, 01/01/44

    997,033        1,068,679   

4.000%, 02/01/44

    153,046        163,850   

4.000%, 03/01/44

    91,294        97,734   

4.000%, 04/01/44

    94,605        101,363   

4.500%, 05/01/39

    2,472,784        2,729,213   

4.500%, 06/01/39

    2,136,505        2,360,059   

4.500%, 07/01/40

    5,753,800        6,242,861   

4.500%, 02/01/41

    175,839        192,593   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Freddie Mac 30 Yr. Gold Pool

   

4.500%, 08/01/41

    2,012,127      2,185,626   

4.500%, 09/01/41

    180,616        198,300   

4.500%, 10/01/41

    401,790        440,966   

4.500%, 02/01/44

    105,335        114,216   

5.000%, 01/01/35

    424,256        469,576   

5.000%, 05/01/35

    289,788        320,814   

5.000%, 07/01/35

    3,346,549        3,707,034   

5.000%, 11/01/35

    2,368,811        2,685,051   

5.000%, 07/01/41

    972,258        1,080,944   

5.500%, 03/01/34

    3,540,220        3,998,417   

5.500%, 07/01/35

    2,405,331        2,715,199   

Freddie Mac ARM Non-Gold Pool
2.403%, 10/01/42 (b)

    1,349,095        1,406,614   

3.078%, 09/01/41 (b)

    1,312,784        1,368,599   

3.227%, 09/01/41 (b)

    142,462        149,160   

3.230%, 12/01/40 (b)

    2,678,972        2,819,345   

3.239%, 04/01/41 (b)

    142,817        149,976   

3.299%, 06/01/41 (b)

    172,310        180,273   

3.411%, 12/01/40 (b)

    4,803,750        5,100,579   

3.466%, 11/01/40 (b)

    11,236,178        11,933,166   

3.468%, 05/01/41 (b)

    153,418        161,711   

3.621%, 06/01/41 (b)

    238,078        252,496   

3.702%, 05/01/41 (b)

    199,915        211,461   

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (CMO)

   

0.520%, 04/25/19 (b)

    1,002,854        1,003,330   

1.655%, 11/25/16

    1,580,000        1,596,658   

2.669%, 02/25/23

    4,872,053        4,995,755   

3.016%, 02/25/23

    8,833,455        9,198,117   

3.303%, 07/25/24

    7,854,000        8,239,270   

3.808%, 08/25/20

    7,890,000        8,538,818   

3.974%, 01/25/21 (b)

    17,750,000        19,366,865   

4.084%, 11/25/20 (b)

    980,000        1,075,927   

4.251%, 01/25/20

    4,090,000        4,492,616   

Freddie Mac REMICS (CMO)

   

0.561%, 03/15/34 (b)

    819,631        824,008   

1.061%, 02/15/33 (b)

    609,147        619,552   

1.200%, 07/15/15

    22,608        22,606   

3.000%, 03/15/37

    2,015,911        2,075,209   

3.000%, 07/15/39

    13,055,556        13,389,373   

4.000%, 04/15/34

    727,812        751,672   

4.500%, 02/15/41

    66,072        71,646   

5.000%, 09/15/23

    100,000        109,487   

5.000%, 10/15/34

    847,806        918,903   

5.000%, 11/15/34

    1,540,000        1,599,475   

5.000%, 12/15/37

    326,321        355,486   

5.000%, 03/15/41

    500,000        562,423   

5.500%, 05/15/34

    3,631,669        4,090,715   

5.500%, 06/15/35

    318,724        321,475   

5.500%, 06/15/41

    4,220,000        4,856,692   

Ginnie Mae I 30 Yr. Pool

   

3.500%, 11/15/41

    493,616        522,708   

3.500%, 02/15/42

    425,026        450,098   

3.500%, 03/15/42

    515,591        544,905   

3.500%, 05/15/42

    1,976,163        2,080,866   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Ginnie Mae I 30 Yr. Pool

   

3.500%, 06/15/42

    1,738,743      $ 1,827,847   

4.000%, 09/15/40

    2,839,386        3,087,736   

4.000%, 10/15/40

    331,971        356,862   

4.000%, 03/15/41

    1,332,111        1,450,748   

4.000%, 10/15/41

    751,064        817,475   

4.000%, 12/15/41

    706,658        768,630   

4.500%, 08/15/39

    4,317,459        4,772,090   

4.500%, 06/15/40

    2,086,736        2,285,777   

4.500%, 07/15/40

    362,107        398,643   

4.500%, 03/15/41

    1,773,844        1,943,462   

4.500%, 04/15/41

    212,852        233,238   

5.000%, 03/15/39

    153,303        170,262   

5.000%, 07/15/39

    470,158        520,654   

5.000%, 08/15/39

    315,807        350,995   

5.000%, 09/15/39

    226,557        251,685   

5.000%, 04/15/40

    102,707        114,187   

5.000%, 08/15/40

    327,473        363,717   

5.000%, 04/15/41

    238,244        264,619   

5.000%, 09/15/41

    208,850        231,764   

5.500%, 06/15/35

    1,540,217        1,737,941   

5.500%, 11/15/35

    1,010,650        1,136,839   

5.500%, 10/15/39

    53,067        59,268   

6.000%, 06/15/36

    1,798,491        2,075,783   

Ginnie Mae II 30 Yr. Pool

   

3.000%, 06/20/42

    1,910,128        1,955,656   

3.000%, 04/20/44

    160,167        163,985   

3.000%, TBA (a)

    200,000        204,525   

3.500%, 07/20/42

    1,189,604        1,250,718   

3.500%, 10/20/42

    1,573,259        1,654,084   

3.500%, 12/20/42

    956,943        1,006,106   

3.500%, 01/20/43

    81,224        85,397   

3.500%, 03/20/43

    210,080        220,841   

3.500%, 04/20/43

    4,941,988        5,194,873   

3.500%, 05/20/43

    2,699,073        2,837,206   

3.500%, 07/20/43

    195,013        204,972   

3.500%, 08/20/43

    6,359,434        6,683,451   

3.500%, TBA (a)

    3,300,000        3,463,969   

4.000%, 09/20/39

    352,756        379,132   

4.000%, 10/20/40

    54,762        58,909   

4.000%, 11/20/40

    3,807,892        4,096,878   

4.000%, 11/20/41

    1,739,655        1,867,797   

4.000%, TBA (a)

    9,400,000        10,078,453   

4.500%, 02/20/40

    444,535        488,830   

4.500%, 09/20/40

    46,662        51,261   

Ginnie Mae II Pool

   

4.300%, 08/20/61

    1,343,003        1,428,391   

4.524%, 07/20/62

    7,235,452        7,853,750   

4.527%, 03/20/63

    18,862,560        20,633,131   

4.530%, 10/20/62

    1,424,596        1,550,133   

4.533%, 12/20/61

    9,647,115        10,394,544   

4.550%, 05/20/62

    5,932,764        6,418,289   

4.630%, 04/20/62

    4,898,722        5,303,910   

4.649%, 02/20/62

    976,052        1,055,814   

4.650%, 03/20/62

    2,610,491        2,826,504   

4.682%, 02/20/62

    1,227,857        1,327,526   

Agency Sponsored Mortgage - Backed—(Continued)

  

Ginnie Mae II Pool

   

4.684%, 01/20/62

    3,863,374      4,176,586   

4.723%, 04/20/62

    4,924,113        5,346,715   

5.470%, 08/20/59

    714,860        747,502   

5.612%, 04/20/58

    405,288        417,080   

Government National Mortgage Association (CMO)

   

0.456%, 08/20/60 (b)

    287,912        284,946   

0.456%, 09/20/60 (b)

    295,246        292,117   

0.486%, 08/20/34 (b)

    642,615        643,120   

0.486%, 07/20/60 (b)

    341,904        340,297   

0.646%, 01/20/38 (b)

    89,525        90,282   

0.646%, 02/20/61 (b)

    383,506        382,636   

0.656%, 12/20/60 (b)

    736,317        734,798   

0.656%, 02/20/61 (b)

    110,330        109,982   

0.656%, 04/20/61 (b)

    267,524        266,989   

0.656%, 05/20/61 (b)

    537,269        535,064   

0.666%, 07/20/37 (b)

    359,882        363,109   

0.671%, 10/20/37 (b)

    2,348,250        2,369,974   

0.681%, 01/16/40 (b)

    646,148        652,819   

0.686%, 06/20/61 (b)

    371,570        371,465   

0.691%, 12/16/39 (b)

    400,338        403,978   

0.756%, 10/20/61 (b)

    1,273,813        1,276,103   

0.756%, 12/20/63 (b)

    11,434,087        11,441,897   

0.761%, 11/16/39 (b)

    497,391        503,944   

0.786%, 01/20/62 (b)

    1,251,321        1,255,042   

0.786%, 03/20/62 (b)

    769,728        773,064   

0.856%, 11/20/61 (b)

    1,144,452        1,151,106   

0.856%, 01/20/62 (b)

    768,366        772,820   

3.000%, 04/20/37

    82,535        82,972   

3.250%, 09/20/33

    21,471        21,494   

3.500%, 08/20/33

    25,989        26,004   

4.500%, 05/16/40

    80,000        86,407   

4.500%, 05/20/40 (c)

    68,842        10,150   

4.528%, 05/20/41 (b)

    380,212        425,370   

5.010%, 09/20/60 (b)

    4,060,815        4,412,701   

5.150%, 08/20/60

    3,384,097        3,681,366   

5.300%, 07/20/60 (b)

    5,153,828        5,597,438   

5.460%, 10/20/59

    1,887,912        1,979,670   

8.446%, 04/20/39 (b)

    2,052,056        2,338,784   

8.579%, 08/20/39 (b)

    3,854,787        4,384,491   
   

 

 

 
      611,516,429   
   

 

 

 

Federal Agencies—7.7%

  

Federal Home Loan Banks

   

0.250%, 01/16/15

    260,000        260,007   

1.000%, 06/21/17

    29,750,000        29,774,395   

4.875%, 05/17/17

    5,000,000        5,461,730   

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.

   

1.250%, 08/01/19

    3,000,000        2,944,608   

5.125%, 11/17/17

    5,906,000        6,574,347   

6.250%, 07/15/32

    7,568,000        11,061,646   

6.750%, 03/15/31

    481,000        723,149   

Federal National Mortgage Association

   

0.875%, 02/08/18

    137,000        135,431   

1.750%, 11/26/19

    14,409,000        14,417,645   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Federal Agencies—(Continued)

  

Federal National Mortgage Association

   

2.625%, 09/06/24

    7,000,000      $ 7,089,047   

3.000%, 01/01/43

    303,502        307,639   

6.625%, 11/15/30

    1,430,000        2,123,341   

Tennessee Valley Authority

   

1.750%, 10/15/18

    7,486,000        7,556,009   

5.250%, 09/15/39

    557,000        709,097   

5.500%, 06/15/38

    6,117,000        8,152,811   
   

 

 

 
      97,290,902   
   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury—32.6%

  

U.S. Treasury Bonds

   

3.000%, 11/15/44

    500,000        525,469   

3.125%, 08/15/44

    3,875,000        4,171,678   

3.375%, 05/15/44

    8,767,000        9,869,722   

3.625%, 02/15/44

    61,221,000        72,044,689   

4.375%, 02/15/38

    2,000,000        2,617,032   

5.000%, 05/15/37 (d)

    9,000,000        12,837,654   

5.250%, 02/15/29

    32,405,000        43,564,472   

5.375%, 02/15/31 (e)

    4,933,000        6,875,754   

U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bond

   

1.375%, 02/15/44

    12,806,945        14,494,861   

U.S. Treasury Notes

   

0.375%, 10/31/16

    25,000,000        24,896,475   

0.500%, 09/30/16

    9,059,000        9,048,383   

0.875%, 07/31/19

    605,000        586,235   

1.375%, 02/28/19

    1,585,000        1,576,455   

1.500%, 01/31/19

    1,682,000        1,682,658   

1.625%, 04/30/19

    25,306,000        25,393,002   

1.625%, 06/30/19

    8,657,000        8,678,642   

1.625%, 12/31/19

    4,217,000        4,210,742   

1.750%, 09/30/19

    5,965,000        5,999,949   

2.000%, 05/31/21

    24,979,000        25,103,895   

2.125%, 06/30/21

    2,000,000        2,024,218   

2.125%, 12/31/21

    35,838,000        36,185,199   

2.250%, 03/31/21

    44,187,000        45,112,187   

2.250%, 04/30/21

    10,481,000        10,696,353   

2.250%, 11/15/24

    8,000,000        8,053,752   

2.375%, 08/15/24

    37,647,000        38,344,072   
   

 

 

 
      414,593,548   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $1,111,824,782)

      1,123,400,879   
   

 

 

 
Mortgage-Backed Securities—5.7%   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—3.6%

  

CAM Mortgage Trust

   

2.600%, 05/15/48 (144A)

    2,685,857        2,685,602   

CSMC

   

1.013%, 10/26/37 (144A) (b)

    5,183,388        5,138,738   

Granite Master Issuer plc

   

0.236%, 12/20/54 (144A) (b)

    1,041,718        1,031,926   

0.246%, 12/20/54 (b)

    2,384,945        2,365,388   

0.266%, 12/20/54 (b)

    1,443,755        1,432,350   

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations—(Continued)

  

Granite Master Issuer plc

   

0.306%, 12/20/54 (b)

    374,496      371,388   

0.342%, 12/17/54 (b)

    2,593,302        2,572,815   

0.366%, 12/20/54 (b)

    162,687        161,271   

0.426%, 12/20/54 (b)

    3,458,541        3,433,294   

Granite Mortgages plc

   

0.527%, 09/20/44 (b)

    3,502,064        3,485,955   

0.567%, 03/20/44 (b)

    793,986        790,651   

0.631%, 01/20/44 (b)

    528,134        524,701   

1.211%, 07/20/43 (b)

    4,355,943        4,351,587   

National Credit Union Administration Guaranteed Notes

   

0.527%, 11/06/17 (b)

    2,084,593        2,090,357   

0.537%, 03/06/20 (b)

    424,843        425,960   

0.607%, 01/08/20 (b)

    9,676,174        9,729,790   

RBSSP Resecuritization Trust

   

4.960%, 07/26/45 (144A) (b)

    4,573,593        4,658,565   

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust

   

0.810%, 09/25/43 (b)

    632,400        604,075   
   

 

 

 
      45,854,413   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities—2.1%

  

CDGJ Commercial Mortgage Trust

   

1.550%, 12/15/27 (144A) (b)

    12,000,000        12,003,948   

Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates

   

1.059%, 06/11/27 (144A) (b)

    5,500,000        5,490,980   

3.305%, 11/10/47

    6,984,000        7,150,331   

Hilton USA Trust

   

1.157%, 11/05/30 (144A) (b)

    1,331,363        1,331,431   

SCG Trust

   

1.556%, 11/15/26 (144A) (b)

    1,434,000        1,435,743   
   

 

 

 
      27,412,433   
   

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost $73,174,181)

      73,266,846   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—3.3%   

Sovereign—3.3%

   

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Government AID Bond

   

2.503%, 10/30/20

    13,375,000        13,597,841   

Israel Government AID Bonds

   

5.500%, 09/18/23

    13,878,000        17,085,580   

5.500%, 12/04/23

    8,920,000        11,002,419   
   

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government
(Cost $42,625,233)

      41,685,840   
   

 

 

 
Asset-Backed Securities—3.1%   

Asset-Backed - Automobile—0.8%

  

American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust
1.320%, 02/15/17 (144A)

    915,715        916,345   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Asset-Backed Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal/
Notional
Amount*
    Value  

Asset-Backed - Automobile—(Continued)

  

Carfinance Capital Auto Trust
1.650%, 07/17/17 (144A)

    83,854      $ 83,945   

Carnow Auto Receivables Trust
0.960%, 01/17/17 (144A)

    9,541,906        9,531,390   
   

 

 

 
      10,531,680   
   

 

 

 

Asset-Backed - Other—2.3%

  

American Homes 4 Rent Trust
3.678%, 12/17/36 (144A)

    10,000,000        10,109,370   

Colony American Homes
1.112%, 07/17/31 (144A) (b)

    17,092,706        16,812,728   

Invitation Homes Trust
1.162%, 06/17/31 (144A) (b)

    2,000,000        1,973,602   
   

 

 

 
      28,895,700   
   

 

 

 

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost $39,556,573)

      39,427,380   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—2.1%   

Diversified Financial Services—2.1%

  

National Credit Union Administration Guaranteed Notes
1.400%, 06/12/15

    50,000        50,256   

2.350%, 06/12/17

    10,620,000        10,961,752   

3.450%, 06/12/21

    8,645,000        9,370,402   

Private Export Funding Corp.
4.300%, 12/15/21

    6,000,000        6,674,520   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $22,738,653)

      27,056,930   
   

 

 

 
Purchased Option—0.0%   

Call Option—0.0%

  

OTC - 10 Year Interest Rate Swap, Exercise Rate 3.383%, Expires 01/13/15 (Counterparty - JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.)
(Cost $405,693)

    13,574,000        1   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investment—0.6%   
Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Repurchase Agreement—0.6%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $7,634,852 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $7,790,000 Federal Home Loan Bank at 0.160% due 03/11/15 with a value of $7,790,000.

    7,634,852      7,634,852   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment
(Cost $7,634,852)

      7,634,852   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—103.2%
(Cost $1,297,959,967) (f)

      1,312,472,728   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(3.2)%

      (41,240,864
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,271,231,864   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal and notional amounts stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) TBA (To Be Announced) Securities are purchased on a forward commitment basis with an approximate principal amount and no defined maturity date. The actual principal and maturity date will be determined upon settlement date.
(b) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(c) Interest only security.
(d) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open futures contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $770,259.
(e) All or a portion of the security was pledged as collateral against open centrally cleared swap contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities pledged was $609,103.
(f) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,303,397,970. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $19,693,937 and $(10,619,179), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $9,074,758 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $73,204,313, which is 5.8% of net assets.
(ARM)— Adjustable-Rate Mortgage
(CMO)— Collateralized Mortgage Obligation

TBA Forward Sale Commitments

 

Security Description

   Interest Rate     Maturity      Face
Amount
    Cost     Value  

Fannie Mae 30 Yr. Pool

     3.500     TBA         (2,000,000   $ (2,076,406   $ (2,084,844
         

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         20         USD         2,813,291       $ 77,959   

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         281         USD         35,471,830         158,092   

U.S. Treasury Note 2 Year Futures

     03/31/15         6         USD         1,312,512         (949

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         16         USD         1,898,531         4,343   

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         112         USD         17,813,470         687,530   
              

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 926,975   
              

 

 

 

Swap Agreements

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         1.250     03/18/17         USD         3,700,000       $ 242   

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         1.500     03/18/18         USD         11,800,000         2,075   

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.250     03/18/20         USD         2,200,000         949   

Receive

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         3.000     03/18/25         USD         17,500,000         79,422   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         3.500     03/18/45         USD         1,200,000         (637
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 82,051   
                

 

 

 

 

(USD)— United States Dollar
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

   $ —        $ 1,123,400,879      $ —         $ 1,123,400,879   

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities*

     —          73,266,846        —           73,266,846   

Total Foreign Government*

     —          41,685,840        —           41,685,840   

Total Asset-Backed Securities*

     —          39,427,380        —           39,427,380   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

     —          27,056,930        —           27,056,930   

Total Purchased Option*

     —          1        —           1   

Total Short-Term Investment*

     —          7,634,852        —           7,634,852   

Total Investments

   $ —        $ 1,312,472,728      $ —         $ 1,312,472,728   
                                   

TBA Forward Sales Commitments

   $ —        $ (2,084,844   $ —         $ (2,084,844
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 927,924      $ —        $ —         $ 927,924   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (949     —          —           (949

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 926,975      $ —        $ —         $ 926,975   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 82,688      $ —         $ 82,688   

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (637     —           (637

Total Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts

   $ —        $ 82,051      $ —         $ 82,051   

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 1,312,472,728   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     2,008,894   

TBA securities sold (b)

     30,156,688   

Fund shares sold

     629,626   

Principal paydowns

     303,949   

Interest

     5,393,283   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     108,375   

Prepaid expenses

     3,289   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,351,076,832   

Liabilities

  

Forward sales commitments, at value

     2,084,844   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     5,578,747   

TBA securities purchased (b)

     70,697,306   

Fund shares redeemed

     536,078   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     17,985   

Interest on forward sales commitments

     2,528   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     456,281   

Distribution and service fees

     270,312   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     50,253   

Other expenses

     150,634   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     79,844,968   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,271,231,864   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,279,441,770   

Undistributed net investment income

     28,719,344   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (52,442,599

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts and swap contracts

     15,513,349   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,271,231,864   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 1,271,231,864   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     117,703,578   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 10.80   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $1,297,959,967.
(b) Included within TBA securities sold is $25,402,183 related to TBA forward sale commitments and included within TBA securities purchased is $23,253,092 related to TBA forward sale commitments.

 

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Interest

   $ 31,057,865   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     31,057,865   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     5,402,753   

Administration fees

     29,751   

Custodian and accounting fees

     167,457   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     3,201,721   

Audit and tax services

     66,390   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     78,020   

Insurance

     8,989   

Miscellaneous

     15,645   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     9,048,807   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     22,009,058   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     11,026,465   

Futures contracts

     4,653,340   

Swap contracts

     (3,070,754
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     12,609,051   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     57,547,802   

Futures contracts

     2,370,903   

Swap contracts

     (944,233
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     58,974,472   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     71,583,523   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 93,592,581   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 22,009,058      $ 18,720,659   

Net realized gain (loss)

     12,609,051        (39,750,089

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     58,974,472        (51,312,093
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

     93,592,581        (72,341,523
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (33,274,992     (23,088,145

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     0        (14,356,091
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (33,274,992     (37,444,236
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (103,502,674     (207,460,310
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total decrease in net assets

     (43,185,085     (317,246,069

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,314,416,949        1,631,663,018   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,271,231,864      $ 1,314,416,949   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 28,719,344      $ 32,914,611   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     8,154,990      $ 86,377,180        16,605,014      $ 179,282,553   

Reinvestments

     3,214,975        33,274,992        3,454,266        37,444,236   

Redemptions

     (21,168,534     (223,154,846     (40,250,150     (424,187,099
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (9,798,569   $ (103,502,674     (20,190,870   $ (207,460,310
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (103,502,674     $ (207,460,310
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                         
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013     2012     2011(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.31      $ 11.05      $ 10.73      $ 10.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

        

Net investment income (b)

     0.18        0.13        0.10        0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.59        (0.61     0.24        0.76   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.77        (0.48     0.34        0.86   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions

        

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.28     (0.16     (0.00 )(c)      (0.04

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     0.00        (0.10     (0.02     (0.09
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.28     (0.26     (0.02     (0.13
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 10.80      $ 10.31      $ 11.05      $ 10.73   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (d)

     7.56        (4.52     3.15        8.57  (e) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

        

Ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.71        0.70        0.70        0.84  (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.72        1.24        0.94        1.37  (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     281  (g)      329  (g)      457  (g)      366  (e) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,271.2      $ 1,314.4      $ 1,631.7      $ 717.5   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was May 2, 2011.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Distributions from net investment income were less than $0.01.
(d) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(e) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Includes mortgage dollar roll and TBA transactions; excluding these transactions the portfolio turnover rates would have been 151%, 212% and 262% for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Pyramis Government Income Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to swap transactions, premium amortization adjustments and paydown transactions. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $7,634,852, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Mortgage Dollar Rolls - The Portfolio may enter into mortgage “dollar rolls” in which a Portfolio sells to-be-announced (“TBA”) mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon, and maturity) securities on a specified future date. For the duration of the transaction, or roll period, the Portfolio foregoes principal (including prepayments of principal) and interest paid on the securities sold. Dollar rolls are accounted for as purchase and sale transactions; gain or loss is recognized at the commencement of the term of the dollar roll and each time the mortgage-backed security is rolled.

Mortgage dollar roll transactions involve the risk that the market value of the securities that the Portfolio is required to reacquire may be less than the agreed-upon repurchase price of those securities and that the investment performance of securities purchased with proceeds from these transactions does not exceed the income, capital appreciation and gain or loss that would have been realized on the securities transferred or sold, as applicable, as part of the treasury or mortgage dollar roll.

Mortgage-Related and Other Asset-Backed Securities - The Portfolio may invest in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities. These securities may include mortgage pass-through securities, collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities, CMO residuals, stripped mortgage backed securities (“SMBS”), and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by or payable from, mortgage loans on real property or other receivables. The value of some mortgage- or asset-backed securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates. Early repayment of principal on some mortgage-related securities may expose the Portfolio to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage-related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

In one type of SMBS, one class receives all of the interest from the mortgage assets (the interest-only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). Because principal will not be received at the maturity of an IO, adjustments are made to the book value of the security until maturity. These adjustments are netted against payments received for the IOs and the net amount is included in interest income on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Payments received for POs are treated as reductions to the cost and par value of the securities. Details of mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities held by the Portfolio are included in the Portfolio’s Schedule of Investments.

The Portfolio may invest a significant portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults, and may be negatively impacted by increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity.

TBA Purchase & Forward Sale Commitments - The Portfolio may enter into TBA commitments to purchase or sell securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA commitments are considered securities in themselves, and involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased or sold declines or increases prior to settlement date, which is in addition to the risk of decline in the value of the Portfolio’s other assets. TBA forward sale commitments are valued at the current market value of the underlying securities, according to the procedures described under “Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements”.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

Stripped Securities - The Portfolio may invest in “stripped securities,” a term used collectively for certain structured fixed income securities. Stripped securities can be principal only securities (“POs”), which are debt obligations that have been stripped of unmatured interest coupons or interest only securities (“IOs”), which are unmatured interest coupons that have been stripped from debt obligations. Stripped securities do not make periodic payments of interest prior to maturity. As is the case with all securities, the market value of stripped securities will fluctuate in response to changes in economic conditions, interest rates and the market’s perception of the securities. However, fluctuations in response to interest rates may be greater in stripped securities than for debt obligations of comparable maturities that currently pay interest. The amount of fluctuation increases with a longer period of maturity.

The yield to maturity on IOs is sensitive to the rate of principal repayments (including prepayments) on the related underlying debt obligation and principal payments may have a material effect on yield to maturity. If the underlying debt obligation experiences greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Portfolio may not fully recoup the initial investment in IOs.

Short Sales - The Portfolio may enter into a “short sale” of securities in circumstances in which, at the time the short position is open, the Portfolio owns an equal amount of the securities sold short or owns preferred stocks or debt securities, convertible or exchangeable without payment of further consideration, into an equal number of securities sold short. This kind of short sale, which is referred to as one “against the box,” may be entered into by the Portfolio to, for example, lock in a sale price for a security the Portfolio does not wish to sell immediately.

The Portfolio may also make short sales of a security it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of that security. To complete such a transaction, the Portfolio must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. The Portfolio then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at market price at the time of replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold short by the Portfolio. Until the security is replaced, the Portfolio is required to pay to the lender any dividends or interest which accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, the Portfolio also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold short. Until the Portfolio replaces a borrowed security, the Portfolio will segregate with its custodian, or set aside in the Portfolio’s records, cash or other liquid assets at such a level that (i) the amount segregated, or set aside, plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will equal the current value of the security sold short and (ii) the amount segregated plus the amount deposited with the broker as collateral will not be less than the market value of the security at the time it was sold short. The proceeds received from a short sale are recorded as a liability. The Portfolio will realize a loss as a result of the short sale if the price of the security increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Portfolio replaces the borrowed security. Conversely, the Portfolio will realize a gain if the security declines in price between those dates. The latter result is the opposite of what one would expect from a cash purchase of a long position in a security. The amount of any gain will be decreased, and the amount of any loss increased, by the amount of any premium, dividends or interest the Portfolio may be required to pay in connection with a short sale. No more than one third of the Portfolio’s net assets will be, when added together: (i) deposited as collateral for the obligation to replace securities borrowed to effect short sales; and (ii) segregated in connection with short sales.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

Options Contracts - An option contract purchased by the Portfolio gives the Portfolio the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) an underlying instrument at a fixed exercise price during a specified period. Call options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to buy the underlying instrument from the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price; put options written by the Portfolio give the holder the right to sell the underlying instrument to the Portfolio at a fixed exercise price.

The Portfolio may use options to hedge against changes in values of securities the Portfolio owns or expects to purchase, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. Writing puts or buying calls tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument and writing calls or buying puts tends to decrease the Portfolio’s exposure to the underlying instrument, and can be used to hedge other Portfolio investments. For options used to hedge the Portfolio’s investments, the potential risk to the Portfolio is that the change in value of options contracts may not correspond perfectly to the change in value of the hedged instruments. The Portfolio also bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying instrument or the risk that the Portfolio may not be able to enter into a closing transaction due to an illiquid market. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of purchased options is typically the premium initially paid for the option plus any unrealized gains.

The main risk associated with purchasing an option is that the option expires without being exercised. In this case, the option is worthless when it expires and the premium paid for the option is considered a realized loss. The risk associated with writing a call option is that the Portfolio may forgo the opportunity for a profit if the market value of the underlying instrument increases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to sell the underlying instrument at a price below its market value. When the Portfolio writes a call option on a security it does not own, its exposure on such an option is theoretically unlimited. The risk in writing a put option is that the Portfolio may incur a loss if the market value of the underlying instrument decreases and the option is exercised, requiring the Portfolio to purchase the underlying instrument at a price above its market value. In addition, the Portfolio risks not being able to enter into a closing transaction for the written option as the result of an illiquid market for the option.

Purchases of put and call options are recorded as investments, the value of which are marked-to-market daily. When the Portfolio enters into a closing sale transaction, the Portfolio will realize a gain or loss depending on whether the sales proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the premium initially paid for the option. When the Portfolio exercises a put option, it will realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying instrument and the proceeds from such sale will be decreased by the premium originally paid for the put option. When the Portfolio exercises a call option, the cost of the security which the Portfolio purchases upon exercise will be increased by the premium originally paid for the call option.

The premium received for a written option is recorded as an asset and an equivalent liability. The liability is subsequently marked to market to reflect the current value of the option written. When a written option expires without being exercised or the Portfolio enters into a closing purchase transaction, the Portfolio realizes a gain (or loss if the cost of the closing purchase transaction exceeds the premium received when the option was sold) without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying instrument and the liability related to such option is eliminated. When a written call option is exercised, the Portfolio realizes a gain or loss, as adjusted for the premium received, from the sale of the underlying instrument. When a written put option is exercised, the premium received is offset against the amount paid for the purchase of the underlying instrument.

The purpose of inflation-capped options is to protect the buyer from inflation, above a specified rate, eroding the value of investments in inflation-linked products with a given notional exposure. Inflation-capped options are used to give downside protection to investments in inflation-linked products by establishing a floor on the value of such products.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Investments at market value (a)    $ 1         
   Unrealized appreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (b)      82,688       Unrealized depreciation on centrally cleared swap contracts* (b)    $ 637   
   Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts** (b)      927,924       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts** (b)      949   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 1,010,613          $ 1,586   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of investments as shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (b) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”)(see Note 4), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available
for offset
     Collateral
Received†
     Net Amount*  

JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.

   $ 1       $       $       $ 1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate  

Investments (a)

   $ 549,034   

Futures contracts

     4,653,340   

Swap contracts

     (3,070,754
  

 

 

 
   $ 2,131,620   
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate  

Investments (a)

   $ (405,692

Futures contracts

     2,370,903   

Swap contracts

     (944,233
  

 

 

 
   $ 1,020,978   
  

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Investments (a)

   $ 21,492,167   

Futures contracts long

     56,258,333   

Swap contracts

     43,384,376   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.
  (a) Represents purchased options which are part of net realized gain (loss) on investments and net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments as shown in the Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Master Securities Forward Transaction Agreements (“Master Forward Agreements”) govern the considerations and factors surrounding the settlement of certain forward settling transactions, such as To-Be-Announced securities and delayed-delivery or secured borrowings transactions by and between the Portfolio and select counterparties. The Master Forward Agreements maintain provisions for, among other things, initiation and confirmation, payment and transfer, events of default, termination, and maintenance of collateral.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, including mortgage dollar roll and TBA transactions but excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$3,571,561,299    $ 144,877,463       $ 3,604,395,013       $ 169,410,891   

Purchases and sales of mortgage dollar rolls and TBA transactions for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

   Sales  
$1,824,229,109    $ 1,838,561,728   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended

December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$5,402,753      0.520   First $100 million
     0.440   $100 million to $500 million
     0.400   Over $500 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-
Term Capital Gain
     Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$33,274,992    $ 37,444,236       $       $       $ 33,274,992       $ 37,444,236   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Other Accumulated
Capital Losses
    Total  
$28,769,598    $       $ 9,148,372       $       $ (46,077,622   $ (8,159,652

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized $6,223,251 of capital loss carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had accumulated short-term capital losses of $31,877,250 and accumulated long-term capital losses of $14,200,372.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Pyramis Government Income Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Pyramis Government Income Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for the three years then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Pyramis Government Income Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years then ended, and the financial highlights for the three years then ended and for the period from May 2, 2011 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2011, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Pyramis Government Income Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception (beginning May 2, 2011) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Barclays U.S. Government Index, for the one-year, three-year, and since-inception periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its blended benchmark for the same periods.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Managed by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio returned 8.64%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

Stock market volatility rose during 2014, but remained below the historical average making for a relatively calm year in the markets overall. Rising divergences and weak global growth provoked market gyrations throughout the year. A strengthening expansion and waning stimulus in the U.S., contrasted with disappointing growth and more policy easing in other major economies, led to rising exchange rate volatility, tumbling oil prices, and falling bond yields. U.S. large cap stocks and high quality bonds posted solid gains amid the low volatility, but non-U.S. assets declined on disappointing global growth. In the U.S., riskier and less liquid areas of the equity and bond markets lagged, while defensive assets such as long-term Treasuries climbed, lending an underlying defensive tone to an up market.

Following the strong rally in 2013, U.S. equities posted solid returns in 2014, benefiting from sturdy earnings growth and low inflation. Small caps lagged after leading in 2013, while Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) bounced back from a challenging year to post the best 2014 gains of major asset classes. In a year of mixed trends, defensive sectors, such as Utilities and Health Care, posted solid gains, while some more cyclical sectors, including Information Technology (“IT”), also outperformed the S&P 500 Index. Energy was the clear laggard as global oil prices collapsed in the fourth quarter, with Materials also suffering from global disinflationary trends.

While non-U.S. equity markets generally experienced positive local-currency returns during 2014, the sizable rally in the dollar more than wiped out those gains in U.S.-dollar terms for both developed market and emerging market equities. Weak global demand and rising oil supplies caused commodities to suffer their worst annual returns since 2008. The equity markets of some emerging market countries, such as India, that are less affected by China’s slowdown, fared relatively well in 2014, but the drop in commodity prices weighed heavily on the performance of emerging market commodity exporters, for instance Brazil.

Bonds exhibited positive returns in an environment where interest rates remained low relative to their historical averages. Credit spreads also remained relatively narrow, particularly in high-quality bonds. Higher-quality bonds outperformed their lower-quality counterparts as widening spreads were more pronounced in high yield than investment-grade corporates, reflecting the impact of lower oil prices on the high yield market’s energy concentration.

While the U.S. mid-cycle expansion strengthened throughout 2014, growth in other major economies was disappointing. Germany and Europe experienced a mid-cycle slowdown, Japan tipped into recession, and China continued to face late-cycle pressures. Since the global financial crisis in 2008, worldwide policy moves have been relatively synchronized. However, by the end of 2014, cyclical divergences created a greater deviation in monetary policy direction: the Eurozone, Japan, and China implemented greater easing measures, the U.S. and U.K. moved toward tightening, and several emerging market countries, such as South Africa, hiked rates.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Pyramis seeks to manage Portfolio risk through a target volatility approach, smoothing the return profile relative to the target asset class framework. The Portfolio’s Strategic Asset Allocation (“SAA”), which is comprised of 60% equity, 35% fixed income, and 5% short-term investments, is consistent with the targeted portfolio volatility.

Overall, relative to the SAA, the Portfolio remained overweight equities for the period. This conviction was reflected primarily through a bias to U.S. equities as the economy was firmly entrenched in the mid-cycle phase of the business cycle. While beginning the period overweight foreign developed equities as well, the Portfolio moved to an underweight position by the middle of the period as economic indicators signaled that Europe was facing a mid-cycle slowdown. In addition, the absence of real (inflation-adjusted) wage growth heading into Japan’s April consumption-tax hike resulted in a sharp contraction in consumption activity and pushed Japan into a mild recession. The Portfolio maintained a significant investment-grade debt underweight for the period as interest rates remained low relative to their historical averages.

With historically low volatility across asset classes around the globe and “risk on” market conditions that ended the first half of the period with a number of asset classes near highs, the Portfolio focused on diversifying its sources of risk during the first part of the year. The Portfolio trimmed its developed equity overweight, primarily by reducing foreign developed equity exposure to a modest underweight. New positions were established in emerging market debt, a high quality risk asset, and real estate (both equity and debt), an asset class with solid fundamentals and income advantages. Given the continued challenging environment for bonds and consequent muted return expectations, the Portfolio’s investment grade fixed income underweight was steady over the period.

During the second half of the year, as volatility advanced but remained generally low, the Portfolio opportunistically added to risk assets, primarily U.S. equities, in a measured fashion. In addition, the Portfolio increased its modest emerging markets equity position based on attractive valuations. Opportunities in income-oriented asset classes with supportive fundamentals were also taken advantage of with further purchases of emerging market debt, U.S. high yield, and real estate. Investment grade fixed income and cash served as the sources of funds as the Portfolio remained underweight both asset classes.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Managed by Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

For the period, the Portfolio’s equities overweight, including REITs, had a positive impact on performance. In addition, the cash underweight was a positive contributor. These asset allocation decisions partially offset the Portfolio’s emerging markets exposure and investment-grade debt underweight. Regarding security selection, challenges in U.S. and foreign developed equities were partially muted by positive selections in investment-grade debt. The Portfolio has extended duration exposure to provide additional diversification and balance the sources of risk in the Portfolio by employing an interest rate overlay. The interest rate overlay contributed to performance as longer duration U.S. treasuries enjoyed stellar performance.

The Portfolio used certain derivative instruments during the period, specifically futures contracts, to provide liquidity. During the period, the Portfolio held S&P 500 Index futures (U.S. equities), MSCI EAFE Index futures (foreign equities), and MSCI Emerging Market Index futures (foreign equities) for investment purposes. The interest

rate overlay used U.S. Treasury futures (U.S. government bonds) during the period. The derivatives performed in line with expectations while providing economically efficient and liquid investment options.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio favored equities versus bonds. Within the equity allocation, relative to the SAA, the Portfolio was overweight U.S. equities while underweight foreign developed equities. In addition, the Portfolio maintained a modest emerging markets equity exposure. The Portfolio continued to have an underweight position in investment-grade debt. Fixed income holdings were weighted toward investment grade corporate and government securities. Positions were also held in high yield debt and emerging markets debt.

Xuehai En

Portfolio Manager

Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio            

Class B

       8.64           10.19   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           9.31   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 4/19/2013. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

 

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Fidelity Total Bond Fund      19.0   
Fidelity Mid Cap Value Fund      6.1   
Fidelity Diversified International Fund      5.0   
Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund      5.0   
Fidelity Large Cap Stock Fund      4.7   
Fidelity Corporate Bond Fund      4.4   
Fidelity Stock Selector Large Cap Value Fund      4.4   
iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF      3.7   
WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund      2.8   
WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund      2.4   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Mutual Funds      88.3   
Cash & Cash Equivalents      10.9   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B(a)(b)

   Actual      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.40         $ 3.57   
   Hypothetical*      0.70    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.68         $ 3.57   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

(b) The annualized expense ratio does not include the expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Mutual Funds—88.3% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares         
    
Value
 

Investment Company Securities—88.3%

  

Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund (a)

    223,782      $ 15,311,197   

Fidelity Corporate Bond Fund (a)

      1,188,075        13,615,337   

Fidelity Disciplined Equity Fund (a)

    35,535        1,195,057   

Fidelity Diversified International Fund (a)

    450,000        15,502,483   

Fidelity Emerging Asia Fund (a)

    46,189        1,508,085   

Fidelity Emerging Markets Fund (a)

    225,425        5,480,078   

Fidelity Europe Fund (a)

    56,075        1,977,779   

Fidelity Growth & Income Portfolio (a)

    42,325        1,278,641   

Fidelity Growth Discovery Fund (a)

    205,539        4,854,837   

Fidelity Independence Fund (a)

    52,087        2,009,512   

Fidelity International Discovery Fund (a)

    80,767        3,068,355   

Fidelity Large Cap Stock Fund (a)

    511,639        14,453,806   

Fidelity Mega Cap Stock Fund (a)

    407,887        6,730,139   

Fidelity Mid Cap Value Fund (a)

    764,719        18,827,373   

Fidelity Nordic Fund (a) (b)

    49,058        2,089,394   

Fidelity OTC Portfolio (b)

    56,360        4,484,008   

Fidelity Overseas Fund (a)

    91,460        3,488,274   

Fidelity Real Estate Income Fund (a)

    85,424        996,894   

Fidelity Real Estate Investment Portfolio (a)

    55,559        2,269,565   

Fidelity Stock Selector Large Cap Value Fund (a)

    787,238        13,493,260   

Fidelity Total Bond Fund (a)

    5,476,404          58,487,997   

Fidelity Value Discovery Fund (a)

    152,716        3,764,445   

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF

    37,363        4,704,749   

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

    104,026        11,455,343   

iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF

    20,629        2,263,208   

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

    10,142        617,039   

iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF

    67,360        6,185,669   

iShares U.S. Technology ETF

    36,445        3,804,858   

Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF

    56,408        1,036,779   

SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

    157,075        6,064,666   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

    10,202        2,096,511   

Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF

    44,202        5,163,678   

Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF

    29,703        3,720,004   

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

    117,419        4,447,832   

Vanguard Health Care ETF

    38,559        4,842,625   

Investment Company Securities—(Continued)

  

Vanguard Industrials ETF

    19,197      2,050,623   

Vanguard Value ETF

    33,907        2,864,802   

WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund

    155,919        8,672,215   

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund

    152,205        7,493,052   
   

 

 

 

Total Mutual Funds
(Cost $270,131,654)

      272,370,169   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investment—10.9%   

Repurchase Agreement—10.9%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $33,612,151 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $33,945,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 2.125% due 05/31/15 with a value of $34,284,450.

    33,612,151        33,612,151   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investment
(Cost $33,612,151)

      33,612,151   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—99.2%
(Cost $303,743,805) (c)

      305,982,320   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—0.8%

      2,446,996   
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 308,429,316   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $303,952,154. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $5,581,398 and $(3,551,232), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $2,030,166 for federal income tax purposes.
(ETF)— Exchange-Traded Fund

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

MSCI EAFE Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         68         USD        6,038,097       $ (61,237

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         262         USD        26,454,971         431,469   

U.S. Treasury Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         332         USD        46,759,833         1,234,917   

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         356         USD        44,962,337         177,351   
             

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

   $ 1,782,500   
             

 

 

 

 

(USD)— United States Dollar

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Mutual Funds           

Investment Company Securities

   $ 272,370,169      $ —         $ —         $ 272,370,169   

Total Short-Term Investment*

     —          33,612,151         —           33,612,151   

Total Investments

   $ 272,370,169      $ 33,612,151       $ —         $ 305,982,320   
                                    
Futures Contracts           

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 1,843,737      $ —         $ —         $ 1,843,737   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (61,237     —           —           (61,237

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 1,782,500      $ —         $ —         $ 1,782,500   

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a)

   $ 77,483,653   

Affiliated investments at value (b)

     194,886,516   

Repurchase Agreement

     33,612,151   

Cash collateral for futures contracts

     2,601,600   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     483,992   

Fund shares sold

     350,378   

Dividends

     207,364   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     171,250   

Prepaid expenses

     553   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     309,797,457   

Liabilities

  

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     780,689   

Fund shares redeemed

     4,612   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     354,710   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     86,968   

Distribution and service fees

     64,289   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     30,661   

Other expenses

     46,212   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     1,368,141   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 308,429,316   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 286,646,260   

Undistributed net investment income

     3,209,689   

Accumulated net realized gain

     14,552,352   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, affiliated investments and futures contracts

     4,021,015   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 308,429,316   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 308,429,316   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     26,912,189   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 11.46   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement and affiliated investments, was $76,975,175.
(b) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $193,156,479.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends

   $ 1,097,440   

Dividends from affiliated investments

     2,711,142   

Interest

     61   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     3,808,643   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     1,017,913   

Administration fees

     5,927   

Deferred expense reimbursement (see Note 6)

     97,697   

Custodian and accounting fees

     31,758   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     565,507   

Audit and tax services

     31,228   

Legal

     31,879   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     42,680   

Shareholder reporting

     27,350   

Insurance

     813   

Miscellaneous

     4,568   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     1,857,320   

Less management fee waiver

     (282,414
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     1,574,906   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     2,233,737   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     (55,248

Affiliated investments

     4,258,386   

Futures contracts

     7,609,236   

Capital gain distributions from Underlying Portfolios and ETFs

     847,321   

Capital gain distributions from Affiliated Underlying Portfolios

     3,071,401   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     15,731,096   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     243,405   

Affiliated investments

     (1,360,715

Futures contracts

     1,734,807   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     617,497   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     16,348,593   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 18,582,330   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Period Ended
December 31,
2013(a)
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 2,233,737      $ 662,801   

Net realized gain

     15,731,096        3,413,021   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     617,497        3,403,518   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     18,582,330        7,479,340   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     0        (1,095,809

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (736,608     (2,455,668
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (736,608     (3,551,477
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     146,809,143        139,846,588   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     164,654,865        143,774,451   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     143,774,451        0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 308,429,316      $ 143,774,451   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated undistributed net investment income (loss)

    

End of period

   $ 3,209,689      $ (12,646
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Period Ended
December 31, 2013(a)
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     14,480,063      $ 159,388,219        14,244,292      $ 146,860,725   

Reinvestments

     68,971        736,608        335,678        3,551,477   

Redemptions

     (1,208,150     (13,315,684     (1,008,665     (10,565,614
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     13,340,884      $ 146,809,143        13,571,305      $ 139,846,588   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 146,809,143        $ 139,846,588   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 19, 2013.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data              
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 10.59       $ 10.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

     

Net investment income (b)

     0.11         0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     0.80         0.76   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.91         0.86   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

     

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.08

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.04      (0.19
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.04      (0.27
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.46       $ 10.59   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     8.64         8.59  (d) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

     

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (e)

     0.82         1.15  (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (e)(g)

     0.70         0.80  (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (h)

     0.99         1.39  (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     62         88  (d) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 308.4       $ 143.8   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 19, 2013.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(e) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying Portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Includes the effects of management fee waivers and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(h) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying Portfolios in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. The Portfolio’s shares first became available to investors through certain separate accounts on April 29, 2013. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

The Portfolio invests approximately 80% of its assets in shares of mutual funds offered by Fidelity Investments (“Underlying Portfolios”) and exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”) offered by other sponsors and approximately 20% of its assets in derivative instruments such as stock index futures.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in the Underlying Portfolios are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date. Investments in the Underlying ETFs are valued at the closing market quotation for their shares. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the market values of the Underlying Portfolios and Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying Portfolios and Underlying ETFs, please refer to the prospectuses for such Underlying Portfolios and Underlying ETFs.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to distributions from Underlying ETFs. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $33,612,151, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

 

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Statement of Assets &
Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts*    $ 1,412,268         
Equity    Unrealized appreciation on futures contracts*      431,469       Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts*    $ 61,237   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total    $ 1,843,737          $ 61,237   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 5,218,552       $ 2,390,684      $ 7,609,236   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate      Equity     Total  

Futures contracts

   $ 2,046,900       $ (312,093   $ 1,734,807   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 53,021,975   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 269,631,941       $ 0       $ 121,339,109   

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement (“Management Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rate:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the period ended

December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$1,017,913      0.450   ALL

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC (the “Subadvisor”) is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, through April 30, 2015, to waive its management fee in the same amount as any fees MetLife or its affiliates receive from the Subadvisor and its affiliates for recordkeeping and other administrative services. Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Expense Limitation Agreement - Metlife Advisers has entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) in the interest of limiting expenses of the Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Portfolio until April 30, 2015. Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, Metlife Advisers has agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Portfolio other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized or expensed in accordance with GAAP, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Portfolio’s business and acquired fund fees and expenses but including amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, are limited to the following expense ratio as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

   

Maximum Expense
Ratio
under Current Expense
Limitation Agreement

   
   

              Class B               

   
  0.80%  

If, in any year in which the Management Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate operating expenses of the Portfolio for the fiscal year are less than the Maximum Expense Ratio for that year, subject to approval by the Trust’s Board, Metlife Advisers shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Portfolio to the extent that the charge does not cause the expenses in such subsequent year to exceed the Maximum Expense Ratio as stated above. The Portfolio is not obligated to repay any expense paid by Metlife Advisers more than five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such expense was incurred.

As of December 31, 2014, MetLife Advisers was repaid $97,697 by the Portfolio which was deferred in 2013. This amount is shown as Deferred expense reimbursement in the Statement of Operations. There were no expenses deferred by MetLife Advisers in 2014.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated Underlying Portfolios during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
    Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund

     89,175        134,607                223,782   

Fidelity Blue Chip Value Fund

     25,601        119,331         (144,932       

Fidelity Contrafund

     47,845        6,755         (54,600       

Fidelity Corporate Bond Fund

     547,590        1,473,818         (833,333     1,188,075   

Fidelity Disciplined Equity Fund

     191,399        2,537         (158,401     35,535   

Fidelity Diversified International Fund

     103,258        385,869         (39,127     450,000   

Fidelity Emerging Asia Fund

            46,189                46,189   

Fidelity Emerging Markets Discovery Fund

     1,903                (1,903       

Fidelity Emerging Markets Fund

     7,369        218,056                225,425   

Fidelity Equity-Income Fund

     8,585                (8,585       

Fidelity Europe Fund

     143,471        121,524         (208,920     56,075   

Fidelity Floating Rate High Income Fund

     5,108        114         (5,222       

Fidelity Growth & Income Portfolio

     1,885        40,440                42,325   

Fidelity Growth Discovery Fund

     26,926        263,611         (84,998     205,539   

Fidelity Independence Fund

            52,087                52,087   

Fidelity International Discovery Fund

     114,527        77,225         (110,985     80,767   

Fidelity International Small Cap Fund

     130,603                (130,603       

Fidelity International Small Cap Opportunities Fund

            325,517         (325,517       

Fidelity Japan Smaller Companies Fund

     54,934                (54,934       

Fidelity Large Cap Stock Fund

     388,421        321,146         (197,928     511,639   

Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund

     109,149        454         (109,603       

Fidelity Mega Cap Stock Fund

     333,494        513,605         (439,212     407,887   

Fidelity Mid Cap Value Fund

            764,719                764,719   

Fidelity New Millennium Fund

     28,037        224,192         (252,229       

Fidelity Nordic Fund

     7,599        48,171         (6,712     49,058   

Fidelity OTC Portfolio

     18,928        85,051         (47,619     56,360   

Fidelity Overseas Fund

            120,491         (29,031     91,460   

Fidelity Real Estate Income Fund

            85,424                85,424   

Fidelity Real Estate Investment Portfolio

            55,559                55,559   

Fidelity Stock Selector Large Cap Value Fund

            787,238                787,238   

Fidelity Total Bond Fund

     3,446,953        2,170,401         (140,950     5,476,404   

Fidelity Value Discovery Fund

            152,716                152,716   

Fidelity Value Fund

     40,271        42,965         (83,236       

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Underlying
Portfolios
    Capital Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Underlying
Portfolios
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund

   $      $ 548,939       $ 12,765      $ 15,311,197   

Fidelity Blue Chip Value Fund

     140,423                         

Fidelity Contrafund

     54,506        9,019                  

Fidelity Corporate Bond Fund

     360,888        8,311         453,453        13,615,337   

Fidelity Disciplined Equity Fund

     361,811        73,389         12,474        1,195,057   

Fidelity Diversified International Fund

     26,570        341,735         147,949        15,502,483   

Fidelity Emerging Asia Fund

                    13,459        1,508,085   

Fidelity Emerging Markets Discovery Fund

     1,178                         

Fidelity Emerging Markets Fund

            5,598         32,033        5,480,078   

Fidelity Equity-Income Fund

     20,874                         

Fidelity Europe Fund

     182,665                50,058        1,977,779   

Fidelity Floating Rate High Income Fund

     (407             1,131          

Fidelity Growth & Income Portfolio

                    17,242        1,278,641   

Fidelity Growth Discovery Fund

     145,281                5,332        4,854,837   

Fidelity Independence Fund

            86,069         2,139        2,009,512   

Fidelity International Discovery Fund

     267,949                20,622        3,068,355   

Fidelity International Small Cap Fund

     297,701                         

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Underlying Portfolio

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Underlying
Portfolios
    Capital Gain
Distributions
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Dividend Income
from Underlying
Portfolios
     Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Fidelity International Small Cap Opportunities Fund

   $ (135,623   $       $       $   

Fidelity Japan Smaller Companies Fund

     (57,659                       

Fidelity Large Cap Stock Fund

     792,230        803,430         158,930         14,453,806   

Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund

     291,901        18,705         4,019           

Fidelity Mega Cap Stock Fund

     206,013        191,636         83,958         6,730,139   

Fidelity Mid Cap Value Fund

            342,725         82,594         18,827,373   

Fidelity New Millennium Fund

     466,691        13,454                   

Fidelity Nordic Fund

     12,931                        2,089,394   

Fidelity OTC Portfolio

     (145,865     441,773                 4,484,008   

Fidelity Overseas Fund

     (6,138             60,369         3,488,274   

Fidelity Real Estate Income Fund

            12,260         36,283         996,894   

Fidelity Real Estate Investment Portfolio

                    26,078         2,269,565   

Fidelity Stock Selector Large Cap Value Fund

                    114,824         13,493,260   

Fidelity Total Bond Fund

     (9,723     171,712         1,328,108         58,487,997   

Fidelity Value Discovery Fund

            2,646         47,322         3,764,445   

Fidelity Value Fund

     984,189                          
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 4,258,386      $ 3,071,401       $ 2,711,142       $ 194,886,516   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$298,151    $ 2,033,188       $ 438,457       $ 1,518,289       $ 736,608       $ 3,551,477   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$9,469,515    $ 10,314,035       $ 2,030,167       $       $ 21,813,717   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for year ended December 31, 2014 and for the period April 19, 2013 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2013. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and the transfer agent; when replies were not received by brokers or the transfer agent, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, and the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2014 and for the period April 19, 2013 (commencement of operations) to December 31 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Pyramis Managed Risk Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Pyramis Global Advisors, LLC regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

The Board considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to the Portfolio was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the underlying portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and performed at the median of its Performance Universe for the since-inception (beginning April 19, 2013) period ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio underperformed its Blended Index for the one-year period ended June 30, 2014 and performed at its Blended Index for the since-inception period ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one-year and since-inception periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its blended benchmark for the same periods. The Board further noted that the Portfolio commenced operations on April 19, 2013 and, thus, has limited performance history.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size (the Board did not review information concerning the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group). The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class B shares of the Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio returned 7.74%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index1, returned 5.35%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The year started on a somewhat uncertain note with investors worried about reduced global liquidity as the U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) began tapering its quantitative easing (“QE”) program in January. U.S. economic data was weak during the early part of the year but this proved to be largely due to extremely cold winter weather, with economic activity picking up in the spring. Janet Yellen took over as Fed Chair in February and the Fed revamped its forward guidance by indicating that interest rates would likely stay low for some time. U.S. economic growth continued to strengthen over the year, led by continued healing in the labor market which lifted consumer and, thus, business confidence.

In the eurozone, the year began on an optimistic footing as a change of government in Italy was greeted favorably. However, economic growth remained lackluster in the region and low inflation became a key concern. The European Central Bank (the “ECB”) announced a series of measures over the year designed to boost growth and fend-off deflation. The ECB cut benchmark interest rates to 0.15%, introduced a negative deposit rate, offered banks cheap loans to encourage lending to corporations and began to purchase asset-backed securities. By the end of the year, many investors were calling for sovereign QE. Eurozone break-up risk re-emerged in December as the Greek parliament rejected the prime minister’s candidate for president, leading to parliamentary elections in January 2015. The U.K. economic recovery continued to be led by rising house prices and consumer spending. The unemployment rate declined and in the early summer Bank of England (the “BoE”) Governor Mark Carney unsettled markets by suggesting interest rate rises may come sooner than expected. However, inflation remained below target and the BoE returned to a more dovish tone. The summer saw uncertainty over the referendum on Scottish independence which put downward pressure on U.K. equities and increased market volatility. In Japan, economic data early in the year indicated a stronger economy. However, part of this was due to consumers bringing forward purchases ahead of April’s increase in the consumption tax from 5% to 8%. The tax hike dented economic activity later in the year. In the autumn the Bank of Japan surprised investors by expanding its asset purchase program in order to boost the weakening economy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called a snap election, which his party won, and announced a delay to the next planned consumption tax increase.

Emerging markets were hit particularly hard by the Fed’s decision to taper QE. Escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine also weighed on appetite for risk assets. Meanwhile, data showed the Chinese economy continued to slow.

One of the most important moves of the year was the sharp drop in the price of oil. Initially, the intensification of violence in the Middle East, with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) taking control of large areas of Iraq and Syria, led to concern over oil supply disruptions. However, due to slower global economic growth and increased oil supply, especially from the U.S., oil prices fell sharply since the summer. The decline gained momentum after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) left its output target unchanged at its November meeting.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio aims to capture global growth opportunities while protecting against market volatility. The Portfolio’s strategic exposure contains actively-managed Schroders equity and bond portfolios, supplemented with passive investments (e.g. Exchange Traded Funds and Futures contracts) to facilitate rapid implementation of Schroders’ thematic and tactical views in a cost-effective manner. The Portfolio’s Strategic Asset Allocation is tied to a 60% Global Equities and 40% Fixed Income neutral position and tactically underweights or overweights asset classes and sectors deemed attractive. The Portfolio seeks to pre-emptively manage risk in its strategic exposures through forward-looking market views, complemented by a Volatility Management Strategy aiming to cap portfolio volatility at 10% over 12-month periods. The Portfolio employs an interest rate overlay to improve diversification and balance the sources of risk through utilizing 10-year Interest Rate Swaps. The Portfolio’s interest rate overlay was additive to performance as the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield fell from 3.00% to 2.17% over the year.

The highlights, or top contributors, to performance for the year were positions in certain currencies, Emerging Market Equities and U.S. Small Caps. Due to the strengthening of the U.S dollar we found opportunities to avoid or underweight currencies in regions with weak macroeconomic data and slowing growth. Specifically, an underweight euro position boosted the Portfolio’s performance over the period. Further, we continued to focus on regional and sector equity positioning in order to capture gains and navigate volatility. We started repositioning the Portfolio to help avoid or lower the exposure to expensive assets and to allocate to assets of relative value. For example, during the summer, we added Emerging Market Equities as we believed they were attractively valued compared to other equity markets. Further, a U.S Small Cap versus U.S. Large Cap pair trade was contributory during July and September as the U.S. economy showed further signs of resiliency. Increased exposure to Small Caps keyed into a domestic recovery better than Large Caps which are dominated by multi-national companies which are more sensitive to economic growth outside of the U.S.

The largest detractors to Portfolio performance were positions in Utilities and Energy equity sectors. The Utilities trade was implemented to take advantage of an asset class that typically perform poorly in a rising interest rate environment. We went underweight Utilities as

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

they tend to underperform when interest rates go up. The asset class unexpectedly rallied, benefitting from stable Treasury yields in the third quarter. Later in the period, we looked to further allocate to areas of the market that were attractively priced. One way in which we expressed this was through the U.S. Energy versus S&P 500 Index pair trade as Energy stocks suffered disproportionately and their valuations looked attractive. The trade underperformed as oil prices fell further than forecasted. Both trades were closed to mitigate losses.

During the first half of the year, we favored the U.S. growth story, particularly U.S. Large Cap Equities, whose valuations were less stretched than Small Cap Equities. We decreased our Eurozone Equity allocation during the first quarter to mitigate risks posed by the escalation in Ukraine (Russia being an important oil partner to Europe) and slowing growth in China (Europe’s largest trade partner). We also reduced our exposure to Japanese Equities early in the year. This was due to the depreciation of Emerging Market currencies which could negatively impact Japanese exports and the increase in the Japanese sales tax which we anticipated would put pressure on Japanese equities. During the first quarter, we maintained minimal Emerging Market Equity allocations with our only exposures stemming from underlying actively-managed equity portfolios.

In the second quarter, we started to layer-in defensive equity positions. The first level of protection was to avoid or reduce those assets that had become expensive and hence were most susceptible to any reversal in markets such as U.S. Small Cap Equities, U.S. Utilities and High Yield. Avoiding or lowering our exposure to expensive assets opened up opportunities to allocate to assets of relative value. For example, we added to Emerging Market Equities which had been attractively valued as compared to other equity markets. Our analysis of market risks placed an increasing weight on inflationary outcomes as the balance between growth and inflation changed. Subsequently, we introduced Treasury Inflation Protection Securities (“TIPS”) to battle inflationary pressures as initial signs of inflation started to surface in the U.S. Volatility remained low but this was justified given supportive central bank policy, particularly in the U.S. We remained cautious with fixed income, and were underweight versus the benchmark, with the belief that the Fed’s QE tapering and speculation of an interest rate hike in the U.S. could impact bond valuations.

Global growth outside the U.S. was weak in the third quarter. Eurozone deflation remained a key risk and this was recognized by the ECB. Although emerging market exports typically rise following a recovery in developed markets, they failed to improve this time, partly owing to weak European demand. In Japan, some of the optimism surrounding the Bank of Japan’s monetary easing policy started to fade as the consumption tax rose from 5% to 8% in April and had a greater impact on the economy than what was initially realized.

The cooling in the global economy prompted us to reduce our equity exposure with an emphasis on the more cyclical areas such as Emerging Markets. We also increased exposure to government bonds as a hedge against international deflationary risk and held no commodities exposure due to their correlation with Emerging Markets and their unattractive supply and demand characteristics.

We went into the final quarter of 2014 expecting increased volatility and defensively positioned the Portfolio accordingly. As economic data continued to disappoint and oil prices fell, we decreased our Emerging Market Equities allocation. Due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the dissipation of inflation fears, we closed our Emerging Market Debt and TIPS’ exposure while decreasing the Portfolio’s duration as the possibility of a Fed rate hike drew closer. We also increased our Gold position to serve as a hedge against risks associated with the Russian ruble and Greek economic crises.

The Portfolio primarily uses derivative instruments to adjust equity, currency and interest-rate exposures. The derivatives positions performed in line with expectations and facilitated the Portfolio’s overall performance by providing a cost-effective and liquid approach to gaining the desired market exposure versus implementation via physical instruments.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio’s allocation to Developed Equities was 61.28% and the allocation to Investment Grade bonds was 28.58%. The Portfolio held approximately 2.42% in Opportunistic asset classes and the cash level was 7.72%.

Johanna Kyrklund

Philip Chandler

Michael Hodgson

Portfolio Managers

Schroder Investment Management North America Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE DOW JONES MODERATE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        Since Inception2  
Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio            

Class B

       7.74           9.66   
Dow Jones Moderate Index        5.35           9.30   

1 The Dow Jones Moderate Index is a total returns index designed to provide asset allocation strategists with a target risk benchmark. Each month, the index adjusts its weighting of stocks, bonds, and cash indices (both domestic and foreign) from Barclays and Dow Jones such that the risk of that combination will have 60% of the risk of an all equity portfolio.

2 Inception date of the Class B shares is 4/23/2012. Index since inception return is based on the Portfolio’s inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Equity Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      18.5   
Information Technology      9.6   
Consumer Discretionary      8.5   
Health Care      4.3   
Industrials      3.9   

Top Fixed Income Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Corporate Bonds & Notes      23.4   
Cash & Cash Equivalents      18.5   
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies      1.1   
Foreign Government      0.1   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,

2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014

to
December 31,
2014
 

Class B

   Actual      1.00%       $ 1,000.00         $ 1,012.80         $ 5.07   
   Hypothetical*      1.00    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.16         $ 5.09   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—37.0% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—0.7%

  

Boeing Co. (The)

    3,600      $ 467,928   

Cobham plc

    49,515        248,288   

General Dynamics Corp.

    7,809        1,074,675   

Honeywell International, Inc.

    8,500        849,320   

Kongsberg Gruppen ASA

    2,272        37,453   

Lockheed Martin Corp. (a)

    3,800        731,766   

Northrop Grumman Corp.

    4,000        589,560   

QinetiQ Group plc

    20,624        60,023   

Raytheon Co. (a)

    6,100        659,837   

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

    2,100        177,408   

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc (b)

    10,511        141,594   

Safran S.A.

    2,772        170,614   

Senior plc

    27,819        130,197   

Ultra Electronics Holdings plc

    2,251        62,788   

United Technologies Corp.

    9,300        1,069,500   
   

 

 

 
      6,470,951   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—0.2%

  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

    7,200        321,192   

FedEx Corp.

    2,700        468,882   

Forward Air Corp. (a)

    2,400        120,888   

Oesterreichische Post AG

    5,342        260,455   

Singapore Post, Ltd.

    96,000        138,736   

United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B (a)

    1,900        211,223   
   

 

 

 
      1,521,376   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.1%

  

ANA Holdings, Inc. (a)

    154,000        379,052   

Copa Holdings S.A. - Class A (a)

    2,400        248,736   

Dart Group plc

    13,800        62,574   

Deutsche Lufthansa AG

    24,222        405,640   
   

 

 

 
      1,096,002   
   

 

 

 

Auto Components—0.4%

  

Aisan Industry Co., Ltd.

    1,400        11,968   

Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.

    6,200        222,845   

ARB Corp., Ltd. (a)

    3,206        29,569   

Bridgestone Corp.

    13,600        472,612   

Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin

    4,133        374,708   

Continental AG

    2,451        520,476   

Delphi Automotive plc

    7,000        509,040   

Gentex Corp. (a)

    2,800        101,164   

Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.

    1,820        86,589   

HI-LEX Corp.

    1,900        52,304   

Keihin Corp.

    6,700        99,471   

Linamar Corp.

    1,700        103,817   

Magna International, Inc.

    3,500        379,252   

NHK Spring Co., Ltd.

    10,500        91,609   

Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.

    3,000        67,650   

Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.

    5,400        75,182   

Nokian Renkaat Oyj

    4,676        114,533   

Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd. (a)

    3,700        28,799   

Plastic Omnium S.A.

    5,341        145,050   

Showa Corp.

    3,800        35,150   

Tokai Rika Co., Ltd. (a)

    3,500        73,523   

Auto Components—(Continued)

  

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

    7,100      143,367   

TS Tech Co., Ltd.

    2,800        65,581   

Valeo S.A.

    2,121        264,186   

Yorozu Corp.

    200        3,314   
   

 

 

 
      4,071,759   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—0.3%

   

Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. (a)

    11,000        144,289   

Daimler AG

    1,267        105,707   

Ford Motor Co.

    5,000        77,500   

Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.

    12,300        433,145   

Isuzu Motors, Ltd.

    16,000        195,210   

Kia Motors Corp.

    1,035        48,901   

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (a)

    16,000        146,577   

Suzuki Motor Corp.

    10,200        306,622   

Toyota Motor Corp.

    14,800        922,936   
   

 

 

 
      2,380,887   
   

 

 

 

Banks—3.2%

   

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group, Ltd.

    1,595        41,490   

Awa Bank, Ltd. (The)

    25,000        133,601   

Banca Popolare di Milano Scarl (b)

    105,460        68,282   

Banca Popolare di Sondrio Scarl

    14,132        52,572   

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.

    10,273        96,685   

Banco Santander S.A.

    31,565        263,941   

Bank Hapoalim B.M.

    49,604        233,944   

Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M. (b)

    67,873        232,850   

Bank of America Corp.

    116,600        2,085,974   

Bank of Kyoto, Ltd. (The)

    23,000        192,378   

Bank of Montreal (a)

    4,367        308,900   

Bank of Nova Scotia (The)

    5,750        328,183   

Bank of Okinawa, Ltd. (The)

    500        20,308   

Bank of Yokohama, Ltd. (The)

    29,000        157,397   

BankUnited, Inc.

    7,500        217,275   

Barclays plc

    218,575        821,733   

BNP Paribas S.A.

    11,120        653,459   

BOC Hong Kong Holdings, Ltd.

    122,500        407,066   

BOK Financial Corp. (a)

    3,300        198,132   

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

    4,061        348,985   

Chiba Kogyo Bank, Ltd. (The)

    2,300        16,040   

Chugoku Bank, Ltd. (The)

    11,000        150,198   

Citigroup, Inc.

    34,300        1,855,973   

Citizens & Northern Corp. (a)

    3,300        68,211   

Comerica, Inc.

    2,900        135,836   

Commerzbank AG (b)

    12,483        165,833   

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

    10,191        707,768   

Credit Agricole S.A.

    13,756        176,843   

Credito Valtellinese SC (b)

    28,009        26,533   

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (a)

    2,600        183,664   

CVB Financial Corp. (a)

    8,900        142,578   

Dah Sing Banking Group, Ltd.

    20,000        31,934   

Dah Sing Financial Holdings, Ltd.

    11,200        64,844   

Daishi Bank, Ltd. (The)

    21,000        69,782   

DBS Group Holdings, Ltd.

    21,000        324,291   

Fifth Third Bancorp

    13,400        273,025   

First Financial Corp. (a)

    3,200        113,984   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Banks—(Continued)

   

First International Bank of Israel, Ltd.

    1,434      $ 18,319   

FirstMerit Corp. (a)

    4,400        83,116   

Gunma Bank, Ltd. (The)

    18,000        116,759   

Hachijuni Bank, Ltd. (The)

    36,000        231,729   

Hang Seng Bank, Ltd.

    31,300        520,438   

Higo Bank, Ltd. (The)

    9,000        47,838   

Hokkoku Bank, Ltd. (The)

    5,000        16,051   

HSBC Holdings plc

    223,993        2,116,842   

HSBC Holdings plc (Hong Kong Listed Shares)

    30,400        289,023   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

    3,300        34,716   

Hyakugo Bank, Ltd. (The)

    15,000        61,884   

ING Groep NV (b)

    5,986        77,504   

International Bancshares Corp. (a)

    8,400        222,936   

Israel Discount Bank, Ltd. - Class A (b)

    73,040        116,822   

Iyo Bank, Ltd. (The)

    19,000        205,946   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    42,200        2,640,876   

Juroku Bank, Ltd. (The)

    5,000        17,699   

Kagoshima Bank, Ltd. (The)

    8,000        50,277   

KB Financial Group, Inc.

    4,550        148,600   

KeyCorp

    31,400        436,460   

Lloyds Banking Group plc (b)

    24,423        28,840   

M&T Bank Corp. (a)

    1,800        226,116   

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

    139,500        764,619   

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

    220,600        370,674   

National Bank of Canada (a)

    2,889        122,940   

North Pacific Bank, Ltd.

    14,400        55,728   

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd.

    45,000        353,672   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    10,300        939,669   

Popular, Inc. (b)

    4,300        146,415   

Raiffeisen Bank International AG

    9,728        145,347   

Republic Bancorp, Inc. - Class A (a)

    500        12,360   

Royal Bank of Canada

    8,271        571,239   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (b)

    79,664        483,602   

San-In Godo Bank, Ltd. (The)

    10,000        75,277   

Shiga Bank, Ltd. (The)

    6,000        32,016   

Shinsei Bank, Ltd.

    98,000        171,089   

Shizuoka Bank, Ltd. (The) (a)

    25,000        228,677   

Societe Generale S.A.

    12,634        530,897   

Standard Chartered plc

    39,198        587,853   

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.

    14,800        534,761   

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.

    34,000        129,757   

TOMONY Holdings, Inc.

    7,300        31,435   

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)

    9,586        458,012   

Trustmark Corp. (a)

    8,600        211,044   

U.S. Bancorp (a)

    11,506        517,195   

UniCredit S.p.A.

    23,105        147,260   

Unione di Banche Italiane SCPA

    21,348        151,963   

United Overseas Bank, Ltd.

    5,000        92,439   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    55,154        3,023,542   

Westamerica Bancorp (a)

    3,000        147,060   

Westpac Banking Corp.

    4,862        130,709   

Zions Bancorporation

    6,700        191,017   
   

 

 

 
      30,437,551   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.5%

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV

    7,734        870,336   

China Tontine Wines Group, Ltd. (b)

    128,000        4,776   

Beverages—(Continued)

  

Coca-Cola Amatil, Ltd.

    31,131      235,582   

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

    24,600        1,038,612   

Diageo plc

    3,036        87,076   

Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

    1,900        136,192   

Heineken Holding NV

    2,146        134,517   

PepsiCo, Inc.

    20,827        1,969,401   
   

 

 

 
      4,476,492   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.5%

  

Actelion, Ltd. (b)

    3,041        349,858   

Amgen, Inc.

    8,207        1,307,293   

Biogen Idec, Inc. (b)

    2,100        712,845   

Celgene Corp. (a) (b)

    6,100        682,346   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (b)

    16,900        1,592,994   

Grifols S.A.

    4,024        160,186   

Grifols S.A. (ADR)

    3,937        133,819   

Medivir AB - B Shares (b)

    1,800        22,574   

PDL BioPharma, Inc. (a)

    6,300        48,573   

Sirtex Medical, Ltd.

    3,475        79,980   
   

 

 

 
      5,090,468   
   

 

 

 

Building Products—0.0%

  

Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (a)

    39,000        190,442   

Central Glass Co., Ltd.

    11,000        39,901   

Sekisui Jushi Corp.

    3,000        40,083   
   

 

 

 
      270,426   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—0.6%

  

Aberdeen Asset Management plc

    37,765        252,237   

Aizawa Securities Co., Ltd.

    3,600        19,416   

American Capital, Ltd. (b)

    3,200        46,752   

Ashmore Group plc (a)

    25,205        109,276   

Capital Southwest Corp. (a)

    1,200        45,492   

Daiwa Securities Group, Inc.

    33,000        256,991   

Deutsche Bank AG

    17,359        524,689   

Franklin Resources, Inc. (a)

    9,200        509,404   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

    5,902        1,143,985   

Intermediate Capital Group plc

    4,805        34,210   

Invesco, Ltd.

    12,700        501,904   

Macquarie Group, Ltd.

    9,633        454,664   

Mediobanca S.p.A. (a)

    38,069        308,234   

Morgan Stanley (a)

    24,800        962,240   

SEI Investments Co. (a)

    5,600        224,224   

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (a)

    5,500        472,230   

Tetragon Financial Group, Ltd.

    2,330        22,995   

UBS Group AG (b)

    4,218        72,506   

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. - Class A (a)

    1,100        54,802   
   

 

 

 
      6,016,251   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.7%

  

ADEKA Corp.

    2,300        27,258   

Albemarle Corp. (a)

    5,300        318,689   

Alent plc

    23,824        118,863   

Asahi Kasei Corp.

    46,000        421,561   

BASF SE

    11,169        944,157   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Chemicals—(Continued)

  

Carlit Holdings Co., Ltd.

    2,600      $ 13,536   

Celanese Corp. - Series A

    4,600        275,816   

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (a)

    1,100        299,794   

China Steel Chemical Corp.

    3,000        14,639   

Chugoku Marine Paints, Ltd.

    10,000        84,480   

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. (a)

    2,800        207,032   

Eastman Chemical Co.

    5,800        439,988   

Fujimori Kogyo Co., Ltd.

    1,600        44,720   

Innophos Holdings, Inc. (a)

    735        42,961   

JSR Corp. (a)

    2,800        48,081   

K&S AG (a)

    4,062        112,797   

Kimoto Co., Ltd.

    4,800        12,180   

Konishi Co., Ltd.

    900        14,333   

Lintec Corp.

    4,400        97,465   

LyondellBasell Industries NV - Class A

    8,000        635,120   

Minerals Technologies, Inc. (a)

    1,900        131,955   

Monsanto Co. (a)

    1,600        191,152   

NewMarket Corp. (a)

    400        161,412   

Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd.

    1,000        22,836   

Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.

    1,000        7,617   

Novozymes A/S - B Shares

    2,567        107,701   

Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Inc.

    10,400        367,643   

Praxair, Inc. (a)

    2,815        364,711   

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The) - Class A

    2,000        124,640   

Shikoku Chemicals Corp.

    2,000        13,676   

Sika AG

    44        129,052   

Syngenta AG

    182        58,440   

Tenma Corp.

    1,000        13,215   

Terra Nitrogen Co. L.P.

    400        41,080   

Tikkurila Oyj

    922        16,165   

Toagosei Co., Ltd. (a)

    22,000        86,786   

Tokai Carbon Co., Ltd.

    6,000        17,496   

Westlake Chemical Corp.

    1,809        110,512   

Yara International ASA

    6,454        288,634   
   

 

 

 
      6,428,193   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—0.3%

  

ADT Corp. (The) (a)

    8,900        322,447   

Aggreko plc

    7,920        184,523   

Cabcharge Australia, Ltd.

    2,996        11,087   

Cintas Corp. (a)

    8,188        642,267   

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

    22,000        198,555   

Deluxe Corp. (a)

    2,400        149,400   

Duskin Co., Ltd. (a)

    1,400        20,575   

Intrum Justitia AB

    9,694        286,740   

Kaba Holding AG - Class B (b)

    243        122,529   

Matsuda Sangyo Co., Ltd.

    1,100        11,923   

Mineral Resources, Ltd. (a)

    18,140        111,029   

Mitie Group plc

    6,164        26,585   

NAC Co., Ltd.

    1,200        11,368   

Performant Financial Corp. (a) (b)

    4,900        32,585   

Republic Services, Inc.

    10,595        426,449   

Societe BIC S.A.

    300        39,814   

Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

    22,000        143,221   

Transcontinental, Inc. - Class A

    6,600        94,075   

Waste Management, Inc. (a)

    8,614        442,070   
   

 

 

 
      3,277,242   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—0.9%

  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    149,110      4,147,495   

F5 Networks, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,700        221,790   

Harris Corp.

    21,169        1,520,358   

Ituran Location and Control, Ltd.

    1,362        29,883   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    25,170        1,870,886   

Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson - B Shares

    43,979        532,627   
   

 

 

 
      8,323,039   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—0.1%

  

AECOM Technology Corp. (a) (b)

    5,800        176,146   

Ausdrill, Ltd.

    4,930        1,564   

Decmil Group, Ltd.

    14,456        17,255   

Kandenko Co., Ltd.

    3,000        17,245   

Keller Group plc

    5,068        68,766   

Kinden Corp.

    10,000        101,261   

MACA, Ltd.

    10,971        7,610   

Macmahon Holdings, Ltd. (b)

    38,458        2,259   

Monadelphous Group, Ltd.

    5,493        41,763   

Nichireki Co., Ltd.

    2,000        14,850   

NRW Holdings, Ltd.

    5,893        1,723   

Sumitomo Densetsu Co., Ltd.

    1,200        14,878   

Taihei Dengyo Kaisha, Ltd.

    2,000        15,309   

United Integrated Services Co., Ltd.

    23,000        21,997   

Vinci S.A.

    16,229        888,062   
   

 

 

 
      1,390,688   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.0%

  

Imerys S.A.

    3,350        247,043   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.2%

  

Ally Financial, Inc. (b)

    17,800        420,436   

American Express Co.

    2,700        251,208   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    9,100        751,205   

Cash America International, Inc. (a)

    1,900        42,978   

Discover Financial Services

    9,200        602,508   

Enova International, Inc. (b)

    1,738        38,688   

World Acceptance Corp. (a) (b)

    700        55,615   
   

 

 

 
      2,162,638   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.1%

   

Ball Corp. (a)

    6,534        445,423   

Rock-Tenn Co. - Class A

    5,800        353,684   

Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.

    8,700        107,327   
   

 

 

 
      906,434   
   

 

 

 

Distributors—0.0%

   

Genuine Parts Co.

    1,400        149,198   

Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Ltd.

    3,000        96,330   
   

 

 

 
      245,528   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services—0.0%

   

American Public Education, Inc. (a) (b)

    300        11,061   

Meiko Network Japan Co., Ltd.

    1,100        11,183   

Navitas, Ltd.

    11,374        46,687   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Diversified Consumer Services—(Continued)

  

Tsukada Global Holdings, Inc. (a)

    1,400      $ 9,552   
   

 

 

 
      78,483   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.3%

   

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B (b)

    3,300        495,495   

CBOE Holdings, Inc. (a)

    1,000        63,420   

Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd.

    1,300        45,037   

IG Group Holdings plc

    12,559        139,983   

Industrivarden AB - A Shares

    1,443        26,287   

Industrivarden AB - C Shares

    16,455        285,801   

Investment AB Kinnevik - B Shares

    10,769        349,254   

Investor AB - B Shares

    24,393        883,985   

McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (a)

    1,400        124,572   

ORIX Corp.

    35,400        442,531   

Pargesa Holding S.A.

    1,221        94,058   

Ricoh Leasing Co., Ltd.

    1,400        36,121   

Sofina S.A.

    759        79,779   
   

 

 

 
      3,066,323   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—1.1%

  

AT&T, Inc. (a)

    55,453        1,862,666   

BCE, Inc.

    17,728        813,004   

Belgacom S.A.

    11,200        405,550   

Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Corp., Ltd.

    198,658        353,190   

CenturyLink, Inc.

    8,825        349,293   

Elisa Oyj

    3,338        90,849   

Inteliquent, Inc. (a)

    3,400        66,742   

Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp.

    6,800        349,915   

Swisscom AG

    825        433,208   

TDC A/S

    32,585        248,319   

Telefonica S.A.

    61,648        881,811   

Telekomunikasi Indonesia Persero Tbk PT

    706,000        162,032   

Telenor ASA

    30,374        612,442   

TeliaSonera AB

    53,342        343,040   

Telstra Corp., Ltd.

    147,068        714,192   

Turk Telekomunikasyon A/S

    18,115        56,393   

Verizon Communications, Inc.

    34,600        1,618,588   

Verizon Communications, Inc. (London Listed Shares)

    11,893        554,078   

Vivendi S.A. (b)

    16,093        401,442   

Windstream Holdings, Inc. (a)

    40,025        329,806   
   

 

 

 
      10,646,560   
   

 

 

 

Electric—0.0%

   

Cia Energetica de Minas Gerais (ADR)

    6,600        32,802   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—0.5%

   

CEZ A/S

    7,357        189,122   

Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd.

    30,000        221,665   

CLP Holdings, Ltd.

    28,000        242,972   

EDP - Energias de Portugal S.A.

    62,866        243,130   

Enel S.p.A.

    48,441        216,591   

Entergy Corp. (a)

    4,455        389,723   

Fortum Oyj

    12,671        273,813   

Iberdrola S.A.

    52,895        355,887   

Electric Utilities—(Continued)

   

Portland General Electric Co. (a)

    4,200      158,886   

Power Assets Holdings, Ltd.

    43,000        415,130   

Red Electrica Corp. S.A.

    5,694        499,859   

Southern Co. (The) (a)

    14,842        728,891   

SSE plc

    14,281        358,520   

Tauron Polska Energia S.A.

    21,841        30,999   
   

 

 

 
      4,325,188   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.4%

  

ABB, Ltd. (b)

    12,860        272,011   

Babcock & Wilcox Co. (The) (a)

    2,800        84,840   

Emerson Electric Co.

    13,800        851,874   

Hubbell, Inc. - Class B

    3,200        341,856   

Legrand S.A.

    13,870        726,079   

Mitsubishi Electric Corp.

    17,000        202,403   

Nitto Kogyo Corp.

    4,000        77,867   

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (a)

    5,600        622,720   

Schneider Electric SE

    2,543        184,779   
   

 

 

 
      3,364,429   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.5%

  

Axis Communications AB (a)

    2,842        72,766   

Corning, Inc.

    119,474        2,739,539   

Delta Electronics Thailand PCL

    11,900        25,500   

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. - Class A (a)

    2,600        112,112   

Domino Printing Sciences plc

    3,948        40,353   

Flextronics International, Ltd. (b)

    86,896        971,497   

Flytech Technology Co., Ltd.

    14,299        49,210   

Hoya Corp.

    9,600        321,417   

Kanematsu Electronics, Ltd.

    800        11,402   

Keyence Corp.

    700        310,057   

LEM Holding S.A.

    30        22,251   

Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.

    18,000        81,145   

Simplo Technology Co., Ltd.

    17,000        84,348   

Spectris plc

    4,132        134,725   

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

    1,300        82,225   

Tech Data Corp. (a) (b)

    1,400        88,522   
   

 

 

 
      5,147,069   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.3%

  

Amec Foster Wheeler plc

    19,456        254,640   

Ensco plc - Class A (a)

    8,000        239,600   

Helmerich & Payne, Inc. (a)

    5,400        364,068   

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (a)

    11,300        740,489   

Schlumberger, Ltd.

    13,000        1,110,330   

Subsea 7 S.A. (a)

    22,324        227,655   

Technip S.A.

    2,904        173,408   

TGS Nopec Geophysical Co. ASA (a)

    9,037        195,528   
   

 

 

 
      3,305,718   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—0.6%

  

Aeon Co., Ltd. (a)

    37,300        375,441   

Ain Pharmaciez, Inc.

    200        5,713   

Alimentation Couche Tard, Inc. - Class B

    3,700        155,064   

Amsterdam Commodities NV

    982        22,583   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Food & Staples Retailing—(Continued)

  

Axfood AB

    3,254      $ 193,736   

Colruyt S.A.

    4,812        223,130   

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    1,100        155,925   

CVS Health Corp.

    4,400        423,764   

FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (a)

    3,900        145,593   

Greggs plc

    6,045        68,621   

Itochu-Shokuhin Co., Ltd.

    300        9,394   

Jean Coutu Group PJC, Inc. (The) - Class A

    3,400        82,849   

Lawson, Inc. (a)

    3,400        205,592   

Metcash, Ltd. (a)

    65,566        98,597   

Metro, Inc.

    1,200        96,368   

Ministop Co., Ltd.

    900        11,937   

San-A Co., Ltd.

    3,000        100,991   

Sligro Food Group NV

    580        21,932   

Sysco Corp. (a)

    11,100        440,559   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

    13,927        1,196,051   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

    5,800        441,960   

WM Morrison Supermarkets plc

    139,049        395,729   

Woolworths, Ltd. (a)

    34,472        858,881   
   

 

 

 
      5,730,410   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—0.8%

  

Asian Citrus Holdings, Ltd. (b)

    73,591        7,743   

General Mills, Inc. (a)

    21,968        1,171,553   

Kellogg Co. (a)

    11,695        765,321   

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.

    14,200        889,772   

Nestle S.A.

    38,375        2,812,947   

Nisshin Oillio Group, Ltd. (The)

    16,000        56,038   

Salmar ASA

    5,693        97,100   

Sanderson Farms, Inc. (a)

    1,000        84,025   

Saputo, Inc.

    4,400        132,250   

Unilever NV

    26,566        1,043,586   

Unilever plc

    23,879        969,983   
   

 

 

 
      8,030,318   
   

 

 

 

Gas Utilities—0.0%

  

Perusahaan Gas Negara Persero Tbk PT

    450,000        216,757   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—0.7%

  

Baxter International, Inc.

    10,442        765,294   

Becton Dickinson & Co.

    5,282        735,043   

C.R. Bard, Inc. (a)

    3,100        516,522   

DENTSPLY International, Inc. (a)

    7,220        384,610   

Halyard Health, Inc. (b)

    975        44,333   

Medtronic, Inc. (a)

    15,700        1,133,540   

Nakanishi, Inc.

    5,700        241,851   

Smith & Nephew plc

    31,859        584,912   

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (a)

    4,600        299,138   

St. Shine Optical Co., Ltd.

    6,000        97,903   

Straumann Holding AG

    535        134,407   

Stryker Corp. (a)

    8,900        839,537   

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (a) (b)

    2,000        173,020   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

    5,000        567,100   
   

 

 

 
      6,517,210   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—0.6%

  

Aetna, Inc.

    11,118      987,612   

Amsurg Corp. (b)

    5,800        317,434   

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    9,400        758,862   

Centene Corp. (a) (b)

    500        51,925   

Chemed Corp. (a)

    900        95,103   

Corvel Corp. (a) (b)

    1,800        66,996   

Express Scripts Holding Co. (a) (b)

    4,769        403,791   

Henry Schein, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,900        258,685   

Humana, Inc. (a)

    200        28,726   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (a) (b)

    4,700        507,130   

MEDNAX, Inc. (b)

    3,200        211,552   

Miraca Holdings, Inc. (a)

    7,200        310,281   

Ship Healthcare Holdings, Inc.

    5,100        115,882   

Triple-S Management Corp. - Class B (a) (b)

    744        17,789   

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.

    1,700        71,332   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (a)

    11,000        1,111,990   
   

 

 

 
      5,315,090   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Technology—0.0%

  

Computer Programs & Systems, Inc. (a)

    1,600        97,200   

HealthStream, Inc. (b)

    1,800        53,064   

Quality Systems, Inc. (a)

    7,700        120,043   
   

 

 

 
      270,307   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—0.3%

  

Compass Group plc

    15,840        269,982   

Dynam Japan Holdings Co., Ltd.

    15,800        30,980   

Flight Centre Travel Group, Ltd. (a)

    3,962        104,791   

McDonald’s Corp.

    14,736        1,380,763   

NagaCorp., Ltd.

    68,000        55,413   

Sands China, Ltd.

    56,400        274,678   

St. Marc Holdings Co., Ltd.

    300        17,188   

Starbucks Corp.

    2,100        172,305   

Unibet Group plc

    1,003        63,113   

William Hill plc

    23,284        130,940   
   

 

 

 
      2,500,153   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.2%

  

Alpine Electronics, Inc.

    6,100        100,312   

Bellway plc

    2,669        80,177   

Berkeley Group Holdings plc

    1,711        65,564   

Fujitsu General, Ltd.

    9,000        86,781   

Garmin, Ltd. (a)

    4,500        237,735   

JM AB

    2,092        66,321   

Nikon Corp. (a)

    10,000        132,780   

Sanyo Housing Nagoya Co., Ltd.

    1,000        10,568   

Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.

    21,000        252,809   

Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.

    4,400        43,115   

Tupperware Brands Corp. (a)

    1,800        113,400   

Whirlpool Corp.

    1,700        329,358   
   

 

 

 
      1,518,920   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.7%

  

Clorox Co. (The) (a)

    8,139        848,165   

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

    3,100        214,489   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Household Products—(Continued)

  

Energizer Holdings, Inc. (a)

    3,700      $ 475,672   

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    11,350        1,311,379   

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

    27,045        2,463,529   

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

    13,294        1,072,446   
   

 

 

 
      6,385,680   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—0.4%

  

3M Co.

    6,900        1,133,808   

Danaher Corp. (a)

    4,100        351,411   

General Electric Co. (a)

    73,095        1,847,111   

Hopewell Holdings, Ltd.

    26,500        96,649   

Keppel Corp., Ltd. (a)

    47,000        313,615   

Nolato AB - B Shares

    877        19,816   

Siemens AG

    3,016        342,045   

Smiths Group plc

    8,738        147,892   
   

 

 

 
      4,252,347   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—1.7%

  

ACE, Ltd. (a)

    5,300        608,864   

Admiral Group plc

    11,160        228,542   

Aflac, Inc. (a)

    13,200        806,388   

Ageas

    9,097        322,614   

AIA Group, Ltd.

    22,000        120,721   

Allianz SE

    5,287        878,454   

Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings AG

    4,200        159,264   

Allstate Corp. (The)

    5,661        397,685   

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co. (a)

    6,600        192,654   

American Financial Group, Inc. (a)

    5,600        340,032   

American International Group, Inc.

    16,900        946,569   

Amlin plc

    21,934        162,256   

Assurant, Inc.

    5,144        352,004   

Assured Guaranty, Ltd.

    11,100        288,489   

AXA S.A.

    23,128        534,177   

Axis Capital Holdings, Ltd.

    5,000        255,450   

Beazley plc

    54,727        242,459   

Catlin Group, Ltd.

    24,344        253,142   

Chesnara plc

    7,256        38,198   

Chubb Corp. (The) (a)

    3,847        398,049   

CNA Financial Corp. (a)

    3,100        120,001   

CNP Assurances

    14,991        265,458   

Endurance Specialty Holdings, Ltd.

    2,800        167,552   

Euler Hermes S.A.

    1,606        166,194   

Everest Re Group, Ltd. (a)

    1,800        306,540   

FBL Financial Group, Inc. - Class A (a)

    2,758        160,047   

Genworth Financial, Inc. - Class A (b)

    3,100        26,350   

Hannover Rueck SE

    4,048        367,182   

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.

    4,000        214,080   

Horace Mann Educators Corp. (a)

    3,800        126,084   

Legal & General Group plc

    198,499        762,399   

Mapfre S.A.

    86,111        289,985   

MBIA, Inc. (b)

    13,000        124,020   

Montpelier Re Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    3,800        136,116   

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG

    1,811        362,819   

Navigators Group, Inc. (The) (b)

    600        44,004   

PartnerRe, Ltd. (a)

    5,576        636,389   

Power Corp. of Canada (a)

    7,035        192,315   

Insurance—(Continued)

  

Power Financial Corp. (a)

    2,200      68,511   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

    6,600        342,804   

ProAssurance Corp.

    4,400        198,660   

RenaissanceRe Holdings, Ltd.

    3,895        378,672   

Sampo Oyj - A Shares

    9,013        422,616   

Sony Financial Holdings, Inc.

    22,989        338,996   

Symetra Financial Corp.

    9,200        212,060   

T&D Holdings, Inc.

    25,500        306,775   

Talanx AG (b)

    4,196        128,280   

Torchmark Corp. (a)

    10,384        562,501   

Travelers Cos., Inc. (The) (a)

    3,950        418,107   

Unum Group (a)

    5,400        188,352   

Zurich Insurance Group AG (b)

    1,951        610,942   
   

 

 

 
      16,170,822   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—0.2%

  

Amazon.com, Inc. (b)

    1,900        589,665   

PetMed Express, Inc. (a)

    1,900        27,303   

Priceline Group, Inc. (The) (b)

    618        704,650   

TripAdvisor, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,500        111,990   
   

 

 

 
      1,433,608   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—0.7%

  

Dena Co., Ltd. (a)

    4,900        58,542   

eBay, Inc. (b)

    48,262        2,708,463   

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (b)

    13,100        1,022,062   

Google, Inc. - Class A (b)

    2,300        1,220,518   

Google, Inc. - Class C (b)

    2,300        1,210,720   

j2 Global, Inc. (a)

    900        55,800   

NetEase, Inc. (ADR) (a)

    1,000        99,140   

NIFTY Corp.

    700        7,746   

Yahoo Japan Corp. (a)

    61,900        223,360   
   

 

 

 
      6,606,351   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—1.6%

  

Accenture plc - Class A (a)

    11,200        1,000,272   

Amadeus IT Holding S.A. - A Shares

    9,473        376,431   

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    3,500        161,630   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (b)

    2,500        131,650   

Computer Sciences Corp.

    17,620        1,110,941   

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

    32,449        2,018,328   

Fiserv, Inc. (a) (b)

    23,983        1,702,073   

Infocom Corp.

    2,400        18,034   

International Business Machines Corp.

    12,159        1,950,790   

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

    1,300        80,782   

MasterCard, Inc. - Class A

    5,700        491,112   

NeuStar, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    2,200        61,160   

Paychex, Inc.

    17,032        786,367   

Poletowin Pitcrew Holdings, Inc.

    2,300        15,752   

Syntel, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,000        44,980   

Teradata Corp. (a) (b)

    5,900        257,712   

TKC Corp.

    1,300        21,409   

Total System Services, Inc.

    28,509        968,166   

Visa, Inc. - Class A (a)

    3,000        786,600   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

IT Services—(Continued)

  

Western Union Co. (The) (a)

    79,415      $ 1,422,323   

Xerox Corp.

    107,930        1,495,910   
   

 

 

 
      14,902,422   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Products—0.1%

  

Heiwa Corp.

    4,500        89,863   

Mattel, Inc. (a)

    9,100        281,599   

Polaris Industries, Inc. (a)

    1,600        241,984   

Universal Entertainment Corp. (a)

    600        8,952   
   

 

 

 
      622,398   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—0.1%

  

Bio-Techne Corp. (a)

    1,400        129,360   

Bruker Corp. (b)

    1,900        37,278   

EPS Corp.

    600        7,107   

Eurofins Scientific SE (a)

    352        89,631   

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a) (b)

    775        234,406   

PAREXEL International Corp. (a) (b)

    2,500        138,900   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    400        50,116   

Waters Corp. (b)

    1,600        180,352   
   

 

 

 
      867,150   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—0.9%

  

AGCO Corp. (a)

    5,200        235,040   

Atlas Copco AB - A Shares

    18,313        509,781   

Caterpillar, Inc. (a)

    1,000        91,530   

Crane Co.

    2,500        146,750   

Cummins, Inc. (a)

    5,700        821,769   

Daiwa Industries, Ltd.

    2,000        12,523   

Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche S.p.A.

    1,745        43,173   

Douglas Dynamics, Inc.

    2,400        51,432   

Dover Corp.

    7,500        537,900   

Duerr AG

    2,134        189,168   

Duro Felguera S.A.

    3,806        15,380   

FANUC Corp.

    3,100        511,620   

Flowserve Corp.

    6,400        382,912   

Fukushima Industries Corp.

    1,000        15,947   

Hillenbrand, Inc. (a)

    5,300        182,850   

Hino Motors, Ltd.

    21,000        274,723   

IDEX Corp. (a)

    4,300        334,712   

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

    7,800        738,660   

IMI plc

    14,370        281,310   

Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.

    2,276        99,084   

ITT Corp. (a)

    3,300        133,518   

Komatsu, Ltd.

    21,100        467,777   

Kone Oyj - Class B

    9,607        436,335   

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (a)

    4,100        283,269   

Lindsay Corp.

    1,200        102,888   

Metka S.A.

    2,122        21,489   

Middleby Corp. (The) (b)

    600        59,460   

Mitsuboshi Belting Co., Ltd.

    1,000        7,356   

Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

    2,700        28,938   

Nordson Corp. (a)

    1,100        85,756   

Parker-Hannifin Corp.

    4,600        593,170   

Rotork plc

    3,728        134,153   

Machinery—(Continued)

  

Semperit AG Holding

    1,512      73,166   

Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc

    858        38,130   

Teikoku Sen-I Co., Ltd.

    2,000        44,628   

Toro Co. (The)

    3,400        216,954   

Valmont Industries, Inc. (a)

    2,100        266,700   

Wartsila Oyj Abp

    5,662        254,077   

Weir Group plc (The)

    3,982        113,973   
   

 

 

 
      8,838,001   
   

 

 

 

Marine—0.1%

  

AP Moeller - Maersk A/S - Class B

    183        363,751   

Nippon Yusen KK

    115,000        325,272   
   

 

 

 
      689,023   
   

 

 

 

Media—1.0%

  

Cablevision Systems Corp. - Class A (a)

    21,462        442,976   

Comcast Corp. - Class A

    22,900        1,328,429   

Corus Entertainment, Inc. - B Shares

    4,000        79,015   

CTS Eventim AG & Co. KGaA

    2,574        76,503   

Daiichikosho Co., Ltd.

    3,300        89,358   

DIRECTV (b)

    4,900        424,830   

ITE Group plc

    6,544        16,317   

Liberty Broadband Corp. - Class A (b)

    2,283        114,355   

Liberty Global plc - Class A (b)

    8,213        412,334   

Liberty Media Corp. - Class A (b)

    7,577        267,241   

Metropole Television S.A.

    8,631        162,428   

Omnicom Group, Inc. (a)

    5,700        441,579   

ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG

    17,083        719,687   

Publicis Groupe S.A.

    5,289        378,815   

REA Group, Ltd. (a)

    567        20,832   

Reed Elsevier NV

    18,008        430,369   

Reed Elsevier plc

    22,608        384,639   

RTL Group S.A. (Frankfurt Exchange)

    3,244        308,275   

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. - Class A (a)

    3,900        293,553   

Shaw Communications, Inc. - Class B (a)

    11,500        310,316   

Sky Network Television, Ltd.

    27,790        130,852   

Sky plc

    31,129        433,260   

Time Warner, Inc.

    3,200        273,344   

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. - Class A (a)

    3,600        138,258   

UBM PCL

    15,486        115,580   

Viacom, Inc. - Class B (a)

    7,300        549,325   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

    16,100        1,516,459   
   

 

 

 
      9,858,929   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.5%

  

Acacia Mining plc

    11,188        44,552   

Anglo American plc

    7,909        147,481   

Anglo American plc

    26,743        494,798   

ArcelorMittal

    15,836        171,523   

Asahi Holdings, Inc.

    2,700        41,661   

Barrick Gold Corp.

    14,100        151,947   

BHP Billiton plc

    40,894        874,715   

BHP Billiton, Ltd.

    44,905        1,065,531   

Centerra Gold, Inc.

    7,600        39,511   

Cia de Minas Buenaventura SAA (ADR)

    8,700        83,172   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Metals & Mining—(Continued)

  

Evolution Mining, Ltd. (a)

    53,180      $ 28,067   

Fresnillo plc

    5,305        62,953   

Highland Gold Mining, Ltd.

    5,802        2,853   

Hitachi Metals, Ltd.

    6,000        102,178   

IAMGOLD Corp. (b)

    10,100        27,297   

Independence Group NL

    13,912        49,861   

KGHM Polska Miedz S.A.

    3,843        117,164   

Kobe Steel, Ltd.

    74,000        128,008   

Koza Altin Isletmeleri A/S

    2,462        16,444   

Kumba Iron Ore, Ltd. (a)

    2,066        42,452   

Maruichi Steel Tube, Ltd.

    2,200        46,866   

MMC Norilsk Nickel OJSC (ADR)

    6,172        87,766   

Nevsun Resources, Ltd.

    8,300        32,006   

Newmont Mining Corp. (a)

    6,200        117,180   

Northern Star Resources, Ltd.

    27,728        33,816   

Resolute Mining, Ltd. (b)

    6,656        1,442   

Rio Tinto plc

    4,908        226,124   

Rio Tinto, Ltd.

    6,718        315,123   

Sibanye Gold, Ltd.

    15,437        29,762   

Silver Wheaton Corp.

    1,800        36,610   

St. Barbara, Ltd. (b)

    4,110        353   

Teck Resources, Ltd. - Class B

    15,000        205,027   

Troy Resources, Ltd. (b)

    2,277        857   

Vale S.A.

    6,400        52,418   

Vale S.A. (ADR) (a)

    13,700        99,462   
   

 

 

 
      4,976,980   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—0.1%

  

E.ON SE

    18,695        321,030   

GDF Suez

    13,380        312,494   

REN - Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS S.A.

    9,721        28,285   

RWE AG

    9,377        293,574   
   

 

 

 
      955,383   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—0.1%

  

Dollar Tree, Inc. (b)

    3,100        218,178   

Lifestyle International Holdings, Ltd.

    21,500        45,057   

Myer Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    10,600        12,052   

Next plc

    3,055        322,229   

Target Corp. (a)

    1,300        98,683   
   

 

 

 
      696,199   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—2.4%

  

Alliance Resource Partners L.P.

    2,200        94,710   

Apache Corp. (a)

    4,950        310,216   

BP plc

    242,413        1,539,260   

Cairn Energy plc (b)

    17,935        49,232   

California Resources Corp. (b)

    6,642        36,597   

Chevron Corp.

    21,765        2,441,598   

China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd. - Class H

    22,000        64,648   

CNOOC, Ltd.

    122,000        165,034   

ConocoPhillips (a)

    22,867        1,579,195   

Contango Oil & Gas Co. (a) (b)

    1,400        40,936   

Ecopetrol S.A. (ADR) (a)

    2,400        41,088   

Enbridge Income Fund Holdings, Inc. (a)

    4,800        166,707   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—(Continued)

  

ENI S.p.A.

    36,220      632,590   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    9,000        828,630   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    42,762        3,953,347   

Gazprom OAO (ADR)

    8,163        36,978   

Gran Tierra Energy, Inc. (b)

    12,500        48,125   

Hess Corp. (a)

    4,005        295,649   

HollyFrontier Corp. (a)

    6,000        224,880   

Inpex Corp.

    47,700        529,248   

Japan Petroleum Exploration Co.

    3,500        109,668   

JX Holdings, Inc. (a)

    25,300        98,566   

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (a)

    7,700        325,787   

Koninklijke Vopak NV

    3,015        156,189   

Lukoil OAO (ADR)

    3,291        126,210   

Marathon Oil Corp.

    20,313        574,655   

Noble Energy, Inc.

    4,500        213,435   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

    17,906        1,443,403   

OMV AG

    3,573        94,548   

Phillips 66

    4,800        344,160   

PTT Exploration & Production PCL

    18,300        62,298   

PTT Exploration & Production PCL (NVDR)

    17,900        60,716   

PTT PCL (NVDR)

    17,100        167,646   

Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (a) (b)

    3,300        32,043   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - A Shares

    33,432        1,108,154   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - A Shares

    2,235        74,755   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - B Shares

    37,265        1,280,199   

Sasol, Ltd.

    5,549        207,296   

Showa Shell Sekiyu KK (a)

    21,500        211,895   

Soco International plc (b)

    19,904        93,120   

Spectra Energy Corp.

    4,100        148,830   

Statoil ASA

    41,397        725,459   

Targa Resources Corp.

    400        42,420   

Tatneft OAO (ADR)

    1,400        34,300   

Tesoro Corp.

    4,400        327,140   

Total Gabon

    33        11,742   

Total S.A.

    9,251        476,974   

VAALCO Energy, Inc. (b)

    3,500        15,960   

Valero Energy Corp.

    10,600        524,700   

Western Refining, Inc.

    1,300        49,114   

Woodside Petroleum, Ltd.

    10,515        326,891   
   

 

 

 
      22,546,941   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—0.1%

  

International Paper Co.

    7,380        395,420   

OJI Holdings Corp.

    37,000        132,779   

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. (a)

    600        25,380   
   

 

 

 
      553,579   
   

 

 

 

Personal Products—0.0%

  

Blackmores, Ltd.

    555        15,955   

Dr Ci:Labo Co., Ltd.

    1,700        58,082   

Oriflame Cosmetics S.A. (a)

    6,985        96,570   

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (a) (b)

    400        41,036   
   

 

 

 
      211,643   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Pharmaceuticals—2.4%

  

AbbVie, Inc.

    18,505      $ 1,210,967   

Actavis plc (a) (b)

    900        231,669   

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

    47,200        656,911   

AstraZeneca plc

    19,486        1,370,756   

Bayer AG

    3,299        451,004   

Boiron S.A.

    1,269        107,072   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (a)

    6,400        377,792   

Eisai Co., Ltd.

    9,500        368,105   

Eli Lilly & Co.

    16,318        1,125,779   

Galenica AG

    329        260,599   

GlaxoSmithKline plc

    63,318        1,354,692   

Indivior plc (b)

    13,294        30,956   

Ipsen S.A.

    5,460        283,964   

Johnson & Johnson

    29,654        3,100,919   

Lannett Co., Inc. (a) (b)

    2,900        124,352   

Merck & Co., Inc.

    33,000        1,874,070   

Merck KGaA

    4,684        444,350   

Mylan, Inc. (b)

    3,300        186,021   

Novartis AG

    26,723        2,457,647   

Novo Nordisk A/S - Class B

    9,443        399,548   

Orion Oyj - Class B

    8,269        256,706   

Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. (a)

    10,600        317,914   

Pfizer, Inc.

    82,025        2,555,079   

Recordati S.p.A.

    14,091        219,074   

Roche Holding AG

    7,290        1,975,885   

Sanofi

    10,770        981,534   

Stada Arzneimittel AG

    6,438        196,660   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. (ADR)

    3,700        212,787   
   

 

 

 
      23,132,812   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—0.2%

  

Bertrandt AG

    617        85,858   

Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (The) (a)

    2,400        290,304   

Intertek Group plc

    5,142        186,392   

Robert Half International, Inc.

    2,800        163,464   

SGS S.A.

    275        560,709   

Stantec, Inc.

    8,300        228,111   

WS Atkins plc

    5,431        114,772   
   

 

 

 
      1,629,610   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.1%

  

Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust

    46,000        82,572   

EPR Properties (a)

    900        51,867   

Federation Centres, Ltd.

    12,326        28,687   

Frasers Centrepoint Trust

    60,000        85,784   

HCP, Inc.

    4,900        215,747   

Link REIT (The)

    8,500        53,005   

LTC Properties, Inc. (a)

    2,700        116,559   

Mapletree Industrial Trust

    127,000        142,058   

Mapletree Logistics Trust

    166,000        148,403   

MID Reit, Inc.

    12        30,069   

Scentre Group (b)

    70,368        200,094   

Select Income REIT (a)

    5,700        139,137   

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    400        72,844   
   

 

 

 
      1,366,826   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development—0.3%

  

Atrium European Real Estate, Ltd. (b)

    7,669      37,946   

Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.

    23,000        384,372   

Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.

    43,440        300,980   

Hong Fok Corp., Ltd.

    29,000        17,978   

Hongkong Land Holdings, Ltd.

    20,000        134,614   

Hufvudstaden AB - A Shares

    10,814        140,373   

Hysan Development Co., Ltd.

    20,000        88,868   

IMMOFINANZ AG (b)

    32,966        83,444   

Keppel Land, Ltd.

    35,000        89,973   

PSP Swiss Property AG (b)

    2,213        190,547   

Sino Land Co., Ltd.

    50,000        79,744   

Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd.

    25,000        378,035   

Swire Pacific, Ltd. - Class A

    19,000        246,130   

Swire Properties, Ltd.

    59,600        176,276   

UOL Group, Ltd.

    23,000        120,700   

Wharf Holdings, Ltd. (The)

    30,000        215,437   

Wheelock & Co., Ltd.

    20,000        92,862   
   

 

 

 
      2,778,279   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.3%

  

Canadian National Railway Co.

    1,200        82,651   

Central Japan Railway Co.

    2,000        300,044   

CSX Corp.

    11,300        409,399   

Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.

    24,000        129,120   

Landstar System, Inc.

    1,800        130,554   

Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. (a)

    36,000        134,041   

Norfolk Southern Corp. (a)

    6,300        690,543   

Seino Holdings Co., Ltd.

    8,000        80,474   

Union Pacific Corp.

    8,500        1,012,605   

Utoc Corp.

    3,700        17,074   
   

 

 

 
      2,986,505   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—1.6%

  

Altera Corp. (a)

    7,300        269,662   

Broadcom Corp. - Class A

    44,564        1,930,958   

Cirrus Logic, Inc. (a) (b)

    3,400        80,138   

Intel Corp.

    130,238        4,726,337   

KLA-Tencor Corp. (a)

    1,900        133,608   

Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc. (b)

    900        13,014   

Lam Research Corp. (a)

    16,646        1,320,694   

Linear Technology Corp.

    3,300        150,480   

Magnachip Semiconductor Corp. (b)

    1,675        21,758   

Marvell Technology Group, Ltd.

    76,413        1,107,988   

Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.

    8,500        270,895   

MediaTek, Inc.

    13,000        189,253   

Megachips Corp.

    1,300        15,390   

Microchip Technology, Inc. (a)

    2,500        112,775   

Novatek Microelectronics Corp.

    24,000        134,262   

Radiant Opto-Electronics Corp.

    21,000        66,606   

Realtek Semiconductor Corp.

    22,000        72,899   

Shindengen Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

    8,000        46,014   

Texas Instruments, Inc. (a)

    59,735        3,193,732   

Xilinx, Inc.

    36,359        1,573,981   
   

 

 

 
      15,430,444   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Software—1.9%

  

Babylon, Ltd.

    3,842      $ 1,818   

CA, Inc.

    57,365        1,746,764   

Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd. (b)

    3,100        243,567   

Constellation Software, Inc.

    500        148,666   

Ebix, Inc. (a)

    2,700        45,873   

Electronic Arts, Inc. (b)

    30,670        1,441,950   

GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc. (a) (b)

    13,100        47,754   

Intuit, Inc.

    21,396        1,972,497   

Micro Focus International plc

    4,882        81,721   

Microsoft Corp.

    128,335        5,961,161   

Nemetschek AG

    254        25,787   

NetScout Systems, Inc. (a) (b)

    2,100        76,734   

Nexon Co., Ltd.

    10,800        100,702   

Nuance Communications, Inc. (a) (b)

    56,935        812,462   

Open Text Corp.

    1,800        104,750   

Oracle Corp.

    40,000        1,798,800   

Qualys, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,400        52,850   

Sage Group plc (The)

    34,373        247,877   

SAP SE

    9,413        665,551   

Software AG

    1,757        42,929   

SolarWinds, Inc. (b)

    2,000        99,660   

Symantec Corp.

    62,112        1,593,483   

Synopsys, Inc. (b)

    17,995        782,243   

Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (a) (b)

    3,300        92,499   

Trend Micro, Inc. (b)

    4,000        109,439   

VMware, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    1,200        99,024   
   

 

 

 
      18,396,561   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—0.6%

  

ABC-Mart, Inc. (a)

    2,900        140,525   

Alpen Co., Ltd. (a)

    1,100        15,447   

Aoyama Trading Co., Ltd.

    1,200        26,328   

AutoZone, Inc. (a) (b)

    763        472,381   

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (a) (b)

    4,600        350,382   

Best Buy Co., Inc.

    5,100        198,798   

Buckle, Inc. (The) (a)

    1,200        63,024   

Cato Corp. (The) - Class A (a)

    1,800        75,924   

Clas Ohlson AB - B Shares

    892        15,418   

Dunelm Group plc

    4,253        61,008   

Fielmann AG

    2,010        137,490   

Foot Locker, Inc. (a)

    3,300        185,394   

GameStop Corp. - Class A (a)

    3,700        125,060   

Gap, Inc. (The) (a)

    8,600        362,146   

Geo Holdings Corp. (a)

    2,800        22,489   

Giordano International, Ltd.

    20,000        8,867   

Guess?, Inc. (a)

    4,000        84,320   

Hennes & Mauritz AB - B Shares

    646        26,797   

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

    11,900        1,249,143   

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    4,600        316,480   

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a) (b)

    1,500        288,930   

Outerwall, Inc. (a) (b)

    700        52,654   

PetSmart, Inc.

    2,500        203,237   

Ross Stores, Inc. (a)

    3,900        367,614   

Shimachu Co., Ltd.

    1,000        24,296   

Staples, Inc. (a)

    15,300        277,236   

TJX Cos., Inc. (The)

    6,700        459,486   

Specialty Retail—(Continued)

  

Tractor Supply Co. (a)

    1,200      94,584   

WH Smith plc

    4,386        91,509   
   

 

 

 
      5,796,967   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—2.4%

  

Apple, Inc.

    74,972        8,275,409   

Brother Industries, Ltd.

    8,900        161,471   

Canon, Inc. (a)

    38,800        1,232,361   

Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.

    21,000        58,333   

Elecom Co., Ltd.

    600        11,923   

EMC Corp. (a)

    122,185        3,633,782   

FUJIFILM Holdings Corp.

    10,500        316,877   

Hewlett-Packard Co. (a)

    88,425        3,548,495   

Japan Digital Laboratory Co., Ltd.

    3,100        41,679   

Konica Minolta, Inc. (a)

    10,500        113,259   

Lexmark International, Inc. - Class A (a)

    2,200        90,794   

Neopost S.A. (a)

    1,422        80,709   

NetApp, Inc.

    8,800        364,760   

Ricoh Co., Ltd.

    18,000        182,855   

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

    210        252,431   

Seagate Technology plc (a)

    27,120        1,803,480   

Toshiba TEC Corp.

    7,000        48,234   

Western Digital Corp. (a)

    22,943        2,539,790   

Wincor Nixdorf AG

    1,407        68,424   
   

 

 

 
      22,825,066   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.3%

  

Bijou Brigitte AG

    106        6,495   

Burberry Group plc

    8,261        209,322   

Christian Dior S.A.

    2,064        352,649   

Cie Financiere Richemont S.A.

    2,083        184,506   

Coach, Inc.

    6,910        259,540   

Deckers Outdoor Corp. (a) (b)

    900        81,936   

Fossil Group, Inc. (a) (b)

    500        55,370   

Hermes International (a)

    110        39,223   

Hugo Boss AG

    1,761        216,205   

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A.

    1,042        164,776   

NIKE, Inc. - Class B

    7,000        673,050   

Pandora A/S

    2,628        213,164   

Peak Sport Products Co., Ltd.

    74,000        20,444   

Ralph Lauren Corp.

    1,300        240,708   

Steven Madden, Ltd. (b)

    1,800        57,294   

Swatch Group AG (The)

    1,680        145,310   

Tod’s S.p.A. (a)

    299        25,947   

Van de Velde NV

    570        26,854   
   

 

 

 
      2,972,793   
   

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance—0.1%

  

Genworth MI Canada, Inc. (a)

    5,800        184,614   

New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (a)

    23,091        369,456   

Washington Federal, Inc. (a)

    8,000        177,200   
   

 

 

 
      731,270   
   

 

 

 

Tobacco—0.5%

  

Altria Group, Inc.

    19,000        936,130   

British American Tobacco plc

    24,303        1,320,476   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares

    Value  

Tobacco—(Continued)

  

Imperial Tobacco Group plc

    11,323      $ 495,870   

Japan Tobacco, Inc.

    1,300        35,696   

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    19,907        1,621,425   

Reynolds American, Inc.

    3,800        244,226   

Swedish Match AB

    5,366        167,371   
   

 

 

 
      4,821,194   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.2%

  

Inaba Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd.

    2,100        68,045   

Indutrade AB

    687        27,302   

ITOCHU Corp.

    51,000        545,275   

Kanematsu Corp.

    36,000        51,151   

Kuroda Electric Co., Ltd. (a)

    3,200        44,243   

Marubeni Corp.

    67,000        401,617   

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

    19,900        266,027   

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. - Class A (a)

    1,100        89,375   

Wakita & Co., Ltd.

    4,000        37,674   

WW Grainger, Inc. (a)

    1,100        280,379   

Yamazen Corp.

    1,300        9,194   
   

 

 

 
      1,820,282   
   

 

 

 

Transportation Infrastructure—0.0%

  

Autostrada Torino-Milano S.p.A.

    4,303        49,670   

Hopewell Highway Infrastructure, Ltd. (a)

    1,325        664   

Westshore Terminals Investment Corp.

    1,300        35,393   
   

 

 

 
      85,727   
   

 

 

 

Water Utilities—0.0%

  

American States Water Co. (a)

    3,971        149,548   

Cia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (ADR)

    10,100        63,529   

Guangdong Investment, Ltd.

    112,000        145,445   
   

 

 

 
      358,522   
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services—0.3%

  

Advanced Info Service PCL (NVDR)

    16,600        126,409   

China Mobile, Ltd.

    10,000        117,736   

DiGi.Com Bhd

    30,500        53,641   

Drillisch AG

    3,093        110,673   

KDDI Corp.

    10,300        644,473   

Millicom International Cellular S.A.

    5,517        410,304   

Mobile Telesystems OJSC (ADR)

    7,700        55,286   

MTN Group, Ltd.

    10,376        196,903   

NTT DoCoMo, Inc.

    16,400        240,066   

Rogers Communications, Inc. - Class B

    16,300        633,733   

Vodacom Group, Ltd. (a)

    19,828        218,971   

Vodafone Group plc

    42,056        144,103   
   

 

 

 
      2,952,298   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $332,848,542)

      353,531,317   
   

 

 

 
Corporate Bonds & Notes—23.4%   
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Advertising—0.2%

  

Omnicom Group, Inc.
4.450%, 08/15/20

    1,855,000      1,995,275   

5.900%, 04/15/16

    210,000        222,248   
   

 

 

 
      2,217,523   
   

 

 

 

Agriculture—0.3%

  

Altria Group, Inc.
4.750%, 05/05/21

    660,000        729,974   

10.200%, 02/06/39

    304,000        529,307   

Philip Morris International, Inc.
6.375%, 05/16/38

    645,000        824,671   

Reynolds American, Inc.
4.750%, 11/01/42 (a)

    145,000        140,730   

6.150%, 09/15/43

    230,000        266,724   

7.250%, 06/15/37

    170,000        218,362   
   

 

 

 
      2,709,768   
   

 

 

 

Auto Parts & Equipment—0.1%

  

Delphi Corp.
4.150%, 03/15/24

    560,000        578,865   
   

 

 

 

Banks—6.8%

  

Abbey National Treasury Services plc
3.050%, 08/23/18

    355,000        367,538   

American Express Bank FSB
6.000%, 09/13/17

    1,055,000        1,176,074   

Bank of America Corp.
1.125%, 04/01/19 (c)

    1,225,000        1,227,027   

3.300%, 01/11/23

    2,295,000        2,295,177   

4.200%, 08/26/24

    875,000        891,384   

5.000%, 01/21/44

    1,100,000        1,231,807   

5.625%, 07/01/20

    2,345,000        2,669,994   

Bank of Montreal
1.950%, 01/30/17 (144A)

    310,000        315,235   

Bank of Nova Scotia
1.950%, 01/30/17 (144A)

    1,120,000        1,136,968   

Barclays Bank plc
5.140%, 10/14/20

    2,870,000        3,086,653   

BBVA Banco Continental S.A.
3.250%, 04/08/18 (144A) (a)

    330,000        333,508   

BNP Paribas S.A.
2.375%, 09/14/17

    625,000        635,690   

BPCE S.A.
2.500%, 12/10/18

    1,580,000        1,601,540   

4.500%, 03/15/25 (144A)

    1,060,000        1,035,755   

5.700%, 10/22/23 (144A)

    535,000        574,465   

Capital One N.A.
2.950%, 07/23/21

    860,000        854,619   

Citigroup, Inc.
3.375%, 03/01/23

    550,000        554,919   

4.300%, 11/20/26

    3,415,000        3,407,350   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA
2.250%, 01/14/19

    395,000        397,942   

3.875%, 02/08/22

    700,000        744,643   

3.950%, 11/09/22

    250,000        254,657   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Banks—(Continued)

  

First Republic Bank
2.375%, 06/17/19

    880,000      $ 884,146   

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)
1.836%, 11/29/23 (c)

    1,070,000        1,099,307   

3.625%, 01/22/23

    3,070,000        3,108,750   

4.800%, 07/08/44

    850,000        910,416   

5.250%, 07/27/21

    1,460,000        1,647,847   

5.750%, 01/24/22

    2,000,000        2,313,574   

6.750%, 10/01/37

    495,000        622,401   

HSBC Holdings plc
4.000%, 03/30/22 (a)

    1,770,000        1,883,804   

4.875%, 01/14/22

    1,555,000        1,733,279   

5.250%, 03/14/44

    570,000        638,488   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.
3.700%, 01/20/15

    460,000        460,771   

3.875%, 09/10/24

    5,620,000        5,624,783   

Lloyds Bank plc
2.300%, 11/27/18

    295,000        297,787   

Morgan Stanley
3.700%, 10/23/24

    1,220,000        1,236,616   

3.750%, 02/25/23

    1,840,000        1,887,511   

4.350%, 09/08/26

    950,000        955,676   

5.500%, 01/26/20

    755,000        849,472   

6.625%, 04/01/18

    400,000        455,614   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (The)
1.875%, 03/31/17

    1,670,000        1,668,677   

5.625%, 08/24/20 (a)

    1,430,000        1,628,338   

6.125%, 01/11/21

    20,000        23,568   

Societe Generale S.A.
2.750%, 10/12/17

    415,000        425,161   

5.000%, 01/17/24 (144A)

    2,150,000        2,161,784   

Sparebank 1 Boligkreditt A/S
2.300%, 06/30/17 (144A)

    1,500,000        1,538,163   

Standard Chartered plc
3.950%, 01/11/23 (144A)

    205,000        197,833   

5.700%, 03/26/44 (144A)

    1,130,000        1,175,418   

Swedbank Hypotek AB
2.375%, 04/05/17 (144A)

    200,000        205,273   

Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)
1.500%, 03/13/17 (144A)

    3,060,000        3,083,645   

UBS AG
2.250%, 03/30/17 (144A)

    1,700,000        1,738,104   
   

 

 

 
      65,249,151   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—0.1%

  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc.
3.750%, 07/15/42

    915,000        860,202   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—0.5%

  

Amgen, Inc.
3.875%, 11/15/21

    955,000        1,008,971   

4.500%, 03/15/20

    900,000        982,962   

5.750%, 03/15/40 (a)

    605,000        723,836   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.
4.500%, 04/01/21

    1,180,000        1,310,854   

4.500%, 02/01/45

    1,005,000        1,074,143   
   

 

 

 
      5,100,766   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—0.3%

  

Eastman Chemical Co.
4.800%, 09/01/42

    660,000      667,434   

LYB International Finance B.V.
4.875%, 03/15/44

    180,000        185,178   

5.250%, 07/15/43

    740,000        804,118   

Monsanto Co.
4.700%, 07/15/64

    720,000        754,938   

Mosaic Co. (The)
3.750%, 11/15/21

    255,000        265,404   

4.875%, 11/15/41

    335,000        344,103   
   

 

 

 
      3,021,175   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services—0.1%

  

UBM plc
5.750%, 11/03/20 (144A)

    630,000        687,243   
   

 

 

 

Computers—0.3%

  

Apple, Inc.
2.400%, 05/03/23

    935,000        908,817   

International Business Machines Corp.
7.625%, 10/15/18

    1,785,000        2,152,041   
   

 

 

 
      3,060,858   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.9%

  

American Express Credit Corp.
0.505%, 06/05/17 (c)

    1,400,000        1,397,603   

Capital One Bank USA N.A.
1.300%, 06/05/17

    740,000        733,633   

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
4.375%, 08/06/23 (a)

    2,400,000        2,565,708   

General Electric Capital Corp.
5.300%, 02/11/21

    400,000        456,795   

HSBC Finance Corp.
6.676%, 01/15/21

    1,220,000        1,447,476   

Jefferies Group LLC
5.125%, 01/20/23

    1,050,000        1,067,344   

Navient Corp.
6.000%, 01/25/17

    700,000        733,250   
   

 

 

 
      8,401,809   
   

 

 

 

Electric—1.4%

  

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co.
6.500%, 09/15/37

    345,000        451,533   

CMS Energy Corp.
4.875%, 03/01/44

    400,000        437,601   

Delmarva Power & Light Co.
3.500%, 11/15/23

    1,480,000        1,540,380   

Dominion Resources, Inc.
4.050%, 09/15/42 (a)

    600,000        585,267   

Duke Energy Carolinas LLC
4.300%, 06/15/20

    540,000        586,999   

Duke Energy Florida, Inc.
6.400%, 06/15/38

    1,925,000        2,661,569   

Electricite de France S.A.
6.500%, 01/26/19 (144A)

    180,000        210,683   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Electric—(Continued)

  

Georgia Power Co.
4.300%, 03/15/42 (a)

    545,000      $ 572,338   

Nisource Finance Corp.
4.800%, 02/15/44

    230,000        245,052   

6.125%, 03/01/22

    830,000        983,850   

PPL Electric Utilities Corp.
4.750%, 07/15/43

    625,000        720,018   

Public Service Co. of Colorado
4.750%, 08/15/41

    1,065,000        1,234,295   

Southern California Edison Co.
4.500%, 09/01/40

    1,025,000        1,121,367   

5.500%, 03/15/40

    335,000        423,896   

Southern Power Co.
5.250%, 07/15/43

    670,000        772,147   

Virginia Electric & Power Co.
4.000%, 01/15/43

    930,000        943,284   
   

 

 

 
      13,490,279   
   

 

 

 

Electronics—0.0%

  

Honeywell International, Inc.
5.700%, 03/15/37 (a)

    240,000        309,062   
   

 

 

 

Environmental Control—0.1%

  

Republic Services, Inc.
5.250%, 11/15/21

    415,000        469,898   
   

 

 

 

Food—0.5%

  

ConAgra Foods, Inc.
1.900%, 01/25/18

    1,900,000        1,887,342   

Kraft Foods Group, Inc.
5.000%, 06/04/42

    580,000        638,466   

Kroger Co. (The)
5.000%, 04/15/42

    260,000        283,278   

5.150%, 08/01/43

    625,000        711,592   

Sysco Corp.
4.500%, 10/02/44 (a)

    1,025,000        1,111,791   

Tyson Foods, Inc.
5.150%, 08/15/44

    310,000        348,184   
   

 

 

 
      4,980,653   
   

 

 

 

Forest Products & Paper—0.0%

  

International Paper Co.
7.300%, 11/15/39

    210,000        278,441   
   

 

 

 

Gas—0.1%

  

Fermaca Enterprises S de RL de C.V.
6.375%, 03/30/38 (144A)

    480,000        488,400   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Products—0.4%

  

Becton Dickinson and Co.
4.685%, 12/15/44

    700,000        753,873   

Boston Scientific Corp.
2.650%, 10/01/18

    940,000        941,106   

Medtronic, Inc.
4.625%, 03/15/45 (144A)

    2,121,000        2,299,143   
   

 

 

 
      3,994,122   
   

 

 

 

Healthcare-Services—0.4%

  

Aetna, Inc.
4.500%, 05/15/42

    75,000      79,404   

Anthem, Inc.
4.650%, 01/15/43

    3,135,000        3,262,786   

Humana, Inc.
7.200%, 06/15/18

    95,000        110,978   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
6.500%, 06/15/37

    285,000        381,895   
   

 

 

 
      3,835,063   
   

 

 

 

Holding Companies-Diversified—0.1%

  

Leucadia National Corp.
5.500%, 10/18/23

    675,000        691,282   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—1.6%

  

American International Group, Inc.
6.400%, 12/15/20

    1,150,000        1,371,341   

Aon plc
4.600%, 06/14/44

    1,265,000        1,313,666   

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp.
4.400%, 05/15/42

    425,000        457,124   

CNA Financial Corp.
5.750%, 08/15/21

    400,000        455,864   

Genworth Holdings, Inc.
4.800%, 02/15/24

    590,000        478,270   

4.900%, 08/15/23

    1,650,000        1,329,400   

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
6.625%, 03/30/40

    945,000        1,272,191   

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.
4.850%, 08/01/44 (144A)

    660,000        670,873   

5.000%, 06/01/21 (144A)

    120,000        130,716   

6.500%, 05/01/42 (144A)

    960,000        1,173,920   

Lincoln National Corp.
4.850%, 06/24/21

    390,000        429,619   

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.
4.800%, 07/15/21

    720,000        800,222   

Pacific LifeCorp
5.125%, 01/30/43 (144A)

    240,000        263,947   

Prudential Financial, Inc.
5.800%, 11/16/41

    1,105,000        1,338,254   

Swiss Re Treasury U.S. Corp.
2.875%, 12/06/22 (144A)

    260,000        255,201   

4.250%, 12/06/42 (144A) (a)

    415,000        430,020   

Trinity Acquisition plc
6.125%, 08/15/43

    705,000        807,779   

Voya Financial, Inc.
5.500%, 07/15/22

    1,560,000        1,762,201   

Willis Group Holdings plc
5.750%, 03/15/21

    210,000        234,553   

XLIT, Ltd.
5.750%, 10/01/21

    300,000        348,498   
   

 

 

 
      15,323,659   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Iron/Steel—0.1%

  

Glencore Funding LLC
4.125%, 05/30/23 (144A)

    670,000      $ 653,759   
   

 

 

 

Machinery-Construction & Mining—0.0%

  

Caterpillar Financial Services Corp.
7.150%, 02/15/19

    300,000        358,890   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.8%

  

21st Century Fox America, Inc.
4.500%, 02/15/21

    320,000        350,268   

Comcast Corp.
4.500%, 01/15/43

    825,000        878,878   

4.750%, 03/01/44

    280,000        312,030   

6.300%, 11/15/17

    520,000        588,929   

DIRECTV Holdings LLC / DIRECTV Financing Co., Inc.
2.400%, 03/15/17

    350,000        356,604   

5.150%, 03/15/42

    1,675,000        1,730,878   

NBCUniversal Media LLC
4.375%, 04/01/21

    1,990,000        2,188,596   

Viacom, Inc.
5.850%, 09/01/43

    1,050,000        1,167,675   
   

 

 

 
      7,573,858   
   

 

 

 

Mining—0.8%

  

Barrick North America Finance LLC
4.400%, 05/30/21

    655,000        661,387   

BHP Billiton Finance USA, Ltd.
5.000%, 09/30/43

    585,000        663,110   

Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile
4.875%, 11/04/44 ( 144A)

    390,000        396,109   

Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
2.375%, 03/15/18

    2,160,000        2,136,251   

3.550%, 03/01/22

    1,020,000        964,013   

Rio Tinto Finance USA plc
2.250%, 12/14/18

    1,150,000        1,152,319   

3.500%, 03/22/22

    530,000        529,852   

Rio Tinto Finance USA, Ltd.
9.000%, 05/01/19 (a)

    510,000        645,233   
   

 

 

 
      7,148,274   
   

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Manufacturing—0.3%

  

General Electric Co.
4.125%, 10/09/42

    215,000        222,570   

4.500%, 03/11/44

    1,555,000        1,709,290   

Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Finance S.A.
4.650%, 11/01/44

    755,000        767,655   
   

 

 

 
      2,699,515   
   

 

 

 

Office/Business Equipment—0.0%

   

Xerox Corp.
4.250%, 02/15/15

    260,000        261,027   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas—1.9%

   

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.
5.700%, 05/15/17

    1,490,000      1,615,227   

Chevron Corp.
3.191%, 06/24/23

    450,000        458,402   

CNOOC Curtis Funding No. 1 Pty, Ltd.
4.500%, 10/03/23 (144A)

    590,000        620,195   

CNOOC Finance 2013, Ltd.
3.000%, 05/09/23

    485,000        459,007   

Ecopetrol S.A.
5.875%, 05/28/45

    575,000        531,875   

Ensco plc
4.700%, 03/15/21

    1,525,000        1,531,910   

5.750%, 10/01/44

    855,000        857,880   

Hess Corp.
5.600%, 02/15/41 (a)

    720,000        772,075   

Marathon Petroleum Corp.
5.000%, 09/15/54

    1,145,000        1,078,209   

5.125%, 03/01/21

    830,000        907,221   

Noble Energy, Inc.
4.150%, 12/15/21

    880,000        897,337   

6.000%, 03/01/41

    350,000        384,663   

Petroleos Mexicanos
6.375%, 01/23/45

    1,290,000        1,460,925   

Phillips 66
4.875%, 11/15/44

    1,200,000        1,228,255   

Rowan Cos., Inc.
5.400%, 12/01/42

    695,000        605,444   

5.850%, 01/15/44

    580,000        534,897   

Shell International Finance B.V.
2.375%, 08/21/22

    700,000        680,920   

Suncor Energy, Inc.
6.100%, 06/01/18

    800,000        897,367   

6.850%, 06/01/39

    520,000        663,792   

Total Capital S.A.
2.300%, 03/15/16

    400,000        407,145   

Valero Energy Corp.
6.625%, 06/15/37

    905,000        1,068,496   
   

 

 

 
      17,661,242   
   

 

 

 

Oil & Gas Services—0.1%

   

Weatherford International, Ltd.
5.950%, 04/15/42

    1,585,000        1,342,061   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.6%

   

AbbVie, Inc.
1.200%, 11/06/15

    460,000        461,352   

2.900%, 11/06/22

    625,000        615,329   

Actavis Funding SCS
4.850%, 06/15/44

    1,190,000        1,207,536   

Express Scripts Holding Co.
4.750%, 11/15/21

    880,000        971,127   

6.125%, 11/15/41

    1,025,000        1,291,393   

Wyeth LLC
5.950%, 04/01/37

    950,000        1,218,525   
   

 

 

 
      5,765,262   
   

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Corporate Bonds & Notes—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Principal
Amount*

    Value  

Pipelines—1.1%

   

Buckeye Partners L.P.
5.600%, 10/15/44

    880,000      $ 843,546   

Energy Transfer Partners L.P.
4.150%, 10/01/20

    1,575,000        1,614,658   

5.150%, 02/01/43

    1,200,000        1,187,552   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC
3.350%, 03/15/23

    440,000        435,200   

4.950%, 10/15/54

    265,000        271,238   

6.450%, 09/01/40

    1,300,000        1,604,303   

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P.
5.000%, 08/15/42

    540,000        513,199   

Kinder Morgan, Inc.
5.550%, 06/01/45

    915,000        937,170   

ONEOK Partners L.P.
6.125%, 02/01/41 (a)

    550,000        591,645   

8.625%, 03/01/19

    145,000        175,207   

Plains All American Pipeline L.P. / PAA Finance Corp.
4.300%, 01/31/43

    305,000        287,189   

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)
4.550%, 06/24/24

    360,000        334,793   

Williams Partners L.P.
3.350%, 08/15/22

    420,000        401,198   

5.250%, 03/15/20

    1,060,000        1,150,660   

5.400%, 03/04/44

    555,000        543,344   
   

 

 

 
      10,890,902   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate—0.2%

   

American Campus Communities Operating Partnership L.P.
3.750%, 04/15/23

    845,000        843,543   

Deutsche Annington Finance B.V.
3.200%, 10/02/17 (144A)

    735,000        752,034   
   

 

 

 
      1,595,577   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—0.5%

  

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
3.900%, 06/15/23 (a)

    410,000        411,325   

4.500%, 07/30/29 (a)

    840,000        860,188   

Boston Properties L.P.
3.125%, 09/01/23 (a)

    215,000        209,934   

ERP Operating L.P.
4.625%, 12/15/21

    940,000        1,028,369   

Health Care REIT, Inc.
4.125%, 04/01/19

    1,395,000        1,483,436   

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.
4.950%, 04/01/24

    1,035,000        1,077,062   
   

 

 

 
      5,070,314   
   

 

 

 

Retail—1.0%

   

AutoZone, Inc.
2.875%, 01/15/23

    880,000        846,953   

CVS Health Corp.
2.250%, 12/05/18 (a)

    2,445,000        2,466,890   

Retail—(Continued)

   

Home Depot, Inc. (The)

   

4.400%, 04/01/21

    700,000      778,735   

5.950%, 04/01/41

    990,000        1,293,015   

Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc.
2.875%, 02/15/23

    790,000        767,156   

5.125%, 01/15/42

    450,000        487,756   

Signet UK Finance plc
4.700%, 06/15/24

    740,000        714,045   

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
3.625%, 07/08/20

    1,480,000        1,580,426   

Yum! Brands, Inc.
6.250%, 03/15/18

    268,000        299,832   
   

 

 

 
      9,234,808   
   

 

 

 

Software—0.3%

  

Microsoft Corp.
2.125%, 11/15/22

    525,000        509,419   

Oracle Corp.
2.500%, 10/15/22

    1,770,000        1,724,150   

3.400%, 07/08/24

    831,000        849,342   
   

 

 

 
      3,082,911   
   

 

 

 

Telecommunications—1.1%

  

Cisco Systems, Inc.
5.500%, 01/15/40

    1,475,000        1,797,403   

Deutsche Telekom International Finance B.V.
2.250%, 03/06/17 (144A)

    1,550,000        1,574,482   

Verizon Communications, Inc.
0.636%, 06/09/17 (c)

    1,035,000        1,032,962   

2.450%, 11/01/22

    820,000        769,373   

5.012%, 08/21/54 (144A)

    2,404,000        2,487,056   

6.550%, 09/15/43

    2,397,000        3,070,914   
   

 

 

 
      10,732,190   
   

 

 

 

Transportation—0.4%

  

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC
4.400%, 03/15/42

    1,295,000        1,358,577   

Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd.
5.750%, 01/15/42

    395,000        506,574   

Kansas City Southern de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
3.000%, 05/15/23

    470,000        456,949   

Union Pacific Corp.
3.646%, 02/15/24

    360,000        381,027   

4.850%, 06/15/44

    835,000        958,290   
   

 

 

 
      3,661,417   
   

 

 

 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $218,939,390)

      223,480,226   
   

 

 

 
Investment Company Securities—17.1%   

BB Biotech AG (b)

    769        181,950   

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (a)

    675,872        48,764,165   

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (a)

    341,348        70,624,901   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Investment Company Securities—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

iShares Gold Trust (b)

    2,510,179      $ 28,716,448   

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

    142,500        15,105,000   
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Company Securities
(Cost $144,894,179)

      163,392,464   
   

 

 

 
U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies—1.1%   

U.S. Treasury—1.1%

  

U.S. Treasury Bond
3.125%, 08/15/44 (a)

    1,025,000        1,103,476   

U.S. Treasury Notes
0.375%, 10/31/16

    3,000,000        2,987,577   

0.875%, 05/15/17

    2,485,000        2,486,359   

0.875%, 11/15/17 (a)

    3,000,000        2,985,702   

1.500%, 11/30/19 (a)

    145,000        144,083   

2.250%, 11/15/24 (a)

    560,000        563,763   
   

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies
(Cost $10,255,890)

      10,270,960   
   

 

 

 
Foreign Government—0.1%   

Multi-National—0.1%

  

FMS Wertmanagement AoeR
1.625%, 11/20/18
(Cost $1,213,457)

    1,215,000        1,217,189   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks—0.0%   

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—0.0%

  

AES Tiete S.A.

    2,000        13,658   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.0%

  

Vale S.A.

    12,300        89,253   
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $164,684)

      102,911   
   

 

 

 
Rights—0.0%   

Banks—0.0%

  

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.,
Expires 01/07/15 (a) (b)

    10,273        982   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.0%

  

Liberty Broadband Corp.,
Expires 01/09/15 (b)

    456        4,332   
   

 

 

 

Total Rights
(Cost $1,005)

      5,314   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—32.8%   
Security Description   Shares/
Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Mutual Fund—14.3%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (d)

    136,527,781      $ 136,527,781   
   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement—18.5%

  

Fixed Income Clearing Corp.
Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $177,544,594 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $183,665,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $181,100,302.

    177,544,594        177,544,594   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $314,072,375)

      314,072,375   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—111.5%
(Cost $1,022,389,522) (e)

      1,066,072,756   

Other assets and liabilities (net)—(11.5)%

      (109,628,962
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 956,443,794   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $137,308,695 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $136,527,781 and non-cash collateral with a value of $5,202,019. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Variable or floating rate security. The stated rate represents the rate at December 31, 2014. Maturity date shown for callable securities reflects the earliest possible call date.
(d) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,025,252,941. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $58,299,236 and $(17,479,421), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $40,819,815 for federal income tax purposes.
(144A)— Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of 144A securities was $26,589,932, which is 2.8% of net assets.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.
(ETF)— Exchange-Traded Fund
(NVDR)— Non-Voting Depository Receipts

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

Contracts to Buy

    

Counterparty

     Settlement
Date
     In Exchange
for
       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
AUD     9,512,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       03/26/15         USD           7,752,886         $ (32,180
CHF     9,467,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/26/15         USD           9,808,679           (272,086
EUR     7,252,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/26/15         USD           9,020,212           (238,546
INR     1,123,300,000      

Citibank N.A.

       03/26/15         USD           17,418,204           79,511   
JPY     953,221,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/26/15         USD           8,042,458           (78,535
SEK     24,770,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       03/26/15         USD           3,256,506           (78,113

Contracts to Deliver

 
CAD     8,627,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       03/26/15         USD           7,421,601           9,752   
GBP     1,396,000      

HSBC Bank plc

       03/26/15         USD           2,191,587           17,181   
GBP     1,451,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/26/15         USD           2,269,736           9,662   
JPY     141,900,000      

State Street Bank and Trust

       03/26/15         USD           1,198,854           13,315   
SGD     48,772,000      

Standard Chartered Bank

       03/26/15         USD           37,128,502           358,643   

Cross Currency Contracts to Buy

 
JPY     943,027,000      

Deutsche Bank AG

       03/26/15         EUR           6,397,217           132,171   
                      

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Depreciation

  

     $ (79,225
                      

 

 

 

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
    Notional
Amount
    Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Canada Government Bond 10 Year Bond Futures

     03/20/15         182        CAD         25,107,647      $ 88,649   

Euro Stoxx 50 Index Futures

     03/20/15         653        EUR         19,884,631        694,398   

FTSE 100 Index Futures

     03/20/15         86        GBP         5,311,931        463,558   

MSCI Taiwan Index Futures

     01/29/15         346        USD         11,734,095        137,165   

Nikkei 225 Index Futures

     03/12/15         286        JPY         5,147,279,280        (1,307,223

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         529        USD         52,667,499        1,618,481   

S&P TSX 60 Index Futures

     03/19/15         75        CAD         11,950,598        708,730   

U.S. Treasury Note 2 Year Futures

     03/31/15         63        USD         13,796,121        (24,715

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         275        USD         43,421,310        2,005,253   

United Kingdom Long Gilt Bond Futures

     03/27/15         136        GBP         16,062,752        301,321   

Futures Contracts—Short

                                

MSCI Emerging Market Mini Futures

     03/20/15         (471     USD         (21,360,911     (1,192,924

Russell 2000 Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         (328     USD         (37,314,009     (2,068,951

U.S. Treasury Note 10 Year Futures

     03/20/15         (229     USD         (28,997,411     (39,074

U.S. Treasury Note 5 Year Futures

     03/31/15         (527     USD         (62,824,335     148,389   

U.S. Treasury Ultra Long Bond Futures

     03/20/15         (102     USD         (16,259,603     (589,522
            

 

 

 

Net Unrealized Appreciation

  

  $ 943,535   
            

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Swap Agreements

Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swap Agreements

 

Pay/Receive Floating Rate

   Floating
Rate Index
     Fixed
Rate
    Maturity
Date
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.430     01/23/25         USD         277,000,000       $ 3,661,912   

Pay

     3-Month USD-LIBOR         2.372     01/23/25         USD         10,000,000         78,774   
                

 

 

 

Total

  

   $ 3,740,686   
                

 

 

 

 

(AUD)— Australian Dollar
(CAD)— Canadian Dollar
(CHF)— Swiss Franc
(EUR)— Euro
(GBP)— British Pound
(INR)— Indian Rupee
(JPY)— Japanese Yen
(SEK)— Swedish Krona
(SGD)— Singapore Dollar
(USD)— United States Dollar
(LIBOR)— London Interbank Offered Rate

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks            

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 5,619,994       $ 850,957       $ —         $ 6,470,951   

Air Freight & Logistics

     1,122,185         399,191         —           1,521,376   

Airlines

     248,736         847,266         —           1,096,002   

Auto Components

     1,093,273         2,978,486         —           4,071,759   

Automobiles

     77,500         2,303,387         —           2,380,887   

Banks

     16,245,433         14,192,118         —           30,437,551   

Beverages

     3,144,205         1,332,287         —           4,476,492   

Biotechnology

     4,477,870         612,598         —           5,090,468   

Building Products

     —           270,426         —           270,426   

Capital Markets

     4,033,539         1,982,712         —           6,016,251   

Chemicals

     3,712,505         2,715,688         —           6,428,193   

Commercial Services & Supplies

     2,109,293         1,167,949         —           3,277,242   

Communications Equipment

     7,760,529         562,510         —           8,323,039   

Construction & Engineering

     176,146         1,214,542         —           1,390,688   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy —(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Construction Materials

   $ —         $ 247,043       $ —         $ 247,043   

Consumer Finance

     2,162,638         —           —           2,162,638   

Containers & Packaging

     799,107         107,327         —           906,434   

Distributors

     149,198         96,330         —           245,528   

Diversified Consumer Services

     11,061         67,422         —           78,483   

Diversified Financial Services

     683,487         2,382,836         —           3,066,323   

Diversified Telecommunication Services

     5,040,099         5,606,461         —           10,646,560   

Electric

     32,802         —           —           32,802   

Electric Utilities

     1,277,500         3,047,688         —           4,325,188   

Electrical Equipment

     1,901,290         1,463,139         —           3,364,429   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

     4,019,395         1,127,674         —           5,147,069   

Energy Equipment & Services

     2,454,487         851,231         —           3,305,718   

Food & Staples Retailing

     2,992,540         2,737,870         —           5,730,410   

Food Products

     3,042,921         4,987,397         —           8,030,318   

Gas Utilities

     —           216,757         —           216,757   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     5,458,137         1,059,073         —           6,517,210   

Health Care Providers & Services

     4,888,927         426,163         —           5,315,090   

Health Care Technology

     270,307         —           —           270,307   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     1,553,068         947,085         —           2,500,153   

Household Durables

     680,493         838,427         —           1,518,920   

Household Products

     5,313,234         1,072,446         —           6,385,680   

Industrial Conglomerates

     3,332,330         920,017         —           4,252,347   

Insurance

     9,368,613         6,802,209         —           16,170,822   

Internet & Catalog Retail

     1,433,608                 —           1,433,608   

Internet Software & Services

     6,316,703         289,648         —           6,606,351   

IT Services

     14,470,796         431,626         —           14,902,422   

Leisure Products

     523,583         98,815         —           622,398   

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     770,412         96,738         —           867,150   

Machinery

     5,265,270         3,572,731         —           8,838,001   

Marine

     —           689,023         —           689,023   

Media

     6,592,014         3,266,915         —           9,858,929   

Metals & Mining

     879,978         4,097,002         —           4,976,980   

Multi-Utilities

     —           955,383         —           955,383   

Multiline Retail

     316,861         379,338         —           696,199   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     14,363,111         8,183,830         —           22,546,941   

Paper & Forest Products

     420,800         132,779         —           553,579   

Personal Products

     41,036         170,607         —           211,643   

Pharmaceuticals

     11,030,391         12,102,421         —           23,132,812   

Professional Services

     681,879         947,731         —           1,629,610   

Real Estate Investment Trusts

     596,154         770,672         —           1,366,826   

Real Estate Management & Development

     —           2,778,279         —           2,778,279   

Road & Rail

     2,325,752         660,753         —           2,986,505   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     14,906,020         524,424         —           15,430,444   

Software

     17,072,983         1,323,578         —           18,396,561   

Specialty Retail

     5,226,793         570,174         —           5,796,967   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     20,256,510         2,568,556         —           22,825,066   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     1,367,898         1,604,895         —           2,972,793   

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

     731,270         —           —           731,270   

Tobacco

     2,801,781         2,019,413         —           4,821,194   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     369,754         1,450,528         —           1,820,282   

Transportation Infrastructure

     35,393         50,334         —           85,727   

Water Utilities

     213,077         145,445         —           358,522   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     689,019         2,263,279         —           2,952,298   

Total Common Stocks

     234,951,688         118,579,629         —           353,531,317   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes*

     —           223,480,226         —           223,480,226   

Total Investment Company Securities

     163,210,514         181,950         —           163,392,464   

Total U.S. Treasury & Government Agencies*

     —           10,270,960         —           10,270,960   

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy —(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Foreign Government*

   $ —        $ 1,217,189      $ —         $ 1,217,189   

Total Preferred Stocks*

     —          102,911        —           102,911   

Total Rights*

     5,314        —          —           5,314   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Fund

     136,527,781        —          —           136,527,781   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          177,544,594        —           177,544,594   

Total Short-Term Investments

     136,527,781        177,544,594        —           314,072,375   

Total Investments

   $ 534,695,297      $ 531,377,459      $ —         $ 1,066,072,756   
                                   

Collateral for Securities Loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (136,527,781   $ —         $ (136,527,781
Forward Contracts          

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 620,235      $ —         $ 620,235   

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     —          (699,460     —           (699,460

Total Forward Contracts

   $ —        $ (79,225   $ —         $ (79,225
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ 6,165,944      $ —        $ —         $ 6,165,944   

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

     (5,222,409     —          —           (5,222,409

Total Futures Contracts

   $ 943,535      $ —        $ —         $ 943,535   
Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts          

Centrally Cleared Swap Contracts (Unrealized Appreciation)

   $ —        $ 3,740,686      $ —         $ 3,740,686   

 

* See Consolidated Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

 

Consolidated§ Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 888,528,162   

Repurchase Agreement

     177,544,594   

Cash

     8,101,691   

Cash denominated in foreign currencies (c)

     2,568,051   

Cash collateral (d)

     23,907,276   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     620,235   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     306,492   

Fund shares sold

     66,001   

Dividends and interest

     3,209,045   

Variation margin on swap contracts

     239,577   

Prepaid expenses

     2,353   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,105,093,477   

Liabilities

  

Cash collateral for centrally cleared swap contracts

     66,928   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency exchange contracts

     699,460   

Collateral for securities loaned

     136,527,781   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     9,914,232   

Fund shares redeemed

     123,163   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     289,847   

Foreign taxes

     8,143   

Accrued Expenses:

  

Management fees

     522,364   

Distribution and service fees

     203,096   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     42,155   

Other expenses

     252,514   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     148,649,683   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 956,443,794   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 870,083,896   

Undistributed net investment income

     10,608,492   

Accumulated net realized gain

     27,558,071   

Unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions (e)

     48,193,335   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 956,443,794   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class B

   $ 956,443,794   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class B

     80,802,665   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class B

   $ 11.84   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding repurchase agreement, was $844,844,928.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $137,308,695.
(c) Identified cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies was $2,645,497.
(d) Includes collateral of $9,772,835 for futures contracts and $14,134,441 for centrally cleared swap contracts.
(e) Includes foreign capital gains tax of $8,143.

Consolidated§ Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 12,525,052   

Interest

     8,111,300   

Securities lending income

     82,723   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     20,719,075   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     5,834,523   

Administration fees

     69,685   

Custodian and accounting fees

     518,261   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,263,920   

Audit and tax services

     82,431   

Legal

     38,281   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,761   

Shareholder reporting

     74,128   

Insurance

     4,899   

Miscellaneous

     44,989   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     8,974,878   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     11,744,197   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     23,779,943   

Futures contracts

     14,841,791   

Swap contracts

     4,460,493   

Foreign currency transactions

     (8,015,337
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     35,066,890   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments (b)

     6,839,398   

Futures contracts

     (6,265,281

Swap contracts

     19,871,207   

Foreign currency transactions

     (735,999
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     19,709,325   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     54,776,215   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 66,520,412   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $423,603.
(b) Includes change in foreign capital gains tax of $(5,870).

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-25


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 11,744,197      $ 6,766,851   

Net realized gain

     35,066,890        28,918,724   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     19,709,325        24,870,211   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     66,520,412        60,555,786   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class B

     (11,797,788     (47,807

Net realized capital gains

    

Class B

     (32,257,243     (2,055,699
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (44,055,031     (2,103,506
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     110,319,726        429,934,201   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     132,785,107        488,386,481   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     823,658,687        335,272,206   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 956,443,794      $ 823,658,687   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 10,608,492      $ 10,752,139   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class B

        

Sales

     10,163,463      $ 118,160,917        42,593,407      $ 465,768,499   

Reinvestments

     3,944,049        44,055,031        192,806        2,103,506   

Redemptions

     (4,463,590     (51,896,222     (3,400,442     (37,937,804
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     9,643,922      $ 110,319,726        39,385,771      $ 429,934,201   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 110,319,726        $ 429,934,201   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-26


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Consolidated§ Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data         
       Class B  
       Year Ended December 31,  
       2014        2013      2012(a)  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

     $ 11.57         $ 10.55       $ 10.00   
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

            

Net investment income (b)

       0.15           0.12         0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

       0.71           0.94         0.67   
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

       0.86           1.06         0.81   
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

            

Distributions from net investment income

       (0.16        (0.00 ) (c)       (0.08

Distributions from net realized capital gains

       (0.43        (0.04      (0.18
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

       (0.59        (0.04      (0.26
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

     $ 11.84         $ 11.57       $ 10.55   
    

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (d)

       7.74           10.11  (f)       8.06  (e) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

            

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

       0.99           1.02         1.24  (g) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

       0.99           1.02  (h)       1.10  (g)(h) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

       1.30           1.10         1.96  (g) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

       85           94         132  (e) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

     $ 956.4         $ 823.7       $ 335.3   

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 23, 2012.
(b) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(c) Distributions from net investment income were less than $0.01.
(d) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(e) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(f) In 2013, 0.09% of the Portfolio’s total return for Class B consists of a voluntary reimbursement by the subadvisor for a realized loss. Excluding this item, total return would have been 10.02% for Class B.
(g) Computed on an annualized basis.
(h) Includes the effects of expenses reimbursed by the Adviser (see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

§See Note 2 of the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

MIST-27


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered one class of shares: Class B shares. Class B shares are currently offered by the Portfolio.

2. Consolidation of Subsidiary - Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio, Ltd.

The Portfolio may invest up to 10% of its total assets in the Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio, Ltd., which is a wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary of the Portfolio that is organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company (the “Subsidiary”). The Portfolio invests in the Subsidiary in order to gain exposure to the commodities market within the limitations of the federal tax laws, rules and regulations that apply to regulated investment companies. The Portfolio has obtained an opinion from legal counsel to the effect that the annual net profit, if any, realized by the Subsidiary and imputed for income tax purposes to the Portfolio should constitute “qualifying income” for purposes of the Portfolio remaining qualified as a regulated investment company for U.S federal income tax purposes. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service or a court could disagree with the legal opinion obtained by the Portfolio.

The Subsidiary invests primarily in commodity derivatives, exchange-traded notes and total return swaps. Unlike the Portfolio, the Subsidiary may invest without limitation in commodity-linked derivatives; however, the Subsidiary complies with the same 1940 Act asset coverage requirements with respect to its investments in commodity-linked derivatives that are applicable to the Portfolio’s transactions in derivatives. In addition, to the extent applicable to the investment activities of the Subsidiary, the Subsidiary is subject to the same fundamental investment restrictions and follows the same compliance policies and procedures as the Portfolio.

By investing in the Subsidiary, the Portfolio is indirectly exposed to the risks associated with the Subsidiary’s investments. The commodity-related instruments held by the Subsidiary are subject to commodities risk. There can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Subsidiary will be achieved. The Subsidiary is not registered under the 1940 Act and is not subject to all the investor protections of the 1940 Act. The Portfolio, however, wholly owns and controls the Subsidiary, and the Portfolio and Subsidiary are both managed by Schroder Investment Management North America, Inc. (the “Subadviser”), making it unlikely that the Subsidiary will take action contrary to the interests of the Portfolio and its shareholders. Changes in the laws of the United States and/or Cayman Islands could result in the inability of the Portfolio and/or the Subsidiary to operate as described in the Portfolio’s prospectus and could adversely affect the Portfolio. For example, the Cayman Islands does not currently impose any income, corporate or capital gains tax, estate duty, inheritance tax, gift tax or withholding tax on the Subsidiary. If Cayman Islands law changes such that the Subsidiary must pay Cayman Islands taxes, Portfolio shareholders would likely suffer decreased investment returns.

The consolidated Schedule of Investments, Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statement of Operations, Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Financial Highlights of the Portfolio include the accounts of the Subsidiary. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation for the Portfolio. The Subsidiary has a fiscal year end of December 31st for financial statement consolidation purposes and a nonconforming tax year end of November 30th.

A summary of the Portfolio’s investment in the Subsidiary is as follows:

 

     Inception Date
of Subsidiary
     Subsidiary
Net Assets at
December 31, 2014
     % of
Total Assets at
December 31, 2014
 

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio, Ltd.

     4/23/2012       $ 28,722,311         2.6

3. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these consolidated financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946- Financial Services- Investment Companies.

 

MIST-28


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Swap contracts (other than centrally cleared swaps) are marked-to-market daily based on quotations and prices supplied by market makers, broker-dealers and other pricing services. Such quotations and prices are derived utilizing significant observable data, including the underlying reference securities or indices, credit spread quotations and expected default recovery rates determined by the pricing service. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Centrally cleared swaps listed or traded on a multilateral or trade facility platform, such as a registered exchange, are valued at the daily settlement price determined by the respective exchange or an independent pricing service when the exchange price is not

 

MIST-29


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

available. For centrally cleared credit default swaps, the clearing facility requires its members to provide actionable price levels across complete term structures. These levels along with external third party prices are used to produce daily settlement prices. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Centrally cleared interest rate swaps are valued using a pricing model that references the underlying rates, including the overnight index swap rate and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) forward rate to produce the daily settlement price. These securities are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, futures transactions, premium amortization adjustments, swap transactions, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) and return of capital adjustments. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

 

MIST-30


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for three fiscal years after the returns are filed. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $177,544,594, which is reflected as repurchase agreement on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

When-Issued and Delayed-Delivery Securities - The Portfolio may purchase securities on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase commitment is made. The Portfolio may purchase securities under such conditions only with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, the Portfolio may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, the purchaser is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement.

Upon making a commitment to purchase a security on a when-issued or delayed-delivery basis, the Portfolio will hold liquid assets in a segregated account with the Portfolio’s custodian, or set aside liquid assets in the Portfolio’s records, worth at least the equivalent of the amount due. The liquid assets will be monitored on a daily basis and adjusted as necessary to maintain the necessary value.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-31


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

4. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - The Portfolio may enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts to obtain investment exposure, enhance return or hedge or protect its portfolio holdings against the risk of future movements in certain foreign currency exchange rates. When entering into these contracts, the Portfolio agrees to receive or deliver a fixed quantity of foreign currency for an agreed-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. These contracts are valued daily and the Portfolio’s net equity therein, representing unrealized gain or loss on the contracts as measured by the difference between the forward foreign exchange rates at the dates of entry into the contracts and the forward foreign exchange rates at the valuation date, is included in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed, the Portfolio recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Realized and unrealized gains and losses on forward foreign currency exchange contracts are included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. These contracts involve market and/or credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities of the Portfolio, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts may limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the currency holdings, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Portfolio could be exposed to losses if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of the contracts. The Portfolio’s maximum potential loss from such contracts is the aggregate face value in U.S. dollars at the time the contract was opened.

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

Commodity Futures Contracts and Swaps on Commodity Futures Contracts - The Subsidiary will invest primarily in commodity futures and swaps on commodity futures. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or sectors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Swap Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements in which the Portfolio and a counterparty agree to either make periodic net payments on a specified notional amount or net payment upon termination. Swap agreements are either privately negotiated in the OTC market (“OTC swaps”) or executed in a multilateral or other trade facility platform, such as a registered commodities exchange (“centrally-cleared swaps”). The Portfolio may enter into swap agreements for the purposes of managing exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. In connection with these agreements, securities or cash may be paid or received, as applicable, by the Portfolio as collateral or margin in accordance with the terms of the respective swap agreements to provide assets of value and recourse in the event of default or bankruptcy/insolvency. Securities posted by the Portfolio as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Centrally Cleared Swaps: Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivatives transactions, principally credit derivatives. In a cleared derivative transaction, a Portfolio typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty, and performance of the transaction is effectively guaranteed by a central clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the Portfolio’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The Portfolio typically will be required to post specified levels of margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse; the margin required by a clearinghouse may be greater than the margin the Portfolio would be required to post in an uncleared derivative transaction. Only a limited number of derivative transactions are currently eligible for clearing.

 

MIST-32


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Swap agreements are marked-to-market daily. The fair value of an OTC swap is reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The changes in value, if any, are reflected as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Daily changes in valuation of centrally cleared swaps, if any, are recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Upfront payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement compensate for differences between the stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (such as credit spreads, currency exchange rates, interest rates, and other relevant factors). Upon termination or maturity of the swap, upfront premiums are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. A liquidation payment received or made at the termination of the swap is recorded as realized gain or loss on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Portfolio are included as part of realized gains or losses on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Swap transactions involve, to varying degrees, elements of interest rate, credit, and market risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreements may default on its obligation to perform, or that there may be unfavorable changes in market conditions or interest rates. In addition, entering into swap agreements involves documentation risk resulting from the possibility that the parties to a swap agreement may disagree as to the meaning of contractual terms in the agreement. The Portfolio may enter into swap transactions with counterparties in accordance with guidelines established by the Board. These guidelines provide for a minimum credit rating for each counterparty and various credit enhancement techniques (for example, collateralization of amounts due from counterparties) to limit exposure to counterparties that have lower credit ratings. A Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk is the discounted value of the net cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive, or the fair value of the contract. The risk may be mitigated by having a master netting arrangement between the Portfolio and the counterparty and by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to cover the Portfolio’s exposure to the counterparty. Counterparty risk related to centrally-cleared swaps is mitigated due to the protection against defaults provided by the exchange on which these contracts trade.

Currency Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into currency swap agreements to gain or mitigate exposure to currency risk. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them. Such swaps may involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon notional amount. Currency swaps usually involve the delivery of the entire principal value of one designated currency in exchange for the other designated currency. Therefore, the entire principal value of a currency swap is subject to the risk that the other party to the swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default by the counterparty, the Portfolio may have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction.

Interest Rate Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to interest rates or to protect against currency fluctuations, to adjust the interest rate sensitivity (duration), to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment, or otherwise as a substitute for a direct investment in debt securities. The Portfolio is subject to interest rate risk exposure in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. Because the Portfolio holds fixed rate bonds, the value of these bonds may decrease if interest rates rise. To help hedge against this risk and to maintain its ability to generate income at prevailing market rates, the Portfolio may enter into interest rate swap agreements. Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating rate, for another party’s stream of interest payments, either fixed or floating, on the same notional amount for a specified period of time. Other forms of interest rate swap agreements may include: (1) interest rate caps, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates exceed a specified rate, or “cap”; (2) interest rate floors, under which, in return for a premium, one party agrees to make payments to the other to the extent that interest rates fall below a specified rate, or “floor”; and (3) interest rate collars, under which a party sells a cap and purchases a floor or vice versa in an attempt to protect itself against interest rate movements exceeding given minimum or maximum levels. The Portfolio’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty credit risk, as opposed to investment and other types of risk, in respect of interest rate swaps is typically the discounted net value of the cash flows to be received from the counterparty over the contract’s remaining life, to the extent that amount is positive.

Equity Swaps: Equity swaps are two-party contracts that generally obligate one party to pay the positive return and the other party to pay the negative return on a specified reference security, basket of securities, security index or index component during the period of the swap. Equity swap contracts are marked to market daily based on the value of the underlying security and the change, if any, is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss. Equity swaps normally do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. If the other party to an equity swap defaults, a Portfolio’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that such Portfolio is contractually entitled to receive, if any. Equity swaps are derivatives and their value can be very volatile.

Total Return Swaps: The Portfolio may enter into total return swap agreements to obtain exposure to a security or market without owning such security or investing directly in that market or to transfer the risk/return of one market (e.g., fixed income) to another market (e.g., equity) (equity risk and/or interest rate risk). Total return swaps are agreements in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in market value of the assets underlying the contract, which may include a

 

MIST-33


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during the specific period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or floating rate or the total return from other underlying assets. When a Portfolio pays interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may be required to pay the change in value to the counterparty in addition to the interest payment; conversely, when a Portfolio receives interest in exchange for the total return of an underlying asset and the value of the underlying asset decreases, the Portfolio may receive the change in value in addition to the interest payment. To the extent the total return of the instrument or index underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the Portfolio will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. Total return swaps can also be structured without an interest payment, so that one party pays the other party if the value of the underlying asset increases and receives payment from the other party if the value of the underlying asset decreases.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Asset Derivatives

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value     

Consolidated Statement of Assets
& Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  
Interest Rate   

Unrealized appreciation on centrally

cleared swap contracts (a)*

   $ 3,740,686         
  

Unrealized appreciation on futures

contracts** (a)

     2,543,612      

Unrealized depreciation on futures

contracts** (a)

   $ 653,310   
Equity   

Unrealized appreciation on futures

contracts** (a)

     3,622,332      

Unrealized depreciation on futures

contracts** (a)

     4,569,099   
Foreign Exchange   

Unrealized appreciation on forward

foreign currency exchange contracts

     620,235      

Unrealized depreciation on forward

foreign currency exchange contracts

     699,460   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 
Total       $ 10,526,865          $ 5,921,869   
     

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

  * Represents the unrealized appreciation/depreciation of centrally cleared swaps as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  ** Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  (a) Financial instrument not subject to a master netting agreement.

The Portfolio is required to disclose the impact of offsetting assets and liabilities represented in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on its financial position for recognized assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative assets by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a master netting agreement (“MNA”) (see Note 5), or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral received by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Assets
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Received†
     Net
Amount*
 

Citibank N.A.

   $ 79,511       $      $       $ 79,511   

Deutsche Bank AG

     132,171                        132,171   

HSBC Bank plc

     26,933         (26,933               

Standard Chartered Bank

     358,643                        358,643   

State Street Bank and Trust

     22,977         (22,977               
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 620,235       $ (49,910   $       $ 570,325   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents the Portfolio’s derivative liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under a MNA, or similar agreement, and net of the related collateral pledged by the Portfolio as of December 31, 2014.

 

Counterparty

   Derivative Liabilities
subject to a MNA
by Counterparty
     Financial
Instruments
available for offset
    Collateral
Pledged†
     Net
Amount**
 

HSBC Bank plc

   $ 110,293       $ (26,933   $       $ 83,360   

State Street Bank and Trust

     589,167         (22,977             566,190   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 699,460       $ (49,910   $       $ 649,550   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  * Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
  ** Net amount represents the net amount payable due to the counterparty in the event of default.
  In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

 

MIST-34


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Interest Rate     Equity     Foreign
Exchange
    Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $      $ (7,582,150   $ (7,582,150

Futures contracts

     (1,243,429     16,085,220               14,841,791   

Swap contracts

     6,827,474        (2,366,981            4,460,493   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 5,584,045      $ 13,718,239      $ (7,582,150   $ 11,720,134   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized
Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Interest Rate     Equity     Foreign
Exchange
    Total  

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $      $      $ (640,307   $ (640,307

Futures contracts

     2,065,222        (8,330,503            (6,265,281

Swap contracts

     20,646,673        (775,466            19,871,207   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 22,711,895      $ (9,105,969   $ (640,307   $ 12,965,619   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Forward foreign currency transactions

   $ 212,137,924   

Futures contracts long

     55,779,651   

Futures contracts short

     (41,024,013

Swap contracts

     290,102,131   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels during 2014.

5. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Commodities Risk: Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the Portfolio to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Collateral requirements may differ by type of derivative or investment, as applicable. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange-traded derivatives (e.g., futures contracts and exchange-traded options) while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives (e.g., forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements and OTC options).

For derivatives traded under an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar master agreement, the collateral requirements are netted across all transactions traded under such agreement and one

 

MIST-35


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

amount is posted from one party to the other to collateralize such obligations. The ISDA Master Agreement gives each party to the agreement the right to terminate all transactions traded under such agreement if there is a certain deterioration in the credit quality of the other party. The ISDA Master Agreement gives the Portfolio the right, upon an event of default by the applicable counterparty or a termination of the agreement, to close out all transactions traded under such agreement and to net amounts owed under each transaction to one net amount payable by one party to the other. This right to close out and net payments across all transactions traded under the ISDA Master Agreement could result in a reduction of the Portfolio’s credit risk to such counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Portfolio under the applicable transactions, if any. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the ISDA Master Agreement does not result in an offset of reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Portfolio and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Portfolio under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Foreign Investment Risk: The investments by the Portfolio in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies and may pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Portfolio. Foreign investments may also subject the Portfolio to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which could affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. In addition to the risks described above, risks may arise from forward foreign currency contracts with respect to the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

6. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$121,314,817    $ 592,500,142       $ 115,004,953       $ 463,151,358   

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. that amounted to $94,794 in sales of investments, which are included above.

 

MIST-36


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$5,834,523      0.680   First $100 million
     0.660 %   $100 million to $250 million
     0.640 %   $250 million to $750 million
     0.620   $750 million to $1.5 billion
     0.600   Over $1.5 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Expense Limitation Agreement - The Adviser had entered into an expense limitation agreement with the Trust (“Expense Limitation Agreement”) in the interest of limiting expenses of the Portfolio. The Expense Limitation Agreement shall continue in effect with respect to the Portfolio until April 27, 2014. Pursuant to that Expense Limitation Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to waive or limit its fees and to assume other expenses so that the total annual operating expenses of the Portfolio other than interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures which are capitalized or expensed in accordance with GAAP, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Portfolio’s business and acquired fund fees and expenses but including amounts payable pursuant to a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, are limited to the following expense ratio as a percentage of the Portfolio’s average daily net assets:

 

Maximum Expense Ratio under current
Expense Limitation Agreement

Class B

1.10%

If, in any year in which the Management Agreement is still in effect, the estimated aggregate operating expenses of the Portfolio for the fiscal year are less than the Maximum Expense Ratio for that year, subject to approval by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser shall be entitled to reimbursement by the Portfolio to the extent that the charge does not cause the expenses in such subsequent year to exceed the Maximum Expense Ratio as stated above. The Portfolio is not obligated to repay any expense paid by the Adviser more than five years after the end of the fiscal year in which such expense was incurred.

Effective April 28, 2014, there was no longer an expense cap for the Portfolio. For the year ended December 31, 2014, there were no amounts waived or expenses repaid to the Adviser in accordance with the Expense Limitation Agreement.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreement and Plan - The Trust has a distribution agreement with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class B Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B distribution plan provides that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B Shares. However, under the Class B distribution agreement, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B distribution plan are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B Shares. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B distribution plan and distribution agreement, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees

 

MIST-37


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$32,481,252    $ 1,338,595       $ 11,573,779       $ 764,911       $ 44,055,031       $ 2,103,506   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$25,696,353    $ 16,253,430       $ 44,452,270       $       $ 86,402,053   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no accumulated capital losses.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-38


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroder’s Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of Schroder’s Global Multi-Asset Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities, including the consolidated schedule of investments, of Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio and subsidiary, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statement of operations for the year then ended, the consolidated statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for the each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from April 23, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012. These consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from the brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio and subsidiary of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the consolidated financial highlights for each of the two years in the period then ended and for the period from April 23, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-39


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)

 

MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUSTS

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee        
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-40


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”)—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

 

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5
Years(1)

 

Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex(2)
Overseen
by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held
by Trustee During
Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)
Held with
Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of
Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From
May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From
May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-41


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-42


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

 

MIST-43


Met Investors Series Trust

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

Schroders Global Multi-Asset Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and Schroder Investment Management North America, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio underperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Blended Index for the one-year and since-inception (beginning April 23, 2012) periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Dow Jones Moderate Index, for the one-year and since-inception periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its blended benchmark for the same periods. The Board noted that the Portfolio commenced operations on April 23, 2012 and, thus, has limited performance history.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees were equal to the Expense Group median and above the Expense Universe median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were equal to the Expense Group median and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median and above the Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-44


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Managed By SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio returned 6.14%, 5.81%, and 6.00%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index1, returned 4.16%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The opening quarter of 2014 offered investors plenty of worthwhile return opportunities, but progress was not without pitfalls, and the best results arrived in unlikely corners of the marketplace. Against expectations of continued steady improvement in global economic growth, the first quarter delivered a harsh U.S. winter, downbeat economic signals in China, and Russian bellicosity in Ukraine. Even though activity prospects for the whole of 2014 remained relatively bright, weakness in consumer plays restrained equity returns and several defensive segments performed well. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) followed through with its plans to begin a steady reduction in asset purchases, but short-term bond yields saw narrow movement and longer-term yields underwent notable declines. Despite concerted accommodation rhetoric at both the European Central Bank (the “ECB”) and the Bank of Japan, the U.S. dollar struggled during the quarter, and agricultural commodities led resource prices higher. Even emerging market currencies ultimately gained traction, rallying in March as credit conditions eased further and outflows from developing countries began to ebb. While global equity markets followed up their tremendous 2013 finish with modest additional returns in the opening stanza of 2014, the biggest winners in the first quarter were late 2013 laggards, including long-duration bonds, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), precious metals, and a selection of smaller equity markets in Europe and Asia.

After an initial lift as the second quarter got underway, equities worldwide began once again to struggle with the possibility that growth in 2014 might not evolve as robustly as anticipated. The International Monetary Fund (the “IMF”) contributed further to the uncertainty when it released its updated economic outlook. Although European expansion prospects earned an upgrade from the previous outlook, worries about low Euro-zone inflation remained prominent. The IMF’s projections for global growth as a whole were slightly lower, with notable downgrades in forecasts for Japan. Government bonds in Japan remained well bid amid concerns that growth and inflation were not evolving robustly enough to compromise fixed-income returns, and the prevalence of declining yields outside the U.S. provided additional incentive to buyers of U.S. debt on relative valuation grounds. Furthermore, the still steep U.S. term structure reminded investors that duration risk would provide ample reward if the Fed remained uncertain about when to tighten policy; conversely, if the Fed were somehow to develop enough philosophical backbone to lift rates from minimal levels, longer bonds could potentially benefit from the associated increase in headwinds to a still fragile economy.

At the beginning of the third quarter, the ECB unexpectedly cut administered rates. The ECB also announced that an asset-backed securities purchase program and a covered bond purchase program would begin in October. Later in September, the Scottish secession vote showed signs of being closer than previously thought and the potential disruption within the U.K. brought increased volatility to equity and bond markets. Markets quickly digested a dovish Fed meeting in mid-September and breathed a sigh of relief as the Scots voted “No”. Weak Chinese GDP data spooked equity investors as did escalation of U.S. military action against ISIS. As economic data in the U.S. started to improve in the third quarter, yields started to rise. Yields in the U.K. had also started to rise as economic data has been relatively strong there as well. However, weak Chinese economic data stoked fears of a global slowdown and U.S. Treasuries rallied and yields moved back down below 2.5%. High yield spreads had been relatively well behaved throughout the 2nd quarter, trading around 340 basis points (“bps”) off comparable Treasuries. But in the 3rd quarter, high yield spreads moved out dramatically, ending the quarter approximately 420 bps off.

The 4th quarter began as the 3rd quarter ended with stocks sliding and bond markets rallying. The IMF cut its global growth forecasts and interest rates moved lower. Oil traded to new lows, only to move much lower later in the quarter, on a perceived lack of demand which only added to fears that growth was not materializing. Reports continued to flow out of Syria and Iraq about ISIS advances in the region. U.S. airstrikes seemed to have stemmed the advances, but ISIS continued to hold large swaths of the region. From September 30th to October 15th, the S&P 500 Index was down 5.5% and the MSCI EAFE Index was off 6.45%. In the middle of the month, U.S. banks began reporting better than expected earnings which helped turn the equity rout around. Fed Vice-Chair Fischer helped improve sentiment when he said, “If foreign growth is weaker than anticipated, the consequences for the U.S. economy could lead the Fed to remove accommodation more slowly than otherwise.” The S&P 500 Index began a dramatic rally and recouped its late September and early October losses. In November, the midterm elections gave Republicans control of the Congress and despite early promises to work together, partisan rancor quickly returned. Economic news continued to be strong in the U.S. while Europe and Japan confronted continued weakness. Early in November, ECB President Draghi stated that the ECB would boost its balance sheet back to 2012 levels and would be expanding its balance sheet to push the inflation rate back up towards the stated 2% target. Mr. Draghi continued to hint that the ECB staff was preparing further alternative measures should they be needed. In Japan, Prime Minister Abe dissolved Parliament and scheduled a new round of elections on December 14th. The Japanese economy slipped into its fourth recession in six years. While the central tenets of Abenomics seemed to have been working, the implementation of structural reforms has been harder to implement than many have thought. Equities rolled over in December as the weakness in oil prices continued to put global growth into question. In eerie similarity to October, the S&P 500 Index traded down for the first fortnight of the month, and then rallied into quarter end. Oil was the talk of the commodity complex as prices fell throughout the quarter. Brent oil was down 40% in the

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Managed By SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

4th quarter and the weakness was blamed on weak global demand, lack of production cuts by OPEC, and expanded production by Russia as Putin tries to blunt the impact of Western sanctions.

For the year, the S&P 500 Index was up 13.69% and the Russell 2000 Index was up a relatively meager 4.89%. International markets struggled, especially when the returns are expressed in U.S. dollar terms. For the year, the MSCI EAFE Index was down 4.90% while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index was down 2.19%. REITs had a stellar year up 32% while other real assets like commodities were down 17.01% as measured by the Bloomberg Commodity Index. Fixed income also generally had positive returns as interest rates around the world moved lower over the course of the year. The Barclays Aggregate Bond Index was up 5.97%. Intermediate Govt/Credit was up 3.13%, high yield was up 2.45%, and TIPS were up 3.64%.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Capital markets turned in a wide range of outcomes during 2014. A combination of stable growth and disinflationary trends allowed for strong gains across both U.S. equities as well as U.S. bonds. REITs were a notable outperformer, as they benefited from both lower interest rates and equity market appreciation. The story outside the United States was less robust. Economic growth concerns and uncertainty related to policy action made for tougher sledding in non-U.S. developed and emerging markets. A surging dollar may ultimately prove a benefit for those economies, but for investors allocated to unhedged securities, it created a stiff headwind. The Portfolio delivered solid absolute returns of 6.14% for the year. The positioning from an asset allocation perspective served to add value for the Portfolio but the underlying ETFs held in the Portfolio trailed their respective benchmarks resulting in Portfolio level relative performance which lagged its custom composite benchmark by 26 bps.

From an asset allocation perspective, the largest detractor to Portfolio performance was a persistent overweight allocation to non-U.S. equities. And while non-U.S. equities mostly fared well from a local currency perspective, swift depreciation of the yen, euro, and many emerging market currencies caused U.S. dollar returns to fall into negative territory. Periodic allocations to cash, which did help to diversify duration risk in the Portfolio, did ultimately provide a small drag on returns as well. Additionally, tracking error incurred by the exchange traded funds held in the Portfolio weighed on results. These effects were most pronounced for the international ETFs held in the Portfolio.

The largest contributor to Portfolio performance from an asset allocation perspective was our overweight holding of U.S. equities and our sector positioning therein. U.S. equities were able to deliver strong double-digit returns and our allocations across sectors improved upon that result. While the sector allocations were fluid throughout the year, we did hold relatively persistent allocations in favor of the Health Care and Technology sectors which were standout performers on the year. The Portfolio also held a persistent overweight allocation to REITs which had an outstanding year and gained more than 30%. Lastly, favorable contributions were made by our allocations across fixed income—specifically tilting the Portfolio toward longer duration corporate bonds. The strong bond market rally that prevailed throughout the year, particularly at the long end of the curve, helped to support these assets.

From the perspective of the markets, we believe the economic fundamentals and macro backdrop still look positive, especially closer to home, but we don’t want to ignore the risk aversion signals that have been elevated. The persistent and steady increase in credit spreads is something that has us concerned, in addition to volatility levels across equities and currencies. But importantly, at least part of the increase in volatility has been driven by a pronounced reduction in the price of oil—a development that is hugely positive for the majority of the global economy and markets. In our Portfolios this has meant that we retain a bias in favor of equity, but at magnitudes that are lessened compared with earlier in the year. Across bond markets, we are witnessing extremely low yields but we think the environment is still supportive for bonds. Despite the first-order unattractiveness of lending to the U.S. government for 30 years at a rate of interest of roughly 2.5%—when other major sovereigns such as Germany and Japan can borrow at rates half that high it puts our bond market in a more attractive light. To that end we are comfortable with our overall Portfolio positioning that provides us with diversified sources of credit risk across both equity and bond markets as well as interest rate risk in fixed income.

Dan Farley

Mike Martel

Tim Furbush

Portfolio Managers

SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI ACWI (ALL COUNTRY WORLD INDEX)

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio                 

Class A

       6.14           9.16           5.90   

Class B

       5.81           8.87           6.00   

Class E

       6.00           9.00           5.75   
MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index)        4.16           9.17           5.80   

1 The MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of 24 developed and 21 emerging market indices. The index returns shown above were calculated with net dividends: they reflect the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of the maximum possible withholding taxes.

2 Inception dates of the Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 5/1/2006, 10/3/2005 and 5/1/2006, respectively. Index since inception return is based on the Class B inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust      29.5   
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF      13.0   
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF      11.9   
SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF      10.0   
Vanguard REIT ETF      6.1   
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF      3.5   
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF      2.5   
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF      2.1   
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund      2.1   
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund      2.0   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,

2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014

to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.32    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,004.00         $ 1.62   
   Hypothetical*      0.32    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,023.59         $ 1.63   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.57    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,002.40         $ 2.88   
   Hypothetical*      0.57    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.33         $ 2.91   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.47    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,003.20         $ 2.37   
   Hypothetical*      0.47    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.84         $ 2.40   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio does not include the expenses of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Investment Company Securities—95.7% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (a) (b)

    2,458,962      $ 60,810,130   

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (a) (b)

    838,511        57,337,382   

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (a)

    485,989        61,195,735   

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

    1,536,821        72,276,692   

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (a)

    266,762        30,426,874   

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (a)

    274,376        30,214,285   

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (a)

    876,577        104,672,060   

iShares MSCI Canada ETF (a)

    1,201,211        34,666,949   

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (a)

    5,776,081        351,416,768   

iShares TIPS Bond ETF (a)

    519,818        58,224,814   

SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (a) (b)

    7,658,442        295,692,446   

SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF (a) (b)

    1,419,960        59,027,737   

SPDR Gold Shares (a) (b) (c)

    268,484        30,494,413   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (b)

    4,236,323        870,564,376   

SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF (b)

    1,892,196        51,789,405   

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (a) (b)

    113,342        29,918,888   

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (a) (b)

    1,460,237        60,380,800   

Vanguard REIT ETF (a)

    2,203,477        178,481,637   

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

    4,667,596        384,469,882   
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Company Securities
(Cost $2,548,288,665)

      2,822,061,273   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—26.8%   

Mutual Funds—26.8%

   

AIM STIT-STIC Prime Portfolio

    115,192,377        115,192,377   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (b) (d)

    674,829,885        674,829,885   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $790,022,262)

      790,022,262   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—122.5%
(Cost $3,338,310,927) (e)

      3,612,083,535   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(22.5)%

      (662,921,853
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 2,949,161,682   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $658,162,657 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $674,829,885 and non-cash collateral with a value of $3,056,876. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(c) Non-income producing security.
(d) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $3,347,664,179. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $300,797,690 and $(36,378,334), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $264,419,356 for federal income tax purposes.
(ETF)— Exchange-Traded Fund

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Investment Company Securities

   $ 2,822,061,273       $ —        $ —         $ 2,822,061,273   

Total Short-Term Investments*

     790,022,262         —          —           790,022,262   

Total Investments

   $ 3,612,083,535       $ —        $ —         $ 3,612,083,535   
                                    

Collateral for Securities Loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (674,829,885   $ —         $ (674,829,885

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,421,238,073   

Affiliated investments at value (c) (d)

     2,190,845,462   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     668,151   

Fund shares sold

     301,767   

Dividends and interest

     13,574,459   

Prepaid expenses

     7,828   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     3,626,635,740   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     674,829,885   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     1,091,077   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     768,038   

Distribution and service fees

     622,137   

Administration fees

     5,470   

Custodian and accounting fees

     8,041   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     81,986   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     677,474,058   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,949,161,682   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 2,458,807,136   

Undistributed net investment income

     67,015,897   

Accumulated net realized gain

     149,566,041   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and affiliated investments

     273,772,608   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,949,161,682   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 28,371,280   

Class B

     2,908,763,370   

Class E

     12,027,032   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     2,248,249   

Class B

     232,052,840   

Class E

     957,069   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 12.62   

Class B

     12.53   

Class E

     12.57   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $1,389,387,407.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $368,957,923.
(c) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $1,948,923,520.
(d) Includes securities loaned at value of $289,204,734.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Underlying ETFs

   $ 40,021,362   

Dividends from affiliated investments

     39,057,210   

Interest

     13,913   

Securities lending income from affiliated investments

     3,065,317   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     82,157,802   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     9,167,906   

Administration fees

     22,308   

Custodian and accounting fees

     32,269   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     7,413,369   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     17,943   

Audit and tax services

     37,649   

Legal

     34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     76,898   

Insurance

     19,171   

Miscellaneous

     23,876   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     16,889,468   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     65,268,334   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     51,268,349   

Affiliated investments

     105,792,592   

Capital gain distributions from Underlying ETFs

     1,064,015   

Capital gain distributions from affiliated investments

     5,922,961   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     164,047,917   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:   

Investments

     (53,488,504

Affiliated investments

     (4,245,804
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (57,734,308
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     106,313,609   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 171,581,943   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 65,268,334      $ 66,200,017   

Net realized gain

     164,047,917        182,244,722   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (57,734,308     115,219,195   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     171,581,943        363,663,934   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (682,050     (639,216

Class B

     (66,328,760     (73,924,273

Class E

     (281,232     (282,833

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (1,619,345     (547,900

Class B

     (175,216,589     (69,436,858

Class E

     (709,033     (255,856
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (244,837,009     (145,086,936
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (24,532,803     (82,704,800
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (97,787,869     135,872,198   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     3,046,949,551        2,911,077,353   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 2,949,161,682      $ 3,046,949,551   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 67,015,897      $ 67,164,755   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     399,964      $ 5,051,526        652,311      $ 8,066,029   

Reinvestments

     191,783        2,301,395        100,094        1,187,116   

Redemptions

     (507,018     (6,432,754     (337,785     (4,177,502
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     84,729      $ 920,167        414,620      $ 5,075,643   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     5,798,284      $ 72,534,933        9,799,864      $ 120,343,426   

Reinvestments

     20,229,929        241,545,349        12,138,961        143,361,131   

Redemptions

     (27,089,439     (339,671,937     (28,620,890     (351,923,542
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (1,061,226   $ (25,591,655     (6,682,065   $ (88,218,985
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     121,530      $ 1,524,458        178,801      $ 2,197,000   

Reinvestments

     82,798        990,265        45,536        538,689   

Redemptions

     (189,008     (2,376,038     (185,588     (2,297,147
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     15,320      $ 138,685        38,749      $ 438,542   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (24,532,803     $ (82,704,800
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.98       $ 12.08       $ 11.21       $ 11.48       $ 10.34   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.31         0.31         0.34         0.34         0.39   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.43         1.22         1.09         (0.17      0.90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.74         1.53         1.43         0.17         1.29   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.33      (0.34      (0.30      (0.22      (0.15

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.77      (0.29      (0.26      (0.22      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.10      (0.63      (0.56      (0.44      (0.15
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.62       $ 12.98       $ 12.08       $ 11.21       $ 11.48   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     6.14         13.22         13.11         1.28         12.61   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.31         0.31         0.32         0.32         0.33   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.31         0.31         0.32         0.32         0.33  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (f)

     2.45         2.52         2.96         3.01         3.64   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     55         47         39         36         33   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 28.4       $ 28.1       $ 21.1       $ 15.5       $ 11.3   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.90       $ 12.01       $ 11.15       $ 11.43       $ 10.32   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.27         0.27         0.30         0.31         0.37   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.42         1.22         1.10         (0.17      0.88   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.69         1.49         1.40         0.14         1.25   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.29      (0.31      (0.28      (0.20      (0.14

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.77      (0.29      (0.26      (0.22      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.06      (0.60      (0.54      (0.42      (0.14
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.53       $ 12.90       $ 12.01       $ 11.15       $ 11.43   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     5.81         12.93         12.85         1.06         12.24   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.56         0.56         0.57         0.57         0.58   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.56         0.56         0.57         0.57         0.58  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (f)

     2.17         2.21         2.64         2.79         3.49   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     55         47         39         36         33   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 2,908.8       $ 3,006.7       $ 2,879.1       $ 2,600.5       $ 1,926.7   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.93       $ 12.03       $ 11.17       $ 11.44       $ 10.32   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.28         0.29         0.32         0.32         0.35   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.44         1.23         1.09         (0.17      0.91   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.72         1.52         1.41         0.15         1.26   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.31      (0.33      (0.29      (0.20      (0.14

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.77      (0.29      (0.26      (0.22      (0.00 )(b) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.08      (0.62      (0.55      (0.42      (0.14
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.57       $ 12.93       $ 12.03       $ 11.17       $ 11.44   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (c)

     6.00         13.11         12.91         1.17         12.34   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.46         0.46         0.47         0.47         0.48   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (d)

     0.46         0.46         0.47         0.47         0.48  (e) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (f)

     2.26         2.34         2.76         2.85         3.35   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     55         47         39         36         33   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 12.0       $ 12.2       $ 10.9       $ 9.1       $ 7.8   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Distributions from net realized capital gains were less than $0.01.
(c) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(d) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests.
(e) Includes the effects of management fee waivers.
(f) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying ETFs in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

The Portfolio was designed on established principles of asset allocation. The Portfolio will primarily invest its assets in other investment companies known as exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”), including, but not limited to, series of the iShares® Trust, iShares®, Inc., Standard and Poors Depositary Receipts of the S&P 500 ETF Trust and Vanguard ETFs of the Vanguard® Index Funds.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Valuation - Investments in the Underlying ETFs are valued at the closing market quotation for their shares and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the market values of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying ETFs, please refer to the prospectuses for such Underlying ETFs.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - The Portfolio’s security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Capital gains distributions received from the Underlying ETFs are recorded as Net realized gain in the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to distributions received from underlying ETFs. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

 

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a securities lending arrangement with the custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “custodian”), as the lending agent. Under this arrangement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. A liability for cash collateral is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, and is categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund which invests in a variety of high quality U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral so that the total amount of posted collateral equals at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is disclosed in the footnotes to the Statement of Operations. Any outstanding loans by the Portfolio at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments.

Due to the affiliation between the Portfolio’s subadviser, SSgA Funds Management, Inc., and the custodian, the Portfolio relies on an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission to the custodian, State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust (“Navigator Trust”) and the SSgA Funds that permits certain registered investment companies, including the Portfolio, to use cash collateral from securities lending transactions to purchase shares of one or more series of Navigator Trust, including the Navigator Portfolio, and to pay fees based on a share of the revenue generated from securities lending transactions to the custodian.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs invest in securities and enter into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs have unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs manage counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs’ investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of their trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of their net exposure to each individual counterparty based on the adviser’s assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs restrict their exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs undertake a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs in which it invests.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 1,616,765,516       $ 0       $ 1,905,133,028   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$9,167,906      0.330   First $500 million
     0.300   Over $500 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. SSgA Funds Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

6. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Underlying ETF/Security

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
    Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
 

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund

     945,030                (945,030       

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

            5,059,606         (2,600,644     2,458,962   

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund

     1,124,650        1,024,021         (1,310,160     838,511   

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund

     1,221,400        2,313,082         (3,534,482       

Materials Select SPDR ETF

            1,221,302         (1,221,302       

SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

     7,368,934        2,740,134         (2,450,626     7,658,442   

SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF

     1,463,641        1,453,683         (1,497,364     1,419,960   

SPDR Gold Shares

     348,025        25,562         (105,103     268,484   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     3,831,193        1,272,567         (867,437     4,236,323   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

     866,547        396,169         (1,262,716       

SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF

     1,847,261        112,125         (67,190     1,892,196   

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust

     257,065                (143,723     113,342   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio

     665,810,357        5,086,026,443         (5,077,006,915     674,829,885   

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund

            1,717,021         (256,784     1,460,237   

Underlying ETF/Security

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Affiliated
Investments
    Capital Gain
Distributions
from Affiliated
Investments
     Dividend Income
from Affiliated
Investments
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund

   $ 3,134,776      $       $ 194,345      $   

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

     (708,441             565,899        60,810,130   

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund

     5,036,070                667,345        57,337,382   

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund

     8,816,077                541,625          

Materials Select SPDR ETF

     606,009                         

SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

     9,069,057                14,803,036        295,692,446   

SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF

     4,810,924                2,673,028        59,027,737   

SPDR Gold Shares

     (5,008,733                    30,494,413   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     61,660,345                16,726,928        870,564,376   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

     6,820,009                158,740          

SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF

     165,427        5,922,961         1,053,067        51,789,405   

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust

     10,441,878                543,922        29,918,888   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio

                    3,065,317        674,829,885   

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund

     949,194                1,129,275        60,380,800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 105,792,592      $ 5,922,961       $ 42,122,527      $ 2,190,845,462   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$72,797,312    $ 84,641,783       $ 172,039,697       $ 60,445,153       $ 244,837,009       $ 145,086,936   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$89,896,771    $ 136,105,844       $ 264,419,356       $       $ 490,421,971   

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

SSgA Growth and Income ETF Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and SSgA Funds Management Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

The Board considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to the Portfolio was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the underlying portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index), for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median, and the Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and were the lowest in the Expense Group. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio returned 5.69%, 5.38%, and 5.48%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the MSCI All Country World Index1, returned 4.16%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

The opening quarter of 2014 offered investors plenty of worthwhile return opportunities, but progress was not without pitfalls, and the best results arrived in unlikely corners of the marketplace. Against expectations of continued steady improvement in global economic growth, the first quarter delivered a harsh U.S. winter, downbeat economic signals in China, and Russian bellicosity in Ukraine. Even though activity prospects for the whole of 2014 remained relatively bright, weakness in consumer plays restrained equity returns and several defensive segments performed well. The U.S. Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) followed through with its plans to begin a steady reduction in asset purchases, but short-term bond yields saw narrow movement and longer-term yields underwent notable declines. Despite concerted accommodation rhetoric at both the European Central Bank (the “ECB”) and the Bank of Japan, the U.S. dollar struggled during the quarter, and agricultural commodities led resource prices higher. Even emerging market currencies ultimately gained traction, rallying in March as credit conditions eased further and outflows from developing countries began to ebb. While global equity markets followed up their tremendous 2013 finish with modest additional returns in the opening stanza of 2014, the biggest winners in the first quarter were late 2013 laggards, including long-duration bonds, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), precious metals, and a selection of smaller equity markets in Europe and Asia.

After an initial lift as the second quarter got underway, equities worldwide began once again to struggle with the possibility that growth in 2014 might not evolve as robustly as anticipated. The International Monetary Fund (the “IMF”) contributed further to the uncertainty when it released its updated economic outlook. Although European expansion prospects earned an upgrade from the previous outlook, worries about low Euro-zone inflation remained prominent. The IMF’s projections for global growth as a whole were slightly lower, with notable downgrades in forecasts for Japan. Government bonds in Japan remained well bid amid concerns that growth and inflation were not evolving robustly enough to compromise fixed-income returns, and the prevalence of declining yields outside the U.S. provided additional incentive to buyers of U.S. debt on relative valuation grounds. Furthermore, the still steep U.S. term structure reminded investors that duration risk would provide ample reward if the Fed remained uncertain about when to tighten policy; conversely, if the Fed were somehow to develop enough philosophical backbone to lift rates from minimal levels, longer bonds could potentially benefit from the associated increase in headwinds to a still fragile economy.

At the beginning of the third quarter, the ECB unexpectedly cut administered rates. The ECB also announced that an asset-backed securities purchase program and a covered bond purchase program would begin in October. Later in September, the Scottish secession vote showed signs of being closer than previously thought and the potential disruption within the U.K. brought increased volatility to equity and bond markets. Markets quickly digested a dovish Fed meeting in mid-September and breathed a sigh of relief as the Scots voted “No”. Weak Chinese GDP data spooked equity investors as did escalation of U.S. military action against ISIS. As economic data in the U.S. started to improve in the third quarter, yields started to rise. Yields in the U.K. had also started to rise as economic data has been relatively strong there as well. However, weak Chinese economic data stoked fears of a global slowdown and U.S. Treasuries rallied and yields moved back down below 2.5%. High yield spreads had been relatively well behaved throughout the 2nd quarter, trading around 340 basis points (“bps”) off comparable Treasuries. But in the 3rd quarter, high yield spreads moved out dramatically, ending the quarter approximately 420 bps off.

The 4th quarter began as the 3rd quarter ended with stocks sliding and bond markets rallying. The IMF cut its global growth forecasts and interest rates moved lower. Oil traded to new lows, only to move much lower later in the quarter, on a perceived lack of demand which only added to fears that growth was not materializing. Reports continued to flow out of Syria and Iraq about ISIS advances in the region. U.S. airstrikes seemed to have stemmed the advances, but ISIS continued to hold large swaths of the region. From September 30th to October 15th, the S&P 500 Index was down 5.5% and the MSCI EAFE Index was off 6.45%. In the middle of the month, U.S. banks began reporting better than expected earnings which helped turn the equity rout around. Fed Vice-Chair Fischer helped improve sentiment when he said, “If foreign growth is weaker than anticipated, the consequences for the U.S. economy could lead the Fed to remove accommodation more slowly than otherwise.” The S&P 500 Index began a dramatic rally and recouped its late September and early October losses. In November, the midterm elections gave Republicans control of the Congress and despite early promises to work together, partisan rancor quickly returned. Economic news continued to be strong in the U.S. while Europe and Japan confronted continued weakness. Early in November, ECB President Draghi stated that the ECB would boost its balance sheet back to 2012 levels and would be expanding its balance sheet to push the inflation rate back up towards the stated 2% target. Mr. Draghi continued to hint that the ECB staff was preparing further alternative measures should they be needed. In Japan, Prime Minister Abe dissolved Parliament and scheduled a new round of elections on December 14th. The Japanese economy slipped into its fourth recession in six years. While the central tenets of Abenomics seemed to have been working, the implementation of structural reforms has been harder to implement than many have thought. Equities rolled over in December as the weakness in oil prices continued to put global growth into question. In eerie similarity to October, the S&P 500 Index traded down for the first fortnight of the month, and then rallied into quarter end. Oil was the talk of the commodity complex as prices fell throughout the quarter. Brent oil was down 40% in the 4th quarter and the weakness was blamed on weak global demand,

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*—(Continued)

 

lack of production cuts by OPEC, and expanded production by Russia as Putin tries to blunt the impact of Western sanctions.

For the year, the S&P 500 Index was up 13.69% and the Russell 2000 Index was up a relatively meager 4.89%. International markets struggled, especially when the returns are expressed in U.S. dollar terms. For the year, the MSCI EAFE Index was down 4.90% while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index was down 2.19%. REITs had a stellar year up 32% while other real assets like commodities were down 17.01% as measured by the Bloomberg Commodity Index. Fixed income also generally had positive returns as interest rates around the world moved lower over the course of the year. The Barclays Aggregate Bond Index was up 5.97%. Intermediate Govt/Credit was up 3.13%, high yield was up 2.45%, and TIPS were up 3.64%.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

Capital markets turned in a wide range of outcomes during 2014. A combination of stable growth and disinflationary trends allowed for strong gains across both U.S. equities as well as U.S. bonds. REITs were a notable outperformer, as they benefited from both lower interest rates and equity market appreciation. The story outside the United States was less robust. Economic growth concerns and uncertainty related to policy action made for tougher sledding in non-U.S. developed and emerging markets. A surging dollar may ultimately prove a benefit for those economies, but for investors allocated to unhedged securities, it created a stiff headwind. The Portfolio delivered solid absolute returns of 5.69% for the year. The positioning from an asset allocation perspective served to add value for the Portfolio but the underlying ETFs held in the Portfolio trailed their respective benchmarks resulting in portfolio level relative performance which lagged its custom composite benchmark by 41 bps.

From an asset allocation perspective, the largest detractor to Portfolio performance was a persistent overweight allocation to non-U.S. equities. And while non-U.S. equities mostly fared well from a local currency perspective, swift depreciation of the yen, euro, and many emerging market currencies caused U.S. dollar returns to fall into negative territory. Periodic allocations to cash, which did help to diversify duration risk in the Portfolio, did ultimately provide a small drag on returns as well. Additionally, tracking error incurred by the exchange traded funds held in the Portfolio weighed on results. These effects were most pronounced for the international ETFs held in the Portfolio.

The largest contributor to Portfolio performance from an asset allocation perspective was our overweight holding of U.S. equities and our sector positioning therein. U.S. equities were able to deliver strong double-digit returns and our allocations across sectors improved upon that result. While the sector allocations were fluid throughout the year, we did hold relatively persistent allocations in favor of the Health Care and Technology sectors which were standout performers on the year. The Portfolio also held a persistent overweight allocation to REITs which had an outstanding year and gained more than 30%. Lastly, favorable contributions were made by our allocations across fixed income—specifically tilting the Portfolio toward longer duration corporate bonds. The strong bond market rally that prevailed throughout the year, particularly at the long end of the curve, helped to support these assets.

From the perspective of the markets, we believe the economic fundamentals and macro backdrop still look positive, especially closer to home, but we don’t want to ignore the risk aversion signals that have been elevated. The persistent and steady increase in credit spreads is something that has us concerned, in addition to volatility levels across equities and currencies. But importantly, at least part of the increase in volatility has been driven by a pronounced reduction in the price of oil—a development that is hugely positive for the majority of the global economy and markets. In our portfolios this has meant that we retain a bias in favor of equity, but at magnitudes that are lessened compared with earlier in the year. Across bond markets, we are witnessing extremely low yields but we think the environment is still supportive for bonds. Despite the first-order unattractiveness of lending to the U.S. government for 30 years at a rate of interest of roughly 2.5%—when other major sovereigns such as Germany and Japan can borrow at rates half that high it puts our bond market in a more attractive light. To that end we are comfortable with our overall Portfolio positioning that provides us with diversified sources of credit risk across both equity and bond markets as well as interest rate risk in fixed income.

Dan Farley

Mike Martel

Tim Furbush

Portfolio Managers

SSgA Funds Management, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE MSCI ACWI (ALL COUNTRY WORLD INDEX)

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        Since Inception2  
SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio                 

Class A

       5.69           10.11           5.57   

Class B

       5.38           9.84           5.89   

Class E

       5.48           9.95           5.41   
MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index)        4.16           9.17           5.80   

1 The MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of 24 developed and 21 emerging market indices. The index returns shown above were calculated with net dividends: they reflect the reinvestment of dividends after the deduction of the maximum possible withholding taxes.

2 Inception dates of the Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 5/1/2006, 10/3/2005 and 5/1/2006, respectively. Index since inception return is based on the Class B inception date.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust      34.6   
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF      18.0   
Vanguard REIT ETF      6.0   
SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF      5.0   
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF      4.4   
SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust      4.1   
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF      3.5   
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF      3.1   
SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF      2.6   
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF      2.1   

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.34    $ 1,000.00         $ 997.60         $ 1.71   
   Hypothetical*      0.34    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,023.49         $ 1.73   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.59    $ 1,000.00         $ 996.00         $ 2.97   
   Hypothetical*      0.59    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.23         $ 3.01   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.49    $ 1,000.00         $ 996.80         $ 2.47   
   Hypothetical*      0.49    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.74         $ 2.50   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio does not include the expenses of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Investment Company Securities—95.4% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (a) (b)

    814,408      $ 20,140,310   

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (a) (b)

    285,923        19,551,415   

iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (a)

    165,717        20,867,085   

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

    943,249        44,361,000   

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (a)

    272,673        31,101,082   

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (a)

    298,898        35,691,410   

iShares MSCI Canada ETF (a)

    677,066        19,540,125   

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (a)

    2,979,607        181,279,290   

SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (a) (b)

    1,305,710        50,413,463   

SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF (a) (b)

    484,180        20,127,363   

SPDR Gold Shares (a) (b) (c)

    91,483        10,390,639   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (b)

    1,695,816        348,490,188   

SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF (b)

    967,069        26,468,679   

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (a) (b)

    155,826        41,133,389   

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (a) (b)

    489,841        20,254,925   

Vanguard REIT ETF (a)

    751,351        60,859,431   

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

    123,731        10,191,722   
   

 

 

 

Total Investment Company Securities
(Cost $826,996,858)

      960,861,516   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—25.4%   

Mutual Funds—25.4%

   

AIM STIT-STIC Prime Portfolio

    41,229,971        41,229,971   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (b) (d)

    214,366,249        214,366,249   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $255,596,220)

      255,596,220   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—120.8%
(Cost $1,082,593,078) (e)

      1,216,457,736   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(20.8)%

      (209,127,206
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,007,330,530   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $211,469,002 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $214,366,249 and non-cash collateral with a value of $3,586,268. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(c) Non-income producing security.
(d) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,086,775,139. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $138,946,327 and $(9,263,730), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $129,682,597 for federal income tax purposes.
(ETF)— Exchange-Traded Fund

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Investment Company Securities

   $ 960,861,516       $ —        $ —         $ 960,861,516   

Total Short-Term Investments*

     255,596,220         —          —           255,596,220   

Total Investments

   $ 1,216,457,736       $ —        $ —         $ 1,216,457,736   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (214,366,249   $ —         $ (214,366,249

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 445,121,116   

Affiliated investments at value (c) (d)

     771,336,620   

Receivable for:

  

Fund shares sold

     147,152   

Dividends and interest

     5,938,099   

Prepaid expenses

     2,638   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,222,545,625   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     214,366,249   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     229,980   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     270,347   

Distribution and service fees

     208,358   

Administration fees

     5,470   

Custodian and accounting fees

     8,020   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     59,247   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     215,215,095   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,007,330,530   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 803,385,066   

Undistributed net investment income

     20,350,283   

Accumulated net realized gain

     49,730,523   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and affiliated investments

     133,864,658   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,007,330,530   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 26,592,009   

Class B

     972,132,546   

Class E

     8,605,975   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     2,118,890   

Class B

     77,939,599   

Class E

     688,413   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 12.55   

Class B

     12.47   

Class E

     12.50   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $424,464,799.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $108,456,116.
(c) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $658,128,279.
(d) Includes securities loaned at value of $103,012,886.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends from Underlying ETFs

   $ 12,881,125   

Dividends from affiliated investments

     11,867,532   

Interest

     5,742   

Securities lending income from affiliated investments

     876,587   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     25,630,986   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     3,188,331   

Administration fees

     22,308   

Custodian and accounting fees

     31,830   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,446,990   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     13,161   

Audit and tax services

     37,649   

Legal

     34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     50,843   

Insurance

     6,209   

Miscellaneous

     12,728   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     5,888,128   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     19,742,858   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain on:   

Investments

     19,123,954   

Affiliated investments

     36,541,027   

Capital gain distributions from Underlying ETFs

     28,273   

Capital gain distributions from affiliated investments

     3,027,124   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     58,720,378   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (30,787,458

Affiliated investments

     5,952,829   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (24,834,629
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     33,885,749   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 53,628,607   
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 19,742,858      $ 18,770,434   

Net realized gain

     58,720,378        63,784,892   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (24,834,629     71,984,257   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     53,628,607        154,539,583   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (529,593     (418,794

Class B

     (18,433,185     (18,752,505

Class E

     (172,768     (165,659

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (1,558,077     (654,365

Class B

     (60,844,497     (32,456,258

Class E

     (541,653     (274,068
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (82,079,773     (52,721,649
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from capital share transactions

     25,734,790        55,540,990   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (2,716,376     157,358,924   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,010,046,906        852,687,982   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,007,330,530      $ 1,010,046,906   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 20,350,283      $ 18,962,572   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     402,674      $ 5,075,081        667,188      $ 8,179,402   

Reinvestments

     175,435        2,087,670        94,137        1,073,159   

Redemptions

     (317,920     (3,945,587     (197,434     (2,376,807
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     260,189      $ 3,217,164        563,891      $ 6,875,754   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     6,477,443      $ 81,025,037        9,985,069      $ 120,587,082   

Reinvestments

     6,690,100        79,277,682        4,511,785        51,208,763   

Redemptions

     (11,056,086     (138,015,868     (10,298,119     (123,901,917
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     2,111,457      $ 22,286,851        4,198,735      $ 47,893,928   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     99,689      $ 1,249,449        162,821      $ 1,970,153   

Reinvestments

     60,187        714,421        38,674        439,727   

Redemptions

     (138,929     (1,733,095     (135,589     (1,638,572
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     20,947      $ 230,775        65,906      $ 771,308   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 25,734,790        $ 55,540,990   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data  
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.96       $ 11.66       $ 10.72       $ 11.11       $ 9.87   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.28         0.29         0.30         0.28         0.28   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.40         1.75         1.30         (0.47      1.13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.68         2.04         1.60         (0.19      1.41   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.28      (0.29      (0.25      (0.20      (0.17

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.81      (0.45      (0.41      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.09      (0.74      (0.66      (0.20      (0.17
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.55       $ 12.96       $ 11.66       $ 10.72       $ 11.11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     5.69         18.34         15.32         (1.87      14.37   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.34         0.33         0.35         0.35         0.36   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.34         0.33         0.35         0.35         0.36  (d) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     2.21         2.36         2.72         2.51         2.77   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     56         48         43         35         37   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 26.6       $ 24.1       $ 15.1       $ 10.1       $ 7.5   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.89       $ 11.60       $ 10.67       $ 11.07       $ 9.84   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.24         0.24         0.26         0.24         0.25   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.40         1.76         1.30         (0.46      1.13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.64         2.00         1.56         (0.22      1.38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.25      (0.26      (0.22      (0.18      (0.15

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.81      (0.45      (0.41      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.06      (0.71      (0.63      (0.18      (0.15
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.47       $ 12.89       $ 11.60       $ 10.67       $ 11.07   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     5.38         18.07         15.03         (2.13      14.15   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.59         0.58         0.60         0.60         0.61   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.59         0.58         0.60         0.60         0.61  (d) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     1.94         2.01         2.33         2.20         2.47   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     56         48         43         35         37   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 972.1       $ 977.3       $ 830.6       $ 749.5       $ 651.0   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

 

Selected per share data  
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.92       $ 11.62       $ 10.69       $ 11.08       $ 9.85   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.26         0.26         0.27         0.27         0.25   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     0.39         1.76         1.30         (0.48      1.13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     0.65         2.02         1.57         (0.21      1.38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.26      (0.27      (0.23      (0.18      (0.15

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (0.81      (0.45      (0.41      0.00         0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.07      (0.72      (0.64      (0.18      (0.15
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.50       $ 12.92       $ 11.62       $ 10.69       $ 11.08   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     5.48         18.25         15.12         (1.99      14.17   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.49         0.48         0.50         0.50         0.51   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.49         0.48         0.50         0.50         0.51  (d) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%) (e)

     2.04         2.13         2.45         2.34         2.44   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     56         48         43         35         37   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 8.6       $ 8.6       $ 7.0       $ 6.0       $ 5.1   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) The ratio of operating expenses to average net assets does not include expenses of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests.
(d) Includes the effects of management fee waivers.
(e) Recognition of net investment income by the Portfolio is affected by the timing of the declaration of dividends by the Underlying ETFs in which it invests.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

The Portfolio was designed on established principles of asset allocation. The Portfolio will primarily invest its assets in other investment companies known as exchange-traded funds (“Underlying ETFs”), including, but not limited to, series of the iShares® Trust, iShares®, Inc., Standard and Poors Depositary Receipts of the S&P 500 ETF Trust and Vanguard ETFs of the Vanguard® Index Funds.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Valuation - Investments in the Underlying ETFs are valued at the closing market quotation for their shares and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. The net asset value of the Portfolio is calculated based on the market values of the Underlying ETFs in which the Portfolio invests. For information about the use of fair value pricing by the Underlying ETFs, please refer to the prospectuses for such Underlying ETFs.

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - The Portfolio’s security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Capital gains distributions received from the Underlying ETFs are recorded as Net realized gain in the Statement of Operations.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to distributions received from underlying ETFs. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a securities lending arrangement with the custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “custodian”), as the lending agent. Under this arrangement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. A liability for cash collateral is reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, and is categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund which invests in a variety of high quality U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral so that the total amount of posted collateral equals at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is disclosed in the footnotes to the Statement of Operations. Any outstanding loans by the Portfolio at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments.

Due to the affiliation between the Portfolio’s subadviser, SSgA Funds Management, Inc., and the custodian, the Portfolio relies on an exemptive order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission to the custodian, State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust (“Navigator Trust”) and the SSgA Funds that permits certain registered investment companies, including the Portfolio, to use cash collateral from securities lending transactions to purchase shares of one or more series of Navigator Trust, including the Navigator Portfolio, and to pay fees based on a share of the revenue generated from securities lending transactions to the custodian.

3. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs invest in securities and enter into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs have unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs manage counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs’ investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of their trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of their net exposure to each individual counterparty based on the adviser’s assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs restrict their exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs undertake a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio and the Underlying ETFs in which it invests.

4. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 556,396,903       $ 0       $ 621,003,167   

5. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$3,188,331      0.330   First $500 million
     0.300   Over $500 million

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. SSgA Funds Management, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

6. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Underlying ETF/Security

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
    Shares
purchased
     Shares sold     Number of shares
held at
December 31, 2014
 

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund

     307,100                (307,100       

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

            1,720,157         (905,749     814,408   

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund

     365,500        346,081         (425,658     285,923   

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund

     396,970        769,733         (1,166,703       

Materials Select SPDR ETF

            413,713         (413,713       

SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

     1,229,479        875,208         (798,977     1,305,710   

SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF

     475,857        488,793         (480,470     484,180   

SPDR Gold Shares

     110,102        11,247         (29,866     91,483   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     1,533,270        432,920         (270,374     1,695,816   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

     275,179        153,801         (428,980       

SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF

     893,935        73,134                967,069   

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust

     211,614                (55,788     155,826   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio

     260,280,666        1,638,873,602         (1,684,788,019     214,366,249   

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund

            566,553         (76,712     489,841   

Underlying ETF/Security

   Net Realized
Gain/(Loss) on sales
of Affiliated
Investments
    Capital Gain
Distributions
from Affiliated
Investments
     Dividend Income
from Affiliated
Investments
    Ending Value
as of
December 31, 2014
 

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund

   $ 1,025,683      $       $ 63,729      $   

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

     (232,265             189,491        20,140,310   

Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund

     1,614,381                225,786        19,551,415   

Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund

     2,912,224                181,111          

Materials Select SPDR ETF

     205,283                         

SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF

     850,496                2,113,585        50,413,463   

SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate ETF

     1,393,263                907,390        20,127,363   

SPDR Gold Shares

     (1,452,826                    10,390,639   

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

     22,753,479                6,661,884        348,490,188   

SPDR S&P Dividend ETF

     2,199,783                53,892          

SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF

            3,027,124         535,499        26,468,679   

SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust

     4,975,781                553,831        41,133,389   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio

                    876,587        214,366,249   

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund

     295,745                381,334        20,254,925   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 36,541,027      $ 3,027,124       $ 12,744,119      $ 771,336,620   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$20,453,344    $ 22,749,615       $ 61,626,429       $ 29,972,034       $ 82,079,773       $ 52,721,649   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$27,744,532    $ 46,585,762       $ 129,682,595       $       $ 204,012,889   

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

SSgA Growth ETF Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and SSgA Funds Management Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

The Board considered and found that the advisory fee to be paid to the Adviser with respect to the Portfolio was based on services to be provided that were in addition to, rather than duplicative of, the services provided pursuant to the advisory agreements for the underlying portfolios in which the Portfolio invests.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board further considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index), for the one- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014 but underperformed its benchmark for the three-year period ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-l fees) were below the Expense Group median, the Expense Universe median and the Sub-Advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size and were the lowest in the Expense Group. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Managed By T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A and B shares of the T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio returned 13.57% and 13.28%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index1, returned 13.45%. Since its inception on April 23, 2014, the Class E shares of the T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio returned 9.84%. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index, returned 9.58% over the same period.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

U.S. equities rose in 2014 for the sixth consecutive year, as the economy recovered strongly from a first-quarter weather-related contraction. Falling long-term interest rates, solid employment growth, favorable corporate earnings, and expanded stimulus measures by major non-U.S. central banks boosted returns. Large-cap stocks reached new highs in December and significantly outpaced small- and mid-caps. As measured by various Russell indexes, value stocks outperformed growth among large- and mid-caps, while the opposite was true for small-cap shares. In the large-cap value space, Information Technology (“IT”) led returns, followed by Utilities, while Energy ended in negative territory.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

The Portfolio turned in positive results and outpaced its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index. Strong stock selection contributed to the relative outperformance, but sector allocation partly offset that positive effect.

Industrials and Business Services was an area of relative strength, due to stock choices. Southwest Airlines provided a boost here, due to higher passenger traffic and capacity and significantly lower fuel prices. We began trimming the Portfolio’s position on strength in late 2013 and have been incrementally scaling back the Portfolio’s position throughout the period.

The Portfolio’s stock holdings in Consumer Discretionary also outpaced their benchmark peers. A leading name was Lowe’s, which benefited from strong same-store sales propelled by a renewed focus on professionals rather than do-it-yourself markets. Cost controls, increased consumer demand, lower interest rates, and an improving housing market produced further tailwinds for the firm.

In IT, an unfavorable underweight to this top-performing benchmark sector hurt, as did the Portfolio’s stock positioning. Western Union was a key underperformer here, as lower-than-expected revenue from its overseas business-to-business network, news of a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into whether the firm misrepresented the performance of a digital unit, and the launch of a rival payment service by Wal-Mart all weighed on shares. We added to the Portfolio’s position on weakness because we believe the market is underestimating the value of Western Union’s network.

Stock selection in Consumer Staples detracted as well, particularly the Portfolio’s exposure to Avon Products. Weak U.S. and Latin American sales, foreign exchange losses owing to a stronger U.S. dollar, and macroeconomic concerns in Europe and Russia all weighed on shares of this direct retailer. We remain confident in the firm’s new management, however.

In our view, the U.S. economy appears capable of sustaining an annual growth rate of 2.75% to 3.00%, even with subpar performance abroad. The key drivers of U.S. growth include easing of fiscal headwinds, increased government spending, and a strengthening labor market. Our outlook for U.S. corporate earnings is favorable, and we anticipate growth in the high single-digit range. Overall, global equity valuations appear moderate, with the recent sell-off in major markets bringing valuations closer to historical norms. We are currently finding opportunities in select areas of the Energy, Financials, Health Care, IT, and other sectors.

John D. Linehan

Brian C. Rogers

Mark S. Finn

Portfolio Managers

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL 1000 VALUE INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception2  
T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio                      

Class A

       13.57           15.25           6.96             

Class B

       13.28           14.96           6.70             

Class E

                                     9.84   
Russell 1000 Value Index        13.45           15.42           7.30             

1 The Russell 1000 Value Index is an unmanaged measure of the largest capitalized U.S. domiciled companies with a less than average growth orientation. Companies in this Index generally have a low price-to-book and price-to-earnings ratio, higher dividend yields and lower forecasted growth values.

2 Inception dates of the Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 12/11/1989, 3/22/2001 and 4/23/2014, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

 

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.      3.8   
Bank of America Corp.      2.9   
Morgan Stanley      2.6   
General Electric Co.      2.5   
United Technologies Corp.      2.4   
Pfizer, Inc.      2.4   
Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      2.3   
Merck & Co., Inc.      2.2   
Carnival Corp.      2.1   
Celanese Corp. - Series A      2.1   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      24.3   
Industrials      17.6   
Consumer Discretionary      11.4   
Health Care      10.8   
Energy      9.1   
Utilities      7.5   
Information Technology      6.8   
Consumer Staples      5.3   
Materials      3.8   
Telecommunication Services      1.0   

 

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.56    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,048.10         $ 2.89   
   Hypothetical*      0.56    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.38         $ 2.85   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.81    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,047.20         $ 4.18   
   Hypothetical*      0.81    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.12         $ 4.13   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.71    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,047.70         $ 3.66   
   Hypothetical*      0.71    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.63         $ 3.62   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—97.6% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—6.1%

  

Boeing Co. (The)

    291,000      $ 37,824,180   

Honeywell International, Inc.

    431,900        43,155,448   

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    89,800        17,292,786   

Raytheon Co.

    357,700        38,692,409   

United Technologies Corp.

    792,600        91,149,000   
   

 

 

 
      228,113,823   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—2.0%

  

Southwest Airlines Co.

    1,809,500        76,578,040   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—1.1%

  

General Motors Co.

    1,135,900        39,654,269   
   

 

 

 

Banks—11.5%

  

Bank of America Corp.

    6,178,200        110,527,998   

Fifth Third Bancorp

    1,091,900        22,247,462   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    2,272,900        142,238,082   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    369,800        33,736,854   

U.S. Bancorp

    1,333,600        59,945,320   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    1,191,200        65,301,584   
   

 

 

 
      433,997,300   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—1.4%

  

PepsiCo, Inc.

    547,300        51,752,688   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—1.3%

  

Amgen, Inc.

    313,400        49,921,486   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—5.4%

  

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

    275,800        36,474,550   

Charles Schwab Corp. (The)

    1,215,400        36,692,926   

Invesco, Ltd.

    798,700        31,564,624   

Morgan Stanley

    2,562,500        99,425,000   
   

 

 

 
      204,157,100   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—2.1%

  

Celanese Corp. - Series A

    1,296,000        77,708,160   
   

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies—0.5%

  

Republic Services, Inc.

    456,900        18,390,225   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—1.9%

  

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    1,424,500        39,622,467   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

    413,000        30,698,290   
   

 

 

 
      70,320,757   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.7%

  

Vulcan Materials Co.

    415,600        27,317,388   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—1.4%

  

American Express Co.

    471,200        43,840,448   

Navient Corp.

    454,800        9,828,228   
   

 

 

 
      53,668,676   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services—0.9%

  

AT&T, Inc.

    988,500      33,203,715   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—2.8%

  

Entergy Corp.

    544,100        47,597,868   

Exelon Corp. (a)

    1,115,500        41,362,740   

FirstEnergy Corp.

    397,000        15,479,030   
   

 

 

 
      104,439,638   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.5%

  

Emerson Electric Co.

    309,700        19,117,781   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—0.8%

  

TE Connectivity, Ltd.

    483,900        30,606,675   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.7%

  

Baker Hughes, Inc.

    450,200        25,242,714   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—0.4%

  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

    176,000        15,114,880   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—0.6%

  

Kellogg Co.

    362,700        23,735,088   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—1.3%

  

Covidien plc

    232,600        23,790,328   

Medtronic, Inc.

    362,000        26,136,400   
   

 

 

 
      49,926,728   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—2.1%

  

Carnival Corp.

    1,769,100        80,193,303   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—1.6%

  

Procter & Gamble Co. (The)

    649,500        59,162,955   
   

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—2.8%

  

AES Corp.

    3,689,200        50,800,284   

NRG Energy, Inc.

    2,033,800        54,810,910   
   

 

 

 
      105,611,194   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—4.4%

  

3M Co.

    442,500        72,711,600   

General Electric Co.

    3,676,900        92,915,263   
   

 

 

 
      165,626,863   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—4.6%

  

Allstate Corp. (The)

    705,200        49,540,300   

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    1,285,100        73,559,124   

Progressive Corp. (The)

    11,200        302,288   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    181,200        16,391,352   

XL Group plc

    1,007,610        34,631,556   
   

 

 

 
      174,424,620   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—1.0%

  

Western Union Co. (The) (a)

    2,207,000        39,527,370   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Life Sciences Tools & Services—1.8%

  

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    531,000      $ 66,528,990   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—1.4%

  

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

    345,100        32,680,970   

Ingersoll-Rand plc

    343,400        21,768,126   
   

 

 

 
      54,449,096   
   

 

 

 

Media—4.6%

  

Comcast Corp. - Class A

    658,300        38,187,983   

News Corp. - Class A (b)

    804,000        12,614,760   

Time Warner Cable, Inc.

    292,300        44,447,138   

Time Warner, Inc.

    745,600        63,689,152   

Viacom, Inc. - Class B

    172,000        12,943,000   
   

 

 

 
      171,882,033   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—2.0%

  

PG&E Corp.

    1,385,200        73,748,048   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—1.3%

  

Kohl’s Corp. (a)

    826,800        50,467,872   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—8.4%

  

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    90,400        7,458,000   

Apache Corp.

    918,400        57,556,128   

Canadian Natural Resources, Ltd.

    312,000        9,634,560   

Chevron Corp.

    505,200        56,673,336   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

    386,000        13,050,660   

EQT Corp.

    355,600        26,918,920   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    674,400        62,348,280   

Hess Corp.

    483,700        35,706,734   

Royal Dutch Shell plc - Class A (ADR)

    462,000        30,930,900   

Spectra Energy Corp.

    474,700        17,231,610   
   

 

 

 
      317,509,128   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—1.0%

  

International Paper Co.

    691,100        37,029,138   
   

 

 

 

Personal Products—0.4%

  

Avon Products, Inc. (a)

    1,465,300        13,759,167   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—6.4%

  

Johnson & Johnson

    666,100        69,654,077   

Merck & Co., Inc.

    1,455,700        82,669,203   

Pfizer, Inc.

    2,870,100        89,403,615   
   

 

 

 
      241,726,895   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.3%

  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

    1,360,400        48,824,756   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—2.7%

  

Canadian Pacific Railway, Ltd. (a)

    288,700        55,629,603   

Union Pacific Corp.

    375,800        44,769,054   
   

 

 

 
      100,398,657   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—1.1%

  

Texas Instruments, Inc.

    780,600      41,734,779   
   

 

 

 

Software—1.9%

  

Microsoft Corp.

    1,555,100        72,234,395   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—2.3%

  

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    1,268,800        87,293,440   
   

 

 

 

Tobacco—1.0%

  

Philip Morris International, Inc.

    451,600        36,782,820   
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services—0.1%

  

T-Mobile U.S., Inc. (b)

    213,000        5,738,220   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $2,661,341,617)

      3,677,620,870   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—5.5%   

Mutual Funds—5.5%

  

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    139,690,397        139,690,397   

T.Rowe Price Government Reserve Investment Fund (d)

    66,560,775        66,560,775   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $206,251,172)

      206,251,172   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—103.1%
(Cost $2,867,592,789) (e)

      3,883,872,042   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(3.1)%

      (116,600,492
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 3,767,271,550   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $148,051,907 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $139,690,397 and non-cash collateral with a value of $12,120,876. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(b) Non-income producing security.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(e) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,877,198,931. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $1,072,542,565 and $(65,869,454), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $1,006,673,111 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Common Stocks*

   $ 3,677,620,870       $ —        $ —         $ 3,677,620,870   

Total Short-Term Investments*

     206,251,172         —          —           206,251,172   

Total Investments

   $ 3,883,872,042       $ —        $ —         $ 3,883,872,042   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (139,690,397   $ —         $ (139,690,397

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 3,817,311,267   

Affiliated investments at value (c)

     66,560,775   

Cash

     247,068   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     20,236,515   

Fund shares sold

     1,781,108   

Dividends

     4,719,087   

Dividends on affiliated investments

     2,539   

Prepaid expenses

     9,964   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     3,910,868,323   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     139,690,397   

Payables for:

  

Fund shares redeemed

     1,568,712   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,748,057   

Distribution and service fees

     295,466   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     226,717   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     143,596,773   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,767,271,550   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 2,695,326,586   

Undistributed net investment income

     57,996,158   

Accumulated net realized loss

     (2,330,539

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     1,016,279,345   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 3,767,271,550   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 2,176,526,929   

Class B

     1,094,733,850   

Class E

     496,010,771   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     60,559,271   

Class B

     30,660,414   

Class E

     13,848,268   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 35.94   

Class B

     35.71   

Class E

     35.82   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $2,801,032,014.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $148,051,907.
(c) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $66,560,775.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 84,343,995   

Dividends from affiliated investments

     28,614   

Securities lending income

     378,747   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     84,751,356   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     21,322,977   

Administration fees

     86,288   

Custodian and accounting fees

     252,229   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,679,061   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     506,905   

Audit and tax services

     39,510   

Legal

     34,319   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     162,817   

Insurance

     23,395   

Miscellaneous

     25,551   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     25,176,812   

Less management fee waiver

     (939,580

Less broker commission recapture

     (17,701
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     24,219,531   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     60,531,825   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     391,999,074   

Futures contracts

     1,610,175   

Foreign currency transactions

     (7,333
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     393,601,916   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on:   

Investments

     24,973,167   

Foreign currency transactions

     136   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     24,973,303   
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     418,575,219   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 479,107,044   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $315,698.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 60,531,825      $ 54,295,526   

Net realized gain

     393,601,916        116,292,648   

Net change in unrealized appreciation

     24,973,303        800,604,381   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     479,107,044        971,192,555   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (39,243,194     (41,431,830

Class B

     (13,876,211     (15,408,966
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (53,119,405     (56,840,796
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (303,975,132     (192,220,072
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     122,012,507        722,131,687   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     3,645,259,043        2,923,127,356   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 3,767,271,550      $ 3,645,259,043   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 57,996,158      $ 52,902,496   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     997,734      $ 32,594,203        6,425,355      $ 176,838,220   

Reinvestments

     1,225,584        39,243,194        1,567,013        41,431,830   

Redemptions

     (21,907,433     (731,328,930     (10,428,639     (296,543,189
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (19,684,115   $ (659,491,533     (2,436,271   $ (78,273,139
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     3,535,782      $ 117,370,782        2,697,874      $ 74,647,983   

Reinvestments

     435,537        13,876,211        585,447        15,408,966   

Redemptions

     (6,650,873     (222,121,518     (7,193,199     (204,003,882
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (2,679,554   $ (90,874,525     (3,909,878   $ (113,946,933
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E (a)

        

Sales

     474,511      $ 15,834,636        0      $ 0   

Fund subscription in kind

     15,369,962        498,447,864 (b)      0        0   

Redemptions

     (1,996,205     (67,891,574     0        0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase

     13,848,268      $ 446,390,926        0      $ 0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (303,975,132     $ (192,220,072
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(a) Commencement of operations was April 23, 2014.
(b) Includes cash and securities amounting to $2,386,045 and $496,061,819, respectively. Securities were valued at market as of April 25, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 32.15      $ 24.42       $ 21.00       $ 22.00       $ 18.97   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.57        0.48         0.47         0.42         0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     3.73        7.74         3.33         (1.23      3.10   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     4.30        8.22         3.80         (0.81      3.28   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.51     (0.49      (0.38      (0.19      (0.25
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.51     (0.49      (0.38      (0.19      (0.25
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 35.94      $ 32.15       $ 24.42       $ 21.00       $ 22.00   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.57        34.09         18.27         (3.77      17.33   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.59        0.59         0.59         0.58         0.55   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.56        0.56         0.56         0.56         0.55   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.69        1.69         2.06         1.96         0.92   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     19  (g)      14         15         104         54   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 2,176.5      $ 2,580.1       $ 2,019.1       $ 1,922.6       $ 1,262.3   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014     2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 31.95      $ 24.27       $ 20.87       $ 21.87       $ 18.87   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (a)

     0.48        0.41         0.41         0.33         0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     3.71        7.70         3.31         (1.20      3.07   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     4.19        8.11         3.72         (0.87      3.20   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.43     (0.43      (0.32      (0.13      (0.20
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.43     (0.43      (0.32      (0.13      (0.20
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 35.71      $ 31.95       $ 24.27       $ 20.87       $ 21.87   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.28        33.77         17.98         (4.01      17.02   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.84        0.84         0.84         0.83         0.80   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.81        0.81         0.81         0.81         0.80   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.45        1.44         1.81         1.52         0.67   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     19  (g)      14         15         104         54   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,094.7      $ 1,065.2       $ 904.1       $ 883.6       $ 1,017.8   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data       
     Class E  
     Period Ended
December 31,
2014(d)
 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 32.61   
  

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

  

Net investment income (a)

     0.39   

Net realized and unrealized gain on investments

     2.82   
  

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     3.21   
  

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 35.82   
  

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     9.84 (e) 

Ratios/Supplemental Data

  

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.74 (f) 

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.71 (f) 

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.65 (f) 

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     19 (g) 

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 496.0   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(d) Commencement of operations was April 23, 2014.
(e) Periods less than one year are not computed on an annualized basis.
(f) Computed on an annualized basis.
(g) Excludes the effect of subscriptions in kind activity for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Class E commenced operations on April 23, 2014. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to broker commission recapture, real estate investment trust (REIT) adjustments, return of capital adjustments and foreign currency transactions. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 25, 2014 through April 29, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $302,593,220 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized gains in the amount of $1,610,175 which are shown under Net realized gain on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities and subscriptions in kind, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 692,275,282       $ 0       $ 1,444,357,171   

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. that amounted to $832,832 in sales of investments, which are included above.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $32,400,137 in purchases of investments and $18,393,047 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rate of the Portfolio’s daily net assets that is calculated according to the fee schedule set forth in the table below. If the assets of the Portfolio cross a threshold in reverse (i.e., decline below a threshold), then the absolute dollar fee payable by the Portfolio to the Adviser shall not be more than the minimum fee payable at the immediately higher threshold. When the Portfolio’s assets cross a threshold in reverse, the fee payable to the Adviser shall be calculated according to the footnotes immediately following the table below.

 

Assets

   Asset Range
$0
to
$100,000,0001
    Asset Range
$100,000,000
to
$200,000,0002
    Asset Range
$200,000,000
to
$500,000,0003
    Asset Range
$500,000,000
to
$1,000,000,0004
    Asset Range
$1,000,000,000
And
Up
 

First $50,000,000

     0.750     0.650     0.620     0.595     0.570

Next $50,000,000

     0.700     0.650     0.620     0.595     0.570

Next $100,000,000

     N/A        0.650     0.620     0.595     0.570

Next $300,000,000

     N/A        N/A        0.620     0.595     0.570

Next $500,000,000

     N/A        N/A        N/A        0.570     0.570

Excess over $1,000,000,000

     N/A        N/A        N/A        N/A        0.570

 

  1  When the Portfolio’s net assets decline below $100 million, the fee payable to the Adviser shall be the lower of (1) the fee on the Portfolio’s daily net assets calculated at 0.750% of the first $50 million of such assets plus 0.700% of such assets over $50 million up to $100 million and (2) the fee on $100 million calculated at a flat rate of 0.650%.
  2  When the Portfolio’s net assets decline below $200 million but are over $100 million, the fee payable to the Adviser shall be the lower of (1) the fee on the Portfolio’s daily net assets calculated at a flat rate of 0.650% and (2) the fee on $200 million calculated at a flat rate of 0.620%.
  3  When the Portfolio’s net assets decline below $500 million but are over $200 million, the fee payable to the Adviser shall be the lower of (1) the fee on the Portfolio’s daily net assets calculated at a flat rate of 0.620% and (2) the fee on $500 million calculated at a flat rate of 0.595%.
  4  When the Portfolio’s net assets decline below $1 billion but are over $500 million, the fee payable to the Adviser shall be the lower of (1) the fee on the Portfolio’s daily net assets calculated at 0.595% of the first $500 million of such assets plus 0.570% of such assets over $500 million up to $1 billion and (2) the fee on $1 billion calculated at a flat rate of 0.570%.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Adviser earned management fees in the amount of $21,322,977 for managing the Portfolio.

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - The Subadviser has agreed to a voluntary subadvisory fee waiver that applies if (i) assets under management by the Subadviser for the Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MSF”) in the aggregate exceed $750,000,000, (ii) the Subadviser subadvises three or more portfolios of the Trust and MSF in the aggregate and (iii) at least one of those portfolios is a large cap domestic equity portfolio.

If the aforementioned conditions are met, T. Rowe Price will waive its subadvisory fee paid by MetLife Advisers by 5% for combined Trust and MSF average daily net assets over $750 million, 7.5% for the next $1.5 billion of combined assets, and 10% for amounts over $3 billion. MetLife Advisers has voluntarily agreed to reduce its advisory fee for the Portfolio by the amount waived (if any) by T. Rowe Price for the Portfolio pursuant to this voluntary subadvisory fee waiver. Because these fee waivers are voluntary, and not contractual, they may be discontinued by T. Rowe Price and MetLife Advisers at any time. Amounts voluntarily waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as management fee waivers in the Statement of Operations.

 

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Security Description

   Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares
sold
    Number of
shares held at
December 31, 2014
     Realized
Gain on
shares
sold
     Income earned
from affiliates
during the
period
 

T. Rowe Price Government Reserve Investment Fund

     110,221,612         512,380,353         (556,041,190     66,560,775       $ 0       $ 28,614   

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-
Term Capital Gain
     Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$53,119,405    $ 56,840,796       $       $       $ 53,119,405       $ 56,840,796   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$58,063,583    $ 7,275,605       $ 1,006,673,200       $       $ 1,072,012,388   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $382,514,775.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio of the Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

T. Rowe Price Large Cap Value Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value Index, for the one- and three-year periods ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the five-year period ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the median of the Expense Group, Expense Universe, and Sub-advised Expense Universe. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group but above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year. The Board also took into account the fact that the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are voluntarily waiving a portion of their advisory fees based on the amount of Trust assets managed by the Sub-Adviser.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Managed By T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio returned 13.04%, 12.77%, and 12.92%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Russell Midcap Growth Index1, returned 11.90%.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

U.S. equities rose in 2014 for the sixth consecutive year, as the economy recovered strongly from a first-quarter weather-related contraction. Falling long-term interest rates, solid employment growth, favorable corporate earnings, and expanded stimulus measures by major non-U.S. central banks boosted returns. Large-caps posted strong results, outpacing small- and mid-caps. As measured by various Russell indexes, value stocks outperformed growth among large- and mid-caps, while the opposite was true for small-cap shares. In the mid-cap growth space, Health Care led returns, followed by Telecommunication Services and Utilities, while Energy ended deep in negative territory.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

In the 12-month period ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio outpaced its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Growth Index. Broadly speaking, stock selection accounted for the outperformance, and sector allocation contributed as well. On the sector level, Consumer Discretionary and Health Care helped relative results, while Industrials detracted.

Consumer Discretionary proved to be the greatest contributor to relative results, due to stock selection. Among the outperformers were CarMax, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Marriott. One of the largest U.S. car retailers, CarMax benefited as many more leased cars came onto the used vehicle market, increasing traffic and sales at the company’s stores. Norwegian Cruise Line’s shares rose as oil prices fell and the company revised its outlook for the Caribbean market upward. Hotel operator Marriott posted solid results and repurchased shares. We remain cautious in this sector, and the Portfolio’s overall allocation is lower than it has been historically. We continue to focus on firms that dominate their respective market niches.

A strategic overweight and beneficial stock choices made Health Care another area of relative strength. Puma Biotechnology and CareFusion were two key contributors here. A leader in medication dispensing systems and infusion pumps, CareFusion benefited from the announcement that it would be acquired by the medical technology company Becton, Dickinson & Co. Puma Biotechnology, a developer and acquirer of innovative cancer therapies, received favorable trial results for a breast cancer drug that may also have future applications in the treatment of other forms of cancer. We eliminated the Portfolio’s position on strength. The Portfolio is overweight the benchmark in the Health Care sector. Despite potential challenges from economic conditions and the uncertainties surrounding the implementation of health care reform, we continue to favor this sector due to the many factors working in its favor.

In Industrials, the Portfolio’s stock holdings underperformed their benchmark peers. A notable detractor here was DigitalGlobe, which provides geographic imagery collected by its network of proprietary satellites. Over the past year, delays in the launch of a new satellite led to a more muted outlook. In the Industrials sector, we favor well-run companies with exposure to high-growth end markets, and we believe we are still in the early stages of a manufacturing rebound.

At the end of the period, the Portfolio was overweight the benchmark in Health Care, Industrials, Information Technology, and Financials, and underweight in Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Materials, Energy, Telecommunication Services, and Utilities.

Brian W. H. Berghuis

Portfolio Manager

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

 

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE RUSSELL MIDCAP GROWTH INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year  
T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio                 

Class A

       13.04           17.37           10.96   

Class B

       12.77           17.07           10.68   

Class E

       12.92           17.21           10.80   
Russell Midcap Growth Index        11.90           16.94           9.43   

1 The Russell Midcap Growth Index is an unmanaged measure of performance of those Russell Midcap companies (the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index) with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class B shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
CarMax, Inc.      2.1   
Fiserv, Inc.      2.0   
Pall Corp.      1.7   
Textron, Inc.      1.7   
CareFusion Corp.      1.6   
DENTSPLY International, Inc.      1.5   
Altera Corp.      1.5   
IHS, Inc. - Class A      1.5   
Red Hat, Inc.      1.5   
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.      1.5   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Industrials      21.3   
Health Care      20.4   
Information Technology      19.9   
Consumer Discretionary      14.1   
Financials      9.5   
Consumer Staples      3.6   
Energy      3.6   
Materials      3.3   
Telecommunication Services      0.8   
Utilities      0.1   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.74    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,064.60         $ 3.85   
   Hypothetical*      0.74    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.48         $ 3.77   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.99    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,063.10         $ 5.15   
   Hypothetical*      0.99    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.22         $ 5.04   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.89    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,063.70         $ 4.63   
   Hypothetical*      0.89    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,020.72         $ 4.53   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—96.4% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—2.4%

   

DigitalGlobe, Inc. (a)

    392,000      $ 12,140,240   

Textron, Inc.

    714,000        30,066,540   
   

 

 

 
      42,206,780   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—1.1%

   

Harley-Davidson, Inc.

    193,000        12,720,630   

Tesla Motors, Inc. (a) (b)

    29,000        6,449,890   
   

 

 

 
      19,170,520   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—3.1%

   

Alkermes plc (a)

    374,000        21,901,440   

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    36,000        3,492,000   

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    21,000        2,113,650   

Incyte Corp. (a)

    143,000        10,454,730   

Pharmacyclics, Inc. (a) (b)

    55,000        6,724,300   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    72,000        8,553,600   
   

 

 

 
      53,239,720   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—1.7%

   

LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.

    249,000        11,092,950   

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. (b)

    499,000        17,854,220   
   

 

 

 
      28,947,170   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—1.1%

   

Celanese Corp. - Series A

    142,000        8,514,320   

RPM International, Inc.

    206,000        10,446,260   
   

 

 

 
      18,960,580   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—2.3%

   

JDS Uniphase Corp. (a)

    998,000        13,692,560   

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

    342,000        22,941,360   

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (a)

    25,000        3,064,250   
   

 

 

 
      39,698,170   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—0.2%

   

Quanta Services, Inc. (a)

    108,000        3,066,120   
   

 

 

 

Construction Materials—0.6%

   

Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (b)

    92,000        10,149,440   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.5%

   

Ball Corp.

    141,000        9,611,970   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—2.8%

   

CBOE Holdings, Inc.

    285,000        18,074,700   

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.

    75,000        16,446,750   

MSCI, Inc.

    303,000        14,374,320   
   

 

 

 
      48,895,770   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—4.1%

   

Acuity Brands, Inc.

    109,000        15,267,630   

AMETEK, Inc.

    357,000        18,788,910   

Babcock & Wilcox Co. (The)

    561,000        16,998,300   

Sensata Technologies Holding NV (a) (b)

    392,000        20,544,720   
   

 

 

 
      71,599,560   
   

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components—1.8%

  

Cognex Corp. (a)

    37,000      1,529,210   

FEI Co.

    126,000        11,384,100   

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (a)

    355,000        11,988,350   

Trimble Navigation, Ltd. (a)

    249,000        6,608,460   
   

 

 

 
      31,510,120   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—2.1%

   

Rite Aid Corp. (a)

    1,986,000        14,934,720   

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (a) (b)

    355,000        12,062,900   

Whole Foods Market, Inc.

    176,000        8,873,920   
   

 

 

 
      35,871,540   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—1.5%

   

TreeHouse Foods, Inc. (a)

    107,000        9,151,710   

WhiteWave Foods Co. (The) (a)

    499,000        17,460,010   
   

 

 

 
      26,611,720   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—8.5%

  

Align Technology, Inc. (a)

    79,000        4,416,890   

CareFusion Corp. (a)

    464,000        27,533,760   

Cooper Cos., Inc. (The)

    134,000        21,720,060   

DENTSPLY International, Inc.

    495,000        26,368,650   

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (a) (b)

    107,000        15,864,890   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (a)

    48,000        25,389,120   

Sirona Dental Systems, Inc. (a)

    72,000        6,290,640   

Teleflex, Inc.

    174,000        19,978,680   
   

 

 

 
      147,562,690   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—3.2%

  

Envision Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (a)

    244,000        8,464,360   

Henry Schein, Inc. (a)

    143,000        19,469,450   

MEDNAX, Inc. (a)

    178,000        11,767,580   

Universal Health Services, Inc. - Class B

    142,000        15,798,920   
   

 

 

 
      55,500,310   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Technology—0.3%

   

IMS Health Holdings, Inc. (a) (b)

    102,000        2,615,280   

Veeva Systems, Inc. - Class A (a)

    74,000        1,954,340   
   

 

 

 
      4,569,620   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—3.7%

   

Aramark

    223,000        6,946,450   

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (a)

    7,000        4,791,570   

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (b)

    214,000        11,988,280   

Marriott International, Inc. - Class A

    196,000        15,293,880   

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    542,000        25,343,920   
   

 

 

 
      64,364,100   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.4%

   

Harman International Industries, Inc.

    71,000        7,576,410   
   

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—0.1%

  

Calpine Corp. (a)

    72,000        1,593,360   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Industrial Conglomerates—1.3%

   

Roper Industries, Inc.

    143,000      $ 22,358,050   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—3.8%

   

FNF Group

    711,000        24,493,950   

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.

    285,000        15,253,200   

Progressive Corp. (The)

    535,000        14,439,650   

Willis Group Holdings plc

    249,000        11,157,690   
   

 

 

 
      65,344,490   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—0.9%

   

Coupons.com, Inc. (a) (b)

    236,900        4,204,975   

Netflix, Inc. (a)

    17,000        5,807,370   

TripAdvisor, Inc. (a)

    66,000        4,927,560   
   

 

 

 
      14,939,905   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—3.2%

   

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (a)

    109,000        6,862,640   

Atlassian, Inc. - Class A, Ordinary Restricted Depository Receipt (a) (c) (d)

    15,101        286,919   

Atlassian, Inc. - Class A, Ordinary Unrestricted From B Ordinary Depository Receipt (a) (c) (d)

    10,403        197,657   

Atlassian, Inc. - Class A, Ordinary Unrestricted From B Preference Depository Receipt (a) (c) (d)

    54,328        1,032,232   

Atlassian, Inc. - Series 1, Restricted
Receipt (a) (c) (d)

    26,508        503,652   

Atlassian, Inc. - Series A, Preference Depository Receipt (a) (c) (d)

    52,487        997,253   

Atlassian, Inc., - Series 2, Depository
Receipt (a) (c) (d)

    70,977        1,348,563   

GrubHub, Inc. (a)

    86,000        3,123,520   

LendingClub Corp. (a)

    74,000        1,872,200   

LinkedIn Corp. - Class A (a)

    18,000        4,134,780   

Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (a)

    232,000        10,859,920   

VeriSign, Inc. (a) (b)

    356,000        20,292,000   

Zillow, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    32,000        3,388,480   
   

 

 

 
      54,899,816   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—6.4%

   

CoreLogic, Inc. (a)

    426,000        13,457,340   

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.

    180,000        11,196,000   

Fiserv, Inc. (a)

    500,000        35,485,000   

Gartner, Inc. (a)

    232,000        19,536,720   

Global Payments, Inc.

    214,000        17,276,220   

Vantiv, Inc. - Class A (a)

    426,000        14,449,920   
   

 

 

 
      111,401,200   
   

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services—3.5%

   

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

    498,000        20,388,120   

Bruker Corp. (a)

    645,000        12,654,900   

Covance, Inc. (a)

    143,000        14,849,120   

Illumina, Inc. (a)

    47,000        8,675,260   

Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (a)

    16,000        4,839,360   
   

 

 

 
      61,406,760   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—6.0%

   

Colfax Corp. (a) (b)

    235,000      12,118,950   

IDEX Corp.

    321,000        24,986,640   

Nordson Corp.

    71,000        5,535,160   

Pall Corp.

    298,000        30,160,580   

Rexnord Corp. (a)

    391,000        11,030,110   

WABCO Holdings, Inc. (a)

    89,000        9,325,420   

Xylem, Inc.

    267,000        10,164,690   
   

 

 

 
      103,321,550   
   

 

 

 

Media—0.2%

   

Charter Communications, Inc. - Class A (a)

    25,000        4,165,500   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—1.1%

   

Franco-Nevada Corp.

    323,000        15,905,345   

Silver Wheaton Corp.

    144,000        2,927,520   
   

 

 

 
      18,832,865   
   

 

 

 

Multiline Retail—0.7%

   

Dollar General Corp. (a)

    162,000        11,453,400   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—3.6%

  

Concho Resources, Inc. (a)

    107,000        10,673,250   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

    266,000        8,993,460   

EQT Corp.

    250,000        18,925,000   

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

    57,000        8,484,450   

Range Resources Corp.

    285,000        15,233,250   
   

 

 

 
      62,309,410   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—1.9%

  

Catalent, Inc. (a)

    369,000        10,287,720   

Hospira, Inc. (a)

    359,000        21,988,750   
   

 

 

 
      32,276,470   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—4.5%

  

Equifax, Inc.

    214,000        17,306,180   

IHS, Inc. - Class A (a)

    228,000        25,964,640   

ManpowerGroup, Inc.

    173,000        11,793,410   

Towers Watson & Co. - Class A

    68,000        7,695,560   

Verisk Analytics, Inc. - Class A (a)

    249,000        15,948,450   
   

 

 

 
      78,708,240   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development—1.1%

  

Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.

    123,000        18,441,390   

WeWork Cos., Inc. - Class A (a) (c) (d)

    18,076        300,986   
   

 

 

 
      18,742,376   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—1.8%

   

Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (a)

    143,000        3,566,420   

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

    178,000        14,996,500   

Kansas City Southern

    112,000        13,667,360   
   

 

 

 
      32,230,280   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—2.9%

  

Altera Corp.

    713,000      $ 26,338,220   

Atmel Corp. (a)

    1,066,000        8,949,070   

Microchip Technology, Inc. (b)

    142,000        6,405,620   

Xilinx, Inc.

    199,000        8,614,710   
   

 

 

 
      50,307,620   
   

 

 

 

Software—3.2%

   

FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (b)

    125,000        17,593,750   

Guidewire Software, Inc. (a) (b)

    25,000        1,265,750   

Mobileye NV (a) (b)

    110,000        4,461,600   

Red Hat, Inc. (a)

    374,000        25,858,360   

ServiceNow, Inc. (a)

    70,000        4,749,500   

Workday, Inc. - Class A (a) (b)

    25,000        2,040,250   
   

 

 

 
      55,969,210   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—5.9%

   

AutoZone, Inc. (a)

    36,000        22,287,960   

CarMax, Inc. (a) (b)

    536,000        35,686,880   

Five Below, Inc. (a) (b)

    54,000        2,204,820   

L Brands, Inc.

    161,000        13,934,550   

Michaels Cos., Inc. (The) (a)

    197,000        4,871,810   

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (a)

    125,000        24,077,500   
   

 

 

 
      103,063,520   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—0.1%

  

Stratasys, Ltd. (a) (b)

    18,000        1,495,980   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—1.1%

  

 

Hanesbrands, Inc.

    107,000        11,943,340   

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (b)

    252,000        7,426,440   
   

 

 

 
      19,369,780   
   

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors—0.9%

  

 

Fastenal Co. (b)

    320,000        15,219,200   
   

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services—0.8%

  

T-Mobile U.S., Inc. (a) (b)

    499,000        13,443,060   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $1,073,184,766)

      1,671,964,352   
   

 

 

 
Preferred Stocks—0.2%                

Real Estate Management & Development—0.2%

  

WeWork Cos., Inc. - Series D1 (a) (c) (d)

    89,839        1,495,924   

WeWork Cos., Inc. - Series D2 (a) (c) (d)

    70,588        1,175,372   
   

 

 

 

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost $2,671,296)

      2,671,296   
   

 

 

 
Convertible Preferred Stock—0.0%   

Internet Software & Services—0.0%

  

LivingSocial, Inc. - Series E (a) (c) (d)
(Cost $4,280,576)

    757,490        181,797   
   

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Investments—12.6%   
Security Description   Shares     Value  

Mutual Funds—12.6%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (e)

    157,407,160      $ 157,407,160   

T.Rowe Price Government Reserve Investment Fund (f)

    61,346,536        61,346,536   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $218,753,696)

      218,753,696   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—109.2%
(Cost $1,298,890,334) (g)

      1,893,571,141   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(9.2)%

      (159,819,516
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 1,733,751,625   
   

 

 

 

 

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $173,575,821 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $157,407,160 and non-cash collateral with a value of $21,460,244. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Security was valued in good faith under procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 2014, these securities represent 0.4% of net assets.
(d) Restricted securities are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are subject to legal restrictions on resale. These securities generally may be resold in transactions exempt from registration or to the public if the securities are subsequently registered. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of restricted securities was $7,520,355, which is 0.4% of net assets. See details shown in the Restricted Securities table that follows.
(e) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(f) Affiliated Issuer. (See Note 7 of the Notes to Financial Statements for a summary of transactions in securities of affiliated issuers.)
(g) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,303,500,303. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $598,941,620 and $(8,870,782), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $590,070,838 for federal income tax purposes.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

 

Restricted Securities

   Acquisition
Date
     Shares      Cost      Value  

Atlassian, Inc. - Class A, Ordinary Restricted Depository Receipt

     04/09/14         15,101       $ 241,616       $ 286,919   

Atlassian, Inc. - Class A, Ordinary Unrestricted From B Ordinary Depository Receipt

     04/09/14         10,403         166,448         197,657   

Atlassian, Inc. - Class A, Ordinary Unrestricted From B Preference Depository Receipt

     04/09/14         54,328         869,248         1,032,232   

Atlassian, Inc. - Series 1, Restricted Receipt

     04/09/14         26,508         424,128         503,652   

Atlassian, Inc. - Series A, Preference Depository Receipt

     04/09/14         52,487         839,792         997,253   

Atlassian, Inc., - Series 2, Depository Receipt

     04/09/14         70,977         1,135,632         1,348,563   

LivingSocial, Inc. - Series E

     04/01/11         757,490         4,280,576         181,797   

WeWork Cos., Inc. - Class A

     12/09/14         18,076         300,986         300,986   

WeWork Cos., Inc. - Series D1

     12/09/14         89,839         1,495,924         1,495,924   

WeWork Cos., Inc. - Series D2

     12/09/14         70,588         1,175,372         1,175,372   
           

 

 

 
            $ 7,520,355   
           

 

 

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  
Common Stocks            

Aerospace & Defense

   $ 42,206,780       $ —         $ —         $ 42,206,780   

Automobiles

     19,170,520         —           —           19,170,520   

Biotechnology

     53,239,720         —           —           53,239,720   

Capital Markets

     28,947,170         —           —           28,947,170   

Chemicals

     18,960,580         —           —           18,960,580   

Communications Equipment

     39,698,170         —           —           39,698,170   

Construction & Engineering

     3,066,120         —           —           3,066,120   

Construction Materials

     10,149,440         —           —           10,149,440   

Containers & Packaging

     9,611,970         —           —           9,611,970   

Diversified Financial Services

     48,895,770         —           —           48,895,770   

Electrical Equipment

     71,599,560         —           —           71,599,560   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components

     31,510,120         —           —           31,510,120   

Food & Staples Retailing

     35,871,540         —           —           35,871,540   

Food Products

     26,611,720         —           —           26,611,720   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies

     147,562,690         —           —           147,562,690   

Health Care Providers & Services

     55,500,310         —           —           55,500,310   

Health Care Technology

     4,569,620         —           —           4,569,620   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

     64,364,100         —           —           64,364,100   

Household Durables

     7,576,410         —           —           7,576,410   

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers

     1,593,360         —           —           1,593,360   

Industrial Conglomerates

     22,358,050         —           —           22,358,050   

Insurance

     65,344,490         —           —           65,344,490   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Fair Value Hierarchy—(Continued)

 

Description    Level 1      Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Internet & Catalog Retail

   $ 14,939,905       $ —        $ —         $ 14,939,905   

Internet Software & Services

     50,533,540         —          4,366,276         54,899,816   

IT Services

     111,401,200         —          —           111,401,200   

Life Sciences Tools & Services

     61,406,760         —          —           61,406,760   

Machinery

     103,321,550         —          —           103,321,550   

Media

     4,165,500         —          —           4,165,500   

Metals & Mining

     18,832,865         —          —           18,832,865   

Multiline Retail

     11,453,400         —          —           11,453,400   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

     62,309,410         —          —           62,309,410   

Pharmaceuticals

     32,276,470         —          —           32,276,470   

Professional Services

     78,708,240         —          —           78,708,240   

Real Estate Management & Development

     18,441,390         —          300,986         18,742,376   

Road & Rail

     32,230,280         —          —           32,230,280   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

     50,307,620         —          —           50,307,620   

Software

     55,969,210         —          —           55,969,210   

Specialty Retail

     103,063,520         —          —           103,063,520   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

     1,495,980         —          —           1,495,980   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

     19,369,780         —          —           19,369,780   

Trading Companies & Distributors

     15,219,200         —          —           15,219,200   

Wireless Telecommunication Services

     13,443,060         —          —           13,443,060   

Total Common Stocks

     1,667,297,090         —          4,667,262         1,671,964,352   

Total Preferred Stocks*

     —           —          2,671,296         2,671,296   

Total Convertible Preferred Stock*

     —           —          181,797         181,797   

Total Short-Term Investments*

     218,753,696         —          —           218,753,696   

Total Investments

   $ 1,886,050,786       $ —        $ 7,520,355       $ 1,893,571,141   
                                    

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —         $ (157,407,160   $ —         $ (157,407,160

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

Following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value:

 

Investments in Securities

   Balance as of
December 31,
2013
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
    Purchases      Transfers
Out
    Balance as of
December 31,
2014
     Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
from Investments
Still Held at
December 31,
2014
 
Common Stock                

Internet Software & Services

   $       $ 689,412      $ 3,676,864       $      $ 4,366,276       $ 689,412   

Real Estate Management & Development

             0        300,986                300,986         0   
Preferred Stocks                

Real Estate Management & Development

             0        2,671,296                2,671,296         0   
Convertible Preferred Stock                

Internet Software & Services

     3,891,933         (272,697             (3,437,439     181,797         (272,697
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,891,933       $ 416,715      $ 6,649,146       $ (3,437,439   $ 7,520,355       $ 416,715   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3 were due to the initial public offering of the securities, which resulted in the trading of the securities on a recognized exchange and the availability of quoted prices in an active market.

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 1,832,224,605   

Affiliated investments at value (c)

     61,346,536   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     130,126   

Fund shares sold

     371,818   

Dividends

     433,519   

Dividends on affiliated investments

     3,383   

Prepaid expenses

     4,346   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     1,894,514,333   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     157,407,160   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     726,769   

Fund shares redeemed

     1,094,825   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,045,120   

Distribution and service fees

     231,386   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     190,024   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     160,762,708   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,733,751,625   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 870,286,093   

Accumulated net investment loss

     (4,012,970

Accumulated net realized gain

     272,797,707   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency transactions

     594,680,795   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 1,733,751,625   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 639,267,897   

Class B

     1,072,124,983   

Class E

     22,358,745   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     51,063,271   

Class B

     89,638,257   

Class E

     1,834,563   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 12.52   

Class B

     11.96   

Class E

     12.19   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Includes securities loaned at value of $173,575,821.
(b) Identified cost of investments, excluding affiliated investments, was $1,237,543,798.
(c) Identified cost of affiliated investments was $61,346,536.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 10,834,086   

Dividends from affiliated investments

     36,623   

Securities lending income

     647,676   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     11,518,385   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     13,227,567   

Administration fees

     41,069   

Custodian and accounting fees

     166,729   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     2,652,422   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     32,821   

Audit and tax services

     39,131   

Legal

     34,320   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     136,491   

Insurance

     10,849   

Miscellaneous

     17,268   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     16,402,427   

Less management fee waiver

     (738,244

Less broker commission recapture

     (28,219
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     15,635,964   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

     (4,117,579
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     277,024,823   

Futures contracts

     (496,617

Foreign currency transactions

     2,612   
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     276,530,818   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   

Investments

     (63,119,610

Foreign currency transactions

     30   
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (63,119,580
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     213,411,238   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 209,293,659   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $78,165.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment loss

   $ (4,117,579   $ (4,630,422

Net realized gain

     276,530,818        193,358,226   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (63,119,580     351,022,868   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     209,293,659        539,750,672   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     0        (3,065,921

Class B

     0        (2,035,733

Class E

     0        (54,848

Net realized capital gains

    

Class A

     (74,530,486     (37,881,161

Class B

     (105,958,502     (51,448,533

Class E

     (2,142,925     (1,016,517
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (182,631,913     (95,502,713
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease in net assets from capital share transactions

     (195,155,536     (75,836,739
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (168,493,790     368,411,220   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,902,245,415        1,533,834,195   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 1,733,751,625      $ 1,902,245,415   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Net Investment Loss

    

End of period

   $ (4,012,970   $ (3,001,993
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     10,455,892      $ 117,964,931        5,130,562      $ 54,379,806   

Reinvestments

     6,781,664        74,530,486        4,225,705        40,947,082   

Redemptions

     (31,212,005     (356,341,751     (11,749,975     (126,702,539
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (13,974,449   $ (163,846,334     (2,393,708   $ (31,375,651
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     5,335,633      $ 61,279,438        7,421,611      $ 77,107,118   

Reinvestments

     10,072,101        105,958,502        5,726,367        53,484,266   

Redemptions

     (17,235,099     (198,121,045     (16,803,355     (174,827,429
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (1,827,365   $ (30,883,105     (3,655,377   $ (44,236,045
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     190,302      $ 2,230,587        239,671      $ 2,560,833   

Reinvestments

     200,086        2,142,925        113,014        1,071,365   

Redemptions

     (411,686     (4,799,609     (366,975     (3,857,241
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (21,298   $ (426,097     (14,290   $ (225,043
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Decrease derived from capital shares transactions

     $ (195,155,536     $ (75,836,739
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.29       $ 9.53       $ 9.53       $ 9.90       $ 7.73   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     (0.01      (0.01      0.02         (0.02      (0.01

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.45         3.38         1.28         (0.09      2.18   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.44         3.37         1.30         (0.11      2.17   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.05      0.00         0.00         0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.21      (0.56      (1.30      (0.26      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.21      (0.61      (1.30      (0.26      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.52       $ 12.29       $ 9.53       $ 9.53       $ 9.90   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.04         36.96         13.93         (1.40      28.07   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.78         0.78         0.78         0.78         0.79   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.74         0.75         0.76         0.76         0.77   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     (0.08      (0.12      0.17         (0.21      (0.10

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     23         25         30         38         28   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 639.3       $ 799.0       $ 642.5       $ 565.8       $ 764.5   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 11.82       $ 9.19       $ 9.25       $ 9.64       $ 7.55   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment loss (a)

     (0.04      (0.04      (0.01      (0.04      (0.03

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.39         3.25         1.25         (0.09      2.12   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.35         3.21         1.24         (0.13      2.09   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.02      0.00         0.00         0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.21      (0.56      (1.30      (0.26      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.21      (0.58      (1.30      (0.26      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 11.96       $ 11.82       $ 9.19       $ 9.25       $ 9.64   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     12.77         36.58         13.68         (1.65      27.68   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     1.03         1.03         1.03         1.03         1.04   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.99         1.00         1.01         1.01         1.02   

Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets (%)

     (0.33      (0.37      (0.08      (0.45      (0.33

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     23         25         30         38         28   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 1,072.1       $ 1,081.0       $ 873.9       $ 820.0       $ 796.7   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                  
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012     2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.01       $ 9.33       $ 9.36      $ 9.75       $ 7.62   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

             

Net investment income (loss) (a)

     (0.03      (0.03      0.00  (d)      (0.04      (0.02

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.42         3.30         1.27        (0.09      2.15   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.39         3.27         1.27        (0.13      2.13   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

             

Distributions from net investment income

     0.00         (0.03      0.00        0.00         0.00   

Distributions from net realized capital gains

     (1.21      (0.56      (1.30     (0.26      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (1.21      (0.59      (1.30     (0.26      0.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 12.19       $ 12.01       $ 9.33      $ 9.36       $ 9.75   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     12.92         36.68         13.85        (1.63      27.95   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

             

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.93         0.93         0.93        0.93         0.94   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)

     0.89         0.90         0.91        0.91         0.92   

Ratio of net investment income (loss) to average net assets (%)

     (0.23      (0.27      0.01        (0.36      (0.27

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     23         25         30        38         28   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 22.4       $ 22.3       $ 17.4      $ 18.3       $ 24.6   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(d) Net investment income (loss) was less than $0.01.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to broker commission recapture, foreign currency transactions, passive foreign investment companies (PFICs), return of capital adjustments, and ordinary loss netting to reduce short term capital gains. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio entered into equity index futures contracts which were subject to equity price risk. During the period April 25, 2014 through April 29, 2014, the Portfolio had bought and sold $98,078,795 in notional cost on equity index futures contracts. At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio did not have any open futures contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had realized losses in the amount of $496,617 which are shown under Net realized loss on futures contracts in the Statement of Operations.

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 390,587,793       $ 0       $ 742,377,519   

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

The Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other accounts managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. that amounted to $788,211 in purchases and $964,167 in sales of investments, which are included above.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $38,672,169 in sales of investments, which are included above.

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$13,227,567      0.750 %     All

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - The Subadviser has agreed to a voluntary subadvisory fee waiver that applies if (i) assets under management by the Subadviser for the Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MSF”) in the aggregate exceed $750,000,000, (ii) the Subadviser subadvises three or more portfolios of the Trust and MSF in the aggregate and (iii) at least one of those portfolios is a large cap domestic equity portfolio.

If the aforementioned conditions are met, T. Rowe Price will waive its subadvisory fee paid by MetLife Advisers by 5% for combined Trust and MSF average daily net assets over $750 million, 7.5% for the next $1.5 billion of combined assets, and 10% for amounts over $3 billion. MetLife Advisers has voluntarily agreed to reduce its advisory fee for the Portfolio by the amount waived (if any) by T. Rowe Price for the Portfolio pursuant to this voluntary subadvisory fee waiver. Because these fee waivers are voluntary, and not contractual, they may be discontinued by T. Rowe Price and MetLife Advisers at any time. Amounts voluntarily waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as management fee waivers in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

7. Transactions in Securities of Affiliated Issuers

A summary of the Portfolio’s transactions in the securities of affiliated issuers during the year ended December 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

Security Description

   Number of
shares held at
December 31,
2013
     Shares
purchased
     Shares
sold
    Number of
shares held at
December 31,
2014
     Realized
Gain on
shares sold
     Income earned
from affiliates
during the
period
 

T. Rowe Price Government Reserve Investment Fund

     90,481,926         226,011,330         (255,146,720     61,346,536       $ 0       $ 36,623   

8. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

9. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-Term Capital Gain      Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$11,215,570    $ 7,918,886       $ 171,416,343       $ 87,583,827       $ 182,631,913       $ 95,502,713   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$10,270,154    $ 263,191,955       $ 590,070,847       $       $ 863,532,956   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

10. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), as of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (each, an “Advisory Agreement”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) and the applicable sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement,” and collectively with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between the Adviser and the investment sub-advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser,” and collectively, the “Sub-Advisers”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser and the Sub-Advisers that the Adviser and Sub-Advisers had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser and, if applicable, the Sub-Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser and Sub-Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser, and the Sub-Advisers as relevant, have provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance programs, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

With respect to the services provided by each of the Sub-Advisers, the Board considered a variety of information that the Adviser and each Sub-Adviser provided. The Board considered each Sub-Adviser’s investment process and philosophy, and the investment performance experienced by the Portfolio (as described in more detail below). The Board took into account that each Sub-Adviser’s

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

responsibilities include the development and maintenance of an investment program for the applicable Portfolio that is consistent with the Portfolio’s investment objectives, the selection of investment securities and the placement of orders for the purchase and sale of such securities, as well as the implementation of compliance controls related to performance of these services. In particular, the Board considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s current level of staffing as well as its compensation program and its overall resources. The Board reviewed each Sub-Adviser’s history and investment experience, as well as information regarding the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the Sub-Adviser’s investment and compliance personnel who provide services to the Portfolios. The Board also considered, among other things, the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program and regulatory and disciplinary history. In its review, the Board also took into account information regarding any services and/or payments provided to the Adviser by the Sub-Advisers in connection with marketing activities.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report. The Board also compared the performance records of certain Portfolios to those of comparable funds that were managed by the relevant Sub-Adviser. At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board was mindful of the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management and sub-adviser fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report. The Board compared the fee payable to a Sub-Adviser by the Portfolio to the fee payable to the Sub-Adviser by other comparable funds and accounts, to the extent such information was available.

The Board noted that the sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of the advisory fee, and that, in the case of an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser, the Adviser negotiates the fee at arm’s length. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. The Board considered the profitability to the Sub-Advisers and their affiliates as a result of their relationships with the Portfolios, to the extent available, and the Board considered the ability of the Adviser to negotiate with an unaffiliated Sub-Adviser at arm’s length. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board also noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board noted that those Portfolios with advisory fee schedules containing breakpoints generally reflect the inclusion of breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule for such Portfolios. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory and Sub-Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by each Sub-Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts, including the opportunity to provide advisory services to additional portfolios of the Trusts and reputational benefits. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s or the Sub-Advisers’ affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

T. Rowe Price Mid Cap Growth Portfolio. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Agreements with the Adviser and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one-, three-, and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014. The Board also considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the Russell Midcap Growth Index, for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the median of the Expense Group, Expense Universe, and Sub-advised Expense Universe. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were below the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the averages of the Sub-advised Expense Group and the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year. The Board also took into account the fact that the Adviser and Sub-Adviser are voluntarily waiving a portion of their advisory fees based on the amount of the Trusts’ assets managed by the Sub-Adviser.

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Managed by Wellington Management Company, LLP

Portfolio Manager Commentary*

 

PERFORMANCE

For the one year period ended December 31, 2014, the Class A, B, and E shares of the WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio returned 13.78%, 13.41%, and 13.62%, respectively. The Portfolio’s benchmark, the Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) 500 Index1, returned 13.69%.

Wellington Management Company, LLP assumed management of the Portfolio on February 3, 2014, prior to which the Portfolio was sub-advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC.

MARKET ENVIRONMENT / CONDITIONS

U.S. equities and other developed-market stocks rose during the one-year period as the S&P 500 Index posted a 13.7% return and the MSCI World Index posted a 5.5% return. Emerging markets trailed, with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index posting a loss of -1.8%, gross of withholding taxes. U.S. stocks began 2014 with their worst month in nearly two years. Worries about a slowdown in China and general angst surrounding emerging markets overshadowed a fairly benign domestic environment. Despite a myriad of adversely weather-influenced economic data, the S&P 500 Index rebounded from January’s pullback and finished February at a new peak. By the end of the second quarter the S&P 500 Index was up 224.4% from its closing low on March 9, 2009. The second half of the year was also bumpy, with U.S. equities sinking in July, rebounding in August, and falling once again around mid-September before recovering in October. U.S. equities hit several all-time highs toward the end of the period, pulling back slightly on the final trading day of November and into December, led by weakness in the Energy sector after Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) had decided to leave production unchanged.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW / PERIOD END POSITIONING

During the period Wellington Management Company, LLP managed the Portfolio, it trailed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, for the period ended December 31, 2014. Stock selection within the Information Technology (“IT”), Industrials, and Energy sectors detracted from relative results. This was partially offset by stronger selection within Health Care, Consumer Staples, and Materials.

Cobalt International Energy, Pandora Media (eliminated during the period), and Santander Consumer USA were among the stocks that detracted most during the period. Not owning strong performing benchmark constituent, Berkshire Hathaway, also weighed on relative performance. Oil-focused exploration and production company Cobalt International Energy’s stock was punished during the quarter as the price of oil (West Texas Intermediate Crude ) plummeted from ~$95 per barrel to ~$53 per barrel. Although Pandora, a subscription music streaming site, reported first quarter revenue and earnings that beat consensus expectations, guidance for the second quarter was below consensus, and concerns regarding slowing growth dampened the stock price. Santander Consumer USA, a leading sub-prime auto lender in the U.S., lagged for the year as investor sentiment around its lending practices turned negative along with its relationship with Santander Holdings, which temporarily impacted its ability to pay dividends.

Lowe’s, Monster Beverage, Altria Group, and Covidien (Ireland) were among the strongest contributors to relative results. Shares of leading home improvement retailer Lowe’s benefited from investor optimism about the home improvement landscape. Monster Beverage, a U.S.-based marketer and distributor of energy drinks, saw its shares jump following an announcement that it had agreed to a long-term strategic partnership with Coca-Cola that is expected to accelerate growth for both companies. Shares of Altria Group, a U.S.-based tobacco company, were boosted by investors’ confidence in the tobacco industry, as well as the rising value of Altria’s stake in SAB Miller. Shares of Covidien, a medical products manufacturer and distributor, soared after medical device giant Medtronic entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the company.

During the period, the Portfolio used equity futures for the purposes of equitizing cash, which aided relative performance.

The Portfolio is generally industry-neutral relative to the benchmark. On an absolute basis, the Portfolio’s largest exposures were to the Technology Hardware & Equipment, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Services, and Software & Services industries at the end of the period. The Portfolio had less exposure to the Telecommunication Services, Automobiles & Components, and Commercial & Professional Services industries.

Cheryl M. Duckworth

Mark D. Mandel

Portfolio Managers

Wellington Management Company, LLP

 

* This commentary may include statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” under the U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, projections, estimates, and information about possible or future results related to the Portfolio, market or regulatory developments. The views expressed above are not guarantees of future performance or economic results and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from the views expressed herein. The views expressed above are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market, or other conditions and the subadvisory firm undertakes no obligation to update the views expressed herein. Any discussions of specific securities should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell those securities. The views expressed above (including any forward-looking statement) may not be relied upon as investment advice or as an indication of the Portfolio’s trading intent. Information about the Portfolio’s holdings, asset allocation or country diversification is historical and is not an indication of future Portfolio composition, which may vary. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of any index mentioned in this commentary has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. In addition, the returns do not reflect additional fees charged by separate accounts or variable insurance contracts that an investor in the Portfolio may pay. If these additional fees were reflected, performance would have been lower.

 

MIST-1


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

A $10,000 INVESTMENT COMPARED TO THE S&P 500 INDEX & THE RUSSELL 1000 INDEX

 

LOGO

AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS (%) (FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014)

 

        1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Since Inception3  
WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio                      

Class A

       13.78           14.48           7.24             

Class B

       13.41           14.18                     5.07   

Class E

       13.62           14.31                     5.18   
S&P 500 Index        13.69           15.45           7.67             
Russell 1000 Index        13.24           15.64           7.96             

1 The Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index is an unmanaged index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation. It is a market-weighted index (stock price times number of shares outstanding) with each stock’s weight in the Index proportionate to its market value.

2 The Russell 1000 Index is an unmanaged measure of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represents approximately 90% of the investable U.S. equity market.

3 Inception dates of the Class A, Class B and Class E shares are 3/23/1998, 4/30/2007 and 4/30/2007, respectively.

Portfolio performance is calculated including reinvestment of all income and capital gain distributions. Performance numbers are net of all Portfolio expenses but do not include any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that participants may bear relating to the operations of their plans. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower. The performance of any index referenced above has not been adjusted for ongoing management, distribution and operating expenses, and sales charges applicable to mutual fund investments. Direct investment in any index is not possible. The performance of Class A shares, as set forth in the line graph above, will differ from that of other classes because of the difference in expenses paid by policyholders investing in the different share classes.

This information represents past performance and is not indicative of future results. Investment return and principal value may fluctuate so that shares, upon redemption, may be worth more or less than the original cost.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

Top Holdings

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Apple, Inc.      5.4   
Citigroup, Inc.      2.5   
Wells Fargo & Co.      2.5   
Microsoft Corp.      2.3   
Coca-Cola Co. (The)      2.0   
Cisco Systems, Inc.      1.6   
Lowe’s Cos., Inc.      1.6   
Comcast Corp. - Class A      1.6   
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)      1.4   
Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A      1.2   

Top Sectors

 

     % of
Net Assets
 
Financials      18.4   
Information Technology      18.2   
Health Care      15.3   
Consumer Discretionary      12.5   
Consumer Staples      9.7   
Industrials      9.4   
Energy      6.8   
Utilities      4.8   
Materials      3.4   

 

MIST-2


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

 

Understanding Your Portfolio’s Expenses

Shareholder Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Portfolio, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Portfolio expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) (referred to as “expenses”) of investing in the Portfolio and compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014.

Actual Expenses

The first line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested in the particular share class of the Portfolio, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line for each share class of the Portfolio in the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Portfolio’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Portfolio’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Portfolio and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any fees or charges of your variable insurance product or any additional expenses that participants in certain eligible qualified plans may bear relating to the operations of their plan. Therefore, the second line for each share class in the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these other costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

        Annualized
Expense
Ratio
     Beginning
Account Value
July 1,
2014
       Ending
Account Value
December 31,
2014
       Expenses Paid
During Period**
July 1, 2014
to
December 31,
2014
 

Class A(a)

   Actual      0.53    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,063.10         $ 2.76   
   Hypothetical*      0.53    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,022.53         $ 2.70   

Class B(a)

   Actual      0.78    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,061.10         $ 4.05   
   Hypothetical*      0.78    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.27         $ 3.97   

Class E(a)

   Actual      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,062.00         $ 3.53   
   Hypothetical*      0.68    $ 1,000.00         $ 1,021.78         $ 3.47   

* Hypothetical assumes a rate of return of 5% per year before expenses.

** Expenses paid are equal to the Portfolio’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six month period, as shown above, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days (184 days) in the most recent fiscal half-year, divided by 365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

(a) The annualized expense ratio shown reflects the impact of the management fee waiver as described in Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements.

 

MIST-3


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—98.5% of Net Assets

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Aerospace & Defense—3.5%

   

General Dynamics Corp.

    54,820      $ 7,544,328   

Honeywell International, Inc.

    260,412        26,020,367   

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    55,950        10,774,292   

Precision Castparts Corp.

    40,090        9,656,879   

Raytheon Co.

    122,820        13,285,440   

United Technologies Corp.

    159,905        18,389,075   
   

 

 

 
      85,670,381   
   

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics—0.5%

   

Echo Global Logistics, Inc. (a)

    36,360        1,061,712   

FedEx Corp.

    57,000        9,898,620   
   

 

 

 
      10,960,332   
   

 

 

 

Airlines—0.2%

   

American Airlines Group, Inc.

    46,840        2,512,029   

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (a)

    36,580        2,446,836   
   

 

 

 
      4,958,865   
   

 

 

 

Automobiles—0.7%

   

Harley-Davidson, Inc.

    248,168        16,356,753   
   

 

 

 

Banks—6.3%

   

Citigroup, Inc.

    1,108,290        59,969,572   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    380,580        34,720,313   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    1,092,790        59,906,748   
   

 

 

 
      154,596,633   
   

 

 

 

Beverages—3.6%

   

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (ADR)

    202,359        22,728,963   

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

    1,129,710        47,696,356   

Monster Beverage Corp. (a)

    151,084        16,369,951   
   

 

 

 
      86,795,270   
   

 

 

 

Biotechnology—2.6%

   

Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    10,500        128,625   

Affimed NV (a)

    96,800        600,160   

Alkermes plc (a)

    197,120        11,543,347   

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    12,520        1,214,440   

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    372,940        1,294,102   

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    13,400        308,736   

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    164,780        2,003,725   

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    66,068        1,088,140   

Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (a) (b)

    41,639        291,473   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a)

    103,750        9,779,475   

GlycoMimetics, Inc. (a)

    108,511        781,279   

Incyte Corp. (a)

    10,700        782,277   

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    147,503        2,259,746   

Juno Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    20,500        1,070,510   

Karyopharm Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    14,522        543,559   

Kite Pharma, Inc. (a) (b)

    24,800        1,430,216   

Novavax, Inc. (a) (b)

    165,270        980,051   

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    61,410        2,196,636   

Otonomy, Inc. (a)

    32,000        1,066,560   

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    24,890        1,288,555   

Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (a) (b)

    3,400        643,518   

Biotechnology—(Continued)

   

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)

    43,216      17,729,364   

Regulus Therapeutics, Inc. (a) (b)

    78,850        1,264,754   

TESARO, Inc. (a) (b)

    41,690        1,550,451   

Trevena, Inc. (a)

    208,530        1,247,009   

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a) (b)

    31,080        1,363,790   
   

 

 

 
      64,450,498   
   

 

 

 

Capital Markets—2.0%

   

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

    112,410        14,866,223   

BlackRock, Inc.

    25,240        9,024,815   

Janus Capital Group, Inc. (b)

    122,125        1,969,876   

Legg Mason, Inc.

    88,090        4,701,363   

Moelis & Co. - Class A

    52,876        1,846,959   

Northern Trust Corp.

    98,210        6,619,354   

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

    63,480        3,636,769   

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.

    60,980        2,181,864   

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

    4,465        761,238   

WisdomTree Investments, Inc. (b)

    157,600        2,470,380   
   

 

 

 
      48,078,841   
   

 

 

 

Chemicals—1.7%

   

Cabot Corp.

    97,240        4,264,946   

Celanese Corp. - Series A

    104,340        6,256,226   

Dow Chemical Co. (The)

    154,870        7,063,621   

LyondellBasell Industries NV - Class A

    70,400        5,589,056   

Mosaic Co. (The)

    131,230        5,990,650   

Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)

    44,350        11,665,824   
   

 

 

 
      40,830,323   
   

 

 

 

Communications Equipment—1.6%

   

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    1,437,880        39,994,632   
   

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering—0.1%

   

AECOM Technology Corp. (a)

    97,093        2,948,714   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Finance—0.9%

   

Santander Consumer USA Holdings, Inc.

    1,089,830        21,371,566   
   

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging—0.8%

   

Ball Corp.

    202,860        13,828,966   

Owens-Illinois, Inc. (a)

    164,400        4,437,156   
   

 

 

 
      18,266,122   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—0.1%

   

McGraw Hill Financial, Inc.

    32,720        2,911,426   
   

 

 

 

Electric Utilities—3.8%

   

American Electric Power Co., Inc.

    38,490        2,337,113   

Duke Energy Corp.

    261,110        21,813,129   

Edison International

    144,420        9,456,622   

Exelon Corp.

    209,210        7,757,507   

FirstEnergy Corp.

    38,020        1,482,400   

ITC Holdings Corp.

    92,690        3,747,457   

NextEra Energy, Inc.

    207,750        22,081,747   

Northeast Utilities

    105,960        5,670,979   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-4


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Electric Utilities—(Continued)

   

Pinnacle West Capital Corp.

    64,960      $ 4,437,418   

Southern Co. (The)

    258,305        12,685,358   
   

 

 

 
      91,469,730   
   

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment—0.5%

   

Eaton Corp. plc

    180,950        12,297,362   
   

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services—0.7%

   

Baker Hughes, Inc.

    149,984        8,409,603   

Halliburton Co.

    60,130        2,364,913   

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

    317,125        5,261,104   

RPC, Inc. (b)

    71,550        933,012   
   

 

 

 
      16,968,632   
   

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing—1.6%

   

CVS Health Corp.

    242,690        23,373,474   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

    218,720        16,666,464   
   

 

 

 
      40,039,938   
   

 

 

 

Food Products—1.7%

   

Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A

    836,240        30,376,418   

Post Holdings, Inc. (a) (b)

    156,632        6,561,315   

SunOpta, Inc. (a)

    292,606        3,467,381   
   

 

 

 
      40,405,114   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies—3.7%

  

Abbott Laboratories

    117,680        5,297,953   

Covidien plc

    254,160        25,995,485   

Medtronic, Inc. (b)

    373,260        26,949,372   

Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. (a) (b)

    64,800        1,524,096   

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

    279,830        18,197,345   

Stryker Corp.

    129,800        12,244,034   
   

 

 

 
      90,208,285   
   

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services—3.5%

  

Aetna, Inc.

    207,550        18,436,667   

Cardinal Health, Inc.

    110,400        8,912,592   

Cigna Corp.

    109,128        11,230,362   

HCA Holdings, Inc. (a)

    257,490        18,897,191   

McKesson Corp.

    82,240        17,071,379   

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

    109,984        11,118,283   
   

 

 

 
      85,666,474   
   

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure—1.3%

   

Las Vegas Sands Corp.

    56,090        3,262,194   

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd. (a)

    85,972        4,020,051   

Starbucks Corp.

    185,840        15,248,172   

Wyndham Worldwide Corp.

    115,996        9,947,817   
   

 

 

 
      32,478,234   
   

 

 

 

Household Durables—0.7%

   

Mohawk Industries, Inc. (a)

    40,440        6,282,758   

Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (a)

    101,100        5,551,401   

Household Durables—(Continued)

   

Whirlpool Corp.

    32,840      6,362,422   
   

 

 

 
      18,196,581   
   

 

 

 

Household Products—0.6%

   

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

    50,240        3,959,414   

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

    57,180        3,956,284   

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

    52,665        6,770,613   
   

 

 

 
      14,686,311   
   

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers—0.1%

  

NRG Energy, Inc.

    58,040        1,564,178   
   

 

 

 

Industrial Conglomerates—1.2%

  

Danaher Corp.

    351,920        30,163,063   
   

 

 

 

Insurance—5.8%

  

Allstate Corp. (The)

    184,780        12,980,795   

American International Group, Inc.

    506,681        28,379,203   

Assured Guaranty, Ltd.

    449,515        11,682,895   

Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

    477,008        19,886,463   

Marsh & McLennan Cos., Inc.

    429,300        24,573,132   

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

    294,320        15,286,981   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    164,200        14,853,532   

XL Group plc

    414,900        14,260,113   
   

 

 

 
      141,903,114   
   

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail—1.0%

  

Amazon.com, Inc. (a)

    59,593        18,494,687   

Netflix, Inc. (a)

    13,695        4,678,349   
   

 

 

 
      23,173,036   
   

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services—1.1%

  

Envestnet, Inc. (a)

    41,161        2,022,651   

Facebook, Inc. - Class A (a)

    236,080        18,418,962   

Google, Inc. - Class A (a)

    11,220        5,954,005   
   

 

 

 
      26,395,618   
   

 

 

 

IT Services—4.0%

  

Accenture plc - Class A

    147,818        13,201,626   

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

    140,560        11,718,487   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. - Class A (a)

    204,083        10,747,011   

EVERTEC, Inc.

    155,750        3,446,747   

Genpact, Ltd. (a)

    484,345        9,168,651   

Global Payments, Inc.

    75,190        6,070,089   

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (b)

    110,107        5,940,273   

Visa, Inc. - Class A

    104,025        27,275,355   

WEX, Inc. (a)

    89,784        8,881,433   
   

 

 

 
      96,449,672   
   

 

 

 

Leisure Products—0.1%

  

Arctic Cat, Inc. (b)

    75,598        2,683,729   
   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-5


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description   Shares     Value  

Life Sciences Tools & Services—0.6%

  

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

    108,300      $ 4,433,802   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

    78,780        9,870,346   
   

 

 

 
      14,304,148   
   

 

 

 

Machinery—1.8%

  

Dover Corp.

    119,380        8,561,933   

Illinois Tool Works, Inc.

    200,440        18,981,668   

Luxfer Holdings plc (ADR)

    129,900        1,939,407   

Pentair plc

    201,240        13,366,361   
   

 

 

 
      42,849,369   
   

 

 

 

Media—3.7%

   

Charter Communications, Inc. - Class A (a)

    132,740        22,117,139   

Comcast Corp. - Class A

    660,170        38,296,461   

Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc. (The)

    244,109        5,070,144   

Markit, Ltd. (a)

    99,800        2,637,714   

National CineMedia, Inc.

    65,398        939,769   

Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. - Class A

    370,461        14,227,555   

Walt Disney Co. (The)

    74,246        6,993,231   
   

 

 

 
      90,282,013   
   

 

 

 

Metals & Mining—0.2%

   

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

    56,900        1,978,413   

Nucor Corp.

    28,305        1,388,360   

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.

    41,700        2,554,959   
   

 

 

 
      5,921,732   
   

 

 

 

Multi-Utilities—1.0%

   

Ameren Corp.

    139,250        6,423,603   

DTE Energy Co.

    69,730        6,022,580   

PG&E Corp.

    145,810        7,762,924   

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.

    72,600        3,006,366   
   

 

 

 
      23,215,473   
   

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels—6.2%

   

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    136,296        11,244,420   

Chevron Corp.

    118,090        13,247,336   

Cobalt International Energy, Inc. (a)

    1,311,367        11,658,053   

Concho Resources, Inc. (a)

    113,750        11,346,562   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

    132,750        4,488,278   

Diamondback Energy, Inc. (a)

    84,020        5,022,716   

Enbridge, Inc. (b)

    389,029        19,999,981   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    107,150        9,865,300   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

    237,880        21,992,006   

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

    113,626        4,807,516   

Memorial Resource Development Corp. (a)

    188,591        3,400,296   

Noble Energy, Inc.

    59,920        2,842,006   

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

    110,040        16,379,454   

Rice Energy, Inc. (a) (b)

    124,160        2,603,635   

Whiting Petroleum Corp. (a)

    275,750        9,099,750   

Williams Cos., Inc. (The)

    47,410        2,130,605   
   

 

 

 
      150,127,914   
   

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products—0.8%

   

Boise Cascade Co. (a)

    173,344      6,439,730   

International Paper Co.

    226,000        12,109,080   
   

 

 

 
      18,548,810   
   

 

 

 

Personal Products—0.6%

   

Coty, Inc. - Class A (a)

    373,420        7,714,857   

Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (The) - Class A

    51,940        3,957,828   

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. - Class A (b)

    65,409        2,858,374   
   

 

 

 
      14,531,059   
   

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—4.8%

   

Achaogen, Inc. (a) (b)

    60,140        784,827   

Actavis plc (a)

    62,670        16,131,885   

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    47,790        1,394,990   

AstraZeneca plc (ADR)

    181,080        12,744,410   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    465,130        27,456,624   

Johnson & Johnson

    191,770        20,053,389   

Merck & Co., Inc.

    457,193        25,963,990   

Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. (a) (b)

    118,630        4,118,834   

Relypsa, Inc. (a)

    51,090        1,573,572   

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) (b)

    55,990        2,223,363   

Zoetis, Inc.

    112,030        4,820,651   
   

 

 

 
      117,266,535   
   

 

 

 

Professional Services—1.1%

   

Equifax, Inc.

    95,177        7,696,964   

ManpowerGroup, Inc.

    75,040        5,115,477   

Nielsen NV

    158,921        7,108,536   

Robert Half International, Inc.

    42,570        2,485,237   

TriNet Group, Inc. (a)

    156,015        4,880,149   
   

 

 

 
      27,286,363   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts—3.2%

   

American Tower Corp.

    184,399        18,227,841   

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

    115,075        18,802,104   

Public Storage

    63,950        11,821,158   

Simon Property Group, Inc.

    50,001        9,105,682   

SL Green Realty Corp.

    87,670        10,434,483   

Weyerhaeuser Co.

    291,630        10,466,601   
   

 

 

 
      78,857,869   
   

 

 

 

Road & Rail—0.5%

   

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (b)

    30,050        2,531,713   

Kansas City Southern

    25,440        3,104,443   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

    33,670        3,690,569   

Swift Transportation Co. (a)

    103,950        2,976,088   
   

 

 

 
      12,302,813   
   

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—2.3%

  

Applied Materials, Inc.

    321,420        8,009,786   

First Solar, Inc. (a) (b)

    28,495        1,270,735   

Freescale Semiconductor, Ltd. (a) (b)

    634,097        15,998,267   

Intel Corp.

    736,698        26,734,771   

Lam Research Corp.

    45,760        3,630,598   

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-6


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

Common Stocks—(Continued)

 

Security Description  

Shares

    Value  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment—(Continued)

  

SunPower Corp. (a) (b)

    45,280      $ 1,169,582   
   

 

 

 
      56,813,739   
   

 

 

 

Software—2.3%

   

Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (a) (b)

    73,310        1,390,691   

Microsoft Corp.

    1,200,000        55,740,000   
   

 

 

 
      57,130,691   
   

 

 

 

Specialty Retail—4.2%

   

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

    137,337        21,875,037   

AutoZone, Inc. (a)

    13,027        8,065,146   

L Brands, Inc.

    129,370        11,196,974   

Lowe’s Cos., Inc.

    574,800        39,546,240   

Ross Stores, Inc.

    91,690        8,642,699   

Signet Jewelers, Ltd.

    105,813        13,921,817   
   

 

 

 
      103,247,913   
   

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals—6.8%

  

Apple, Inc.

    1,198,781        132,321,447   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

    323,210        12,970,417   

Western Digital Corp.

    188,598        20,877,799   
   

 

 

 
      166,169,663   
   

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods—0.8%

  

Ralph Lauren Corp.

    45,740        8,469,218   

VF Corp.

    147,120        11,019,288   
   

 

 

 
      19,488,506   
   

 

 

 

Tobacco—1.6%

   

Altria Group, Inc.

    538,720        26,542,734   

Lorillard, Inc.

    205,170        12,913,400   
   

 

 

 
      39,456,134   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $2,144,199,102)

      2,400,740,171   
   

 

 

 
Short-Term Investments—4.7%   

Mutual Fund—3.3%

   

State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (c)

    80,066,208        80,066,208   
   

 

 

 
Security Description   Principal
Amount*
    Value  

Repurchase Agreement—1.4%

   

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. Repurchase Agreement dated 12/31/14 at 0.000% to be repurchased at $33,518,761 on 01/02/15, collateralized by $34,675,000 U.S. Treasury Note at 0.750% due 03/31/18 with a value of $34,190,798.

    33,518,761      33,518,761   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $113,584,969)

      113,584,969   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments—103.2%
(Cost $2,257,784,071) (d)

      2,514,325,140   

Other assets and liabilities
(net)—(3.2)%

      (77,573,646
   

 

 

 
Net Assets—100.0%     $ 2,436,751,494   
   

 

 

 

 

* Principal amount stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of the security was held on loan. As of December 31, 2014, the market value of securities loaned was $79,239,546 and the collateral received consisted of cash in the amount of $80,066,208 and non-cash collateral with a value of $1,453,280. The cash collateral is invested in a money market fund managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The non-cash collateral received consists primarily of government securities and bank letters of credit, and is held for the benefit of the Portfolio at the Portfolio’s custodian. The Portfolio cannot repledge or resell this collateral. As such, this collateral is excluded from the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(c) Represents investment of cash collateral received from securities lending transactions.
(d) As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $2,268,486,981. The aggregate unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments were $290,270,449 and $(44,432,290), respectively, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $245,838,159 for federal income tax purposes.
(ADR)— An American Depositary Receipt is a certificate issued by a custodian bank representing the right to receive securities of the foreign issuer described. Trading on exchanges not located in the United States or Canada significantly influences the value of ADRs.

Futures Contracts

 

Futures Contracts—Long

   Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Amount
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 

S&P 500 E-Mini Index Futures

     03/20/15         279         USD 28,890,489       $ (259,509

 

(USD)— United States Dollar

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-7


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2014

 

Fair Value Hierarchy

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) define fair market value as the price that the Portfolio would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. It establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation methods and requires disclosure of the fair value hierarchy that segregates fair value measurements into three levels. Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy are defined as follows:

Level 1 - unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 - other significant observable inputs (including, but not limited to, unadjusted quoted prices for similar investments in markets that are either active or inactive; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks, default rates, etc.)

Level 3 - significant unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are unavailable (including the Portfolio’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in them. Changes to the inputs or methodologies used may result in transfers between levels, which will be recognized as of the beginning of the reporting period. Information on transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, if any, will be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table below. A reconciliation of Level 3 securities, if any, will also be disclosed following the fair value hierarchy table. For more information about the Portfolio’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.

The following table summarizes the fair value hierarchy of the Portfolio’s investments as of December 31, 2014:

 

Description    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3      Total  

Total Common Stocks*

   $ 2,400,740,171      $ —        $ —         $ 2,400,740,171   
Short-Term Investments          

Mutual Fund

     80,066,208        —          —           80,066,208   

Repurchase Agreement

     —          33,518,761        —           33,518,761   

Total Short-Term Investments

     80,066,208        33,518,761        —           113,584,969   

Total Investments

   $ 2,480,806,379      $ 33,518,761      $ —         $ 2,514,325,140   
                                   

Collateral for securities loaned (Liability)

   $ —        $ (80,066,208   $ —         $ (80,066,208
Futures Contracts          

Futures Contracts (Unrealized Depreciation)

   $ (259,509   $ —        $ —         $ (259,509

 

* See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-8


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

December 31, 2014

 

Assets

  

Investments at value (a) (b)

   $ 2,514,325,140   

Cash

     61,493   

Cash collateral

     1,411,740   

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold

     11,841,562   

Fund shares sold

     37,956   

Dividends

     2,554,323   

Prepaid expenses

     6,112   
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     2,530,238,326   

Liabilities

  

Collateral for securities loaned

     80,066,208   

Payables for:

  

Investments purchased

     10,396,715   

Fund shares redeemed

     1,276,775   

Variation margin on futures contracts

     338,985   

Accrued expenses:

  

Management fees

     1,005,548   

Distribution and service fees

     41,055   

Deferred trustees’ fees

     67,424   

Other expenses

     294,122   
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     93,486,832   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,436,751,494   
  

 

 

 

Net assets consist of:

  

Paid in surplus

   $ 1,999,968,164   

Undistributed net investment income

     21,845,575   

Accumulated net realized gain

     158,656,195   

Unrealized appreciation on investments and futures contracts

     256,281,560   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

   $ 2,436,751,494   
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

  

Class A

   $ 2,207,622,553   

Class B

     138,974,822   

Class E

     90,154,119   

Capital Shares Outstanding*

  

Class A

     152,407,474   

Class B

     9,750,106   

Class E

     6,267,139   

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share

  

Class A

   $ 14.49   

Class B

     14.25   

Class E

     14.39   

 

* The Portfolio is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares.
(a) Identified cost of investments was $2,257,784,071.
(b) Includes securities loaned at value of $79,239,546.

Statement of Operations

 

Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

Investment Income

  

Dividends (a)

   $ 33,876,136   

Securities lending income

     352,699   
  

 

 

 

Total investment income

     34,228,835   

Expenses

  

Management fees

     11,485,647   

Administration fees

     47,216   

Custodian and accounting fees

     168,839   

Distribution and service fees—Class B

     334,027   

Distribution and service fees—Class E

     135,940   

Audit and tax services

     35,036   

Legal

     50,504   

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     43,760   

Shareholder reporting

     411,958   

Insurance

     11,815   

Miscellaneous

     16,257   
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

     12,740,999   

Less management fee waiver

     (1,519,062

Less broker commission recapture

     (22,985
  

 

 

 

Net expenses

     11,198,952   
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     23,029,883   
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

  
Net realized gain (loss) on:   

Investments

     343,131,049   

Futures contracts

     (127,218

Foreign currency transactions

     (1,392
  

 

 

 

Net realized gain

     343,002,439   
  

 

 

 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:   

Investments

     (74,587,608

Futures contracts

     (259,509
  

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized depreciation

     (74,847,117
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain

     268,155,322   
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Net Assets From Operations

   $ 291,185,205   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) Net of foreign withholding taxes of $204,009.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-9


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2014
    Year Ended
December 31,
2013
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:

    

From Operations

    

Net investment income

   $ 23,029,883      $ 11,583,717   

Net realized gain

     343,002,439        125,234,656   

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (74,847,117     209,063,155   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in net assets from operations

     291,185,205        345,881,528   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

From Distributions to Shareholders

    

Net investment income

    

Class A

     (9,997,703     (13,732,623

Class B

     (973,334     (1,450,254

Class E

     (735,714     (1,130,845
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (11,706,751     (16,313,722
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions

     869,688,238        (104,463,849
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     1,149,166,692        225,103,957   

Net Assets

    

Beginning of period

     1,287,584,802        1,062,480,845   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

   $ 2,436,751,494      $ 1,287,584,802   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Undistributed net investment income

    

End of period

   $ 21,845,575      $ 11,486,165   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Information:

Capital Shares

Transactions in capital shares were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2014
    Year Ended
December 31, 2013
 
     Shares     Value     Shares     Value  

Class A

        

Sales

     82,577,074      $ 1,068,466,751        1,426,710      $ 15,892,760   

Reinvestments

     787,842        9,997,703        1,343,701        13,732,623   

Redemptions

     (13,489,908     (184,914,149     (10,114,518     (112,671,840
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease)

     69,875,008      $ 893,550,305        (7,344,107   $ (83,046,457
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class B

        

Sales

     1,381,270      $ 18,289,839        1,404,397      $ 15,446,313   

Reinvestments

     77,805        973,334        143,874        1,450,254   

Redemptions

     (2,139,140     (28,291,386     (2,416,426     (26,460,596
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (680,065   $ (9,028,213     (868,155   $ (9,564,029
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Class E

        

Sales

     335,955      $ 4,491,486        597,301      $ 6,591,050   

Reinvestments

     58,297        735,714        111,304        1,130,845   

Redemptions

     (1,507,102     (20,061,054     (1,769,279     (19,575,258
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease

     (1,112,850   $ (14,833,854     (1,060,674   $ (11,853,363
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) derived from capital shares transactions

     $ 869,688,238        $ (104,463,849
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-10


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class A  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.86       $ 9.71       $ 8.65       $ 8.70       $ 7.82   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.16         0.11         0.14         0.11         0.10   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.59         3.20         1.03         (0.06      0.89   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.75         3.31         1.17         0.05         0.99   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.12      (0.16      (0.11      (0.10      (0.11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.12      (0.16      (0.11      (0.10      (0.11
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.49       $ 12.86       $ 9.71       $ 8.65       $ 8.70   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.78         34.49         13.59         0.46         12.64   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.60         0.62         0.64         0.64         0.64   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)(d)

     0.53         0.60         0.63         0.63         0.64   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     1.16         1.03         1.54         1.20         1.21   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     136         42         103         98         133   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 2,207.6       $ 1,061.3       $ 873.0       $ 853.3       $ 939.4   
     Class B  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.66       $ 9.56       $ 8.52       $ 8.58       $ 7.72   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.12         0.09         0.12         0.09         0.08   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.57         3.14         1.01         (0.07      0.87   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.69         3.23         1.13         0.02         0.95   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.10      (0.13      (0.09      (0.08      (0.09
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.10      (0.13      (0.09      (0.08      (0.09
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.25       $ 12.66       $ 9.56       $ 8.52       $ 8.58   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.41         34.17         13.32         0.18         12.36   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.85         0.87         0.89         0.89         0.89   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)(d)

     0.78         0.85         0.88         0.88         0.89   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.87         0.78         1.29         0.99         0.98   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     136         42         103         98         133   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 139.0       $ 132.0       $ 108.1       $ 99.0       $ 79.3   

Please see following page for Financial Highlights footnote legend.

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-11


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Financial Highlights

 

Selected per share data                                   
     Class E  
     Year Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

   $ 12.77       $ 9.65       $ 8.59       $ 8.65       $ 7.77   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations

              

Net investment income (a)

     0.13         0.10         0.13         0.09         0.08   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     1.60         3.16         1.03         (0.06      0.89   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total from investment operations

     1.73         3.26         1.16         0.03         0.97   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less Distributions

              

Distributions from net investment income

     (0.11      (0.14      (0.10      (0.09      (0.09
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (0.11      (0.14      (0.10      (0.09      (0.09
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Asset Value, End of Period

   $ 14.39       $ 12.77       $ 9.65       $ 8.59       $ 8.65   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Return (%) (b)

     13.62         34.17         13.51         0.21         12.58   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

              

Gross ratio of expenses to average net assets (%)

     0.75         0.77         0.79         0.79         0.79   

Net ratio of expenses to average net assets (%) (c)(d)

     0.68         0.75         0.78         0.78         0.79   

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (%)

     0.97         0.88         1.39         1.04         1.06   

Portfolio turnover rate (%)

     136         42         103         98         133   

Net assets, end of period (in millions)

   $ 90.2       $ 94.3       $ 81.4       $ 94.8       $ 105.2   

 

(a) Per share amounts based on average shares outstanding during the period.
(b) Total return does not reflect any insurance, sales, separate account or administrative charges of variable annuity or life insurance contracts or any additional expenses that contract owners may bear under their variable contracts. If these charges were included, the returns would be lower.
(c) Includes the effects of management fee waivers (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).
(d) The effect of the voluntary portion of the waivers on average net assets was 0.04% for the year ended December 31, 2014 (see Note 6 of the Notes to Financial Statements).

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

MIST-12


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014

 

1. Organization

Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”) is organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Trust, which is managed by MetLife Advisers, LLC (“MetLife Advisers” or the “Adviser”), an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., currently offers forty-seven series, each of which operates as a distinct investment vehicle of the Trust. The portfolio included in this report is WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio (the “Portfolio”), which is diversified. On February 3, 2014, Wellington Management Company, LLP succeeded BlackRock Advisors, LLC as the subadviser to the Portfolio and the name of the Portfolio was changed from the BlackRock Large Cap Core Portfolio to the WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio. Shares in the Portfolio are not offered directly to the general public and are currently available only to separate accounts established by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and other affiliated life insurance companies.

The Portfolio has registered four classes of shares: Class A, B, C and E shares. Class A, B and E shares are currently offered by the Portfolio. Shares of each Class of the Portfolio represent an equal pro rata interest in the Portfolio and generally give the shareholder the same voting, dividend, liquidation, and other rights. Investment income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, the common expenses of the Portfolio, and certain Portfolio-level expense reductions, if any, are allocated on a pro rata basis to each Class based on the relative net assets of each Class to the net assets of the Portfolio. Each Class of shares differs in its respective distribution plan and such distribution expenses are allocated to that Class.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the preparation of these financial statements, management has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 2014 through the date the financial statements were issued. The Portfolio is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946—Financial Services—Investment Companies.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio in the preparation of its financial statements.

Investment Valuation and Fair Value Measurements - Debt securities, including corporate, convertible and municipal bonds and notes; obligations of the U.S. treasury and U.S. government agencies; sovereign issues; floating rate loans; and non-U.S. bonds, are generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser, pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board” or “Trustees”). Such quotations utilize matrix pricing, which considers observable inputs including, among other things, issuer details, maturity dates, interest rates, yield curves, rates of prepayment, credit risks/spreads, default rates, reported trades, broker dealer quotes and quoted prices for similar securities. Securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Mortgage and asset-backed securities are usually issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal. These securities are also generally valued on the basis of evaluated or composite bid quotations obtained from independent pricing services and/or brokers and dealers selected by the Adviser pursuant to authorization of and subject to general oversight by the Board. The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche and current market data, and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available. Mortgage and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Short term obligations with a remaining maturity of sixty days or less are generally valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair market value, and are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Domestic and foreign equity securities, such as common stock, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, and preferred stock, that are traded on a securities exchange, are generally valued at their last sale price on the exchange or market in which they are principally traded on the valuation date, or, if no sales occurred on that day, at the last reported bid price. Equity securities traded over-the-counter are generally valued at the last reported sale price. Valuation adjustments may be applied to certain foreign equity securities that are traded solely on foreign exchanges that close before the close of the U.S. market to account for the market movement between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the U.S. market. The Portfolio may use a systematic fair valuation model provided by an independent third party to value securities principally traded in these foreign markets in order to adjust for possible stale pricing that may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the time of the Portfolio valuation. Foreign equity securities using these valuation adjustments are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. Equity securities that are actively traded, and have no valuation adjustments applied, are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Other equity securities traded on inactive markets, or valued in reference to similar instruments traded on active markets, are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

 

MIST-13


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Investments in registered open-end management investment companies are valued at reported net asset value per share on the valuation date and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued through an independent pricing service based on the mean between closing bid and ask prices of the forward currency rates in the London foreign exchange markets on a daily basis as provided by a reliable bank or dealer. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, whether on securities, indices, futures contracts, or otherwise, traded on exchanges are valued at the last sale price available as of the close of business on the valuation date or, if there is no such price available, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices. These types of options are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. Futures contracts that are traded on commodity exchanges, are valued at their closing prices as of the close of such exchanges and are categorized as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.

Options, including swaptions, and futures contracts that are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”) are generally valued on the basis of quotations provided by broker-dealers or prices provided by pricing service providers who use a series of techniques, including simulation pricing models, to determine the value of the contracts. The pricing models use inputs that are observed from actively quoted markets such as issuer details, indices, spreads, interest rates, yield curves, credit curves, measures of volatility and exchange rates. These contracts are generally categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

If no current market value quotation or other observable inputs are readily available or market value quotations are deemed to be unreliable for a security, the fair value of the security will be determined in accordance with procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Board. In such a circumstance, the Board will be assisted in its responsibility to determine the fair value of a security by the Valuation Committee (“Committee”) of MetLife Advisers. The Committee provides general pricing oversight and fair value pricing determinations related to portfolio securities and meets on a regular basis to review reports relating to the valuation of the securities in the Portfolio. The Board has delegated to State Street Bank and Trust Company, the Trust’s custodian (“custodian”), the responsibility for calculating the net asset values (“NAVs”) of the Trust’s Portfolios. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the calculation of the NAVs of the Portfolios by the custodian. The Committee also periodically reviews pricing vendors, including the vendor providing fair value pricing for the Portfolio’s foreign securities, and is responsible for overseeing the correction of pricing errors and addressing other pricing issues that arise in the ordinary course of business, such as making real-time fair value determinations, as necessary.

No single standard for determining the fair value of a security can be set forth because fair value depends upon the facts and circumstances with respect to each security. Information relating to any relevant factors may be obtained by the Committee from any appropriate source, including the subadviser of the Portfolio, the custodian, a pricing service, market maker and/or broker for such security or the issuer. Appropriate methodologies for determining fair value under particular circumstances may include: matrix pricing, comparisons of securities with comparable characteristics, value based on multiples of earnings, discount from market price of similar marketable securities or a combination of these and other methods. The Committee maintains a detailed report tracking each fair-valued security that compares the fair value price to the next available trade, vendor or broker price, and provides information on how close the fair value price was to the next quoted price. The Committee reviews a summary of such report monthly. On a quarterly basis, the Board is provided with the following for consideration and ratification or adjustment: (1) a memorandum summarizing the actions taken by the Committee in the prior quarter; and (2) a list of the Portfolio’s securities as of the most recent quarter-end for which market quotations were not readily available.

Investment Transactions and Related Investment Income - Portfolio security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for certain foreign securities, when notified. Interest income, which includes amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are determined on the identified cost basis, which is the same basis used for federal income tax purposes. Foreign income and foreign capital gains on some foreign securities may be subject to foreign taxes, which are accrued as applicable. These foreign taxes have been provided for in accordance with the Portfolio’s understanding of the applicable countries’ tax rules and rates.

Foreign Currency Translation - The books and records of the Portfolio are maintained in U.S. dollars. The values of securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars based upon foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Because the values of investment securities are translated at the foreign exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period, that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in exchange rates and that portion of the results of operations reflecting fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of the investment securities are not separated. Such fluctuations are included in the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from activity in forward foreign currency exchange contracts, sales of foreign currency, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Portfolio and the U.S. dollar equivalent of

 

MIST-14


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

the amounts actually received or paid by the Portfolio. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities, other than investment securities, resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates.

Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders - The Portfolio records dividends and distributions on the ex-dividend date. Net realized gains from security transactions (if any) are generally distributed annually to shareholders. The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal tax regulations that may differ from GAAP. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassification between under/over distributed net investment income, accumulated net realized gains/losses, and paid-in surplus. Book-tax differences are primarily due to foreign currency transactions, return of capital adjustments and commission recapture. These adjustments have no impact on net assets or the results of operations.

Income Taxes - It is the Portfolio’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder, applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute, with respect to each taxable year, all of its taxable income to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Portfolio files U.S. federal tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The Portfolio’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no uncertain tax positions that would require financial statement recognition, or de-recognition or disclosure.

Repurchase Agreements - The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements, under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”), with selected commercial banks and broker-dealers, under which the Portfolio acquires securities as collateral and agrees to resell the securities at an agreed-upon time and at an agreed-upon price. The Portfolio, through the custodian or a subcustodian, receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing any repurchase agreements. The Portfolio requires the custodian to take possession, to have legally segregated in the Federal Reserve Book Entry System, or to have segregated within the custodian’s vault, all securities held as collateral for repurchase agreements. It is the Portfolio’s policy that the market value of the collateral be at least equal to 100% of the repurchase price in the case of a repurchase agreement of one-day duration and at least equal to 102% of the repurchase price in the case of all other repurchase agreements. In the event of default or failure by a party to perform an obligation in connection with any repurchase transaction, the MRA gives the non-defaulting party the right to set-off claims and to apply property held by it in connection with any repurchase transaction against obligations owed to it.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had investments in repurchase agreements with a gross value of $33,518,761, which is included as part of investments at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the repurchase agreements at December 31, 2014.

Securities Lending - The Portfolio may lend its portfolio securities to certain qualified brokers who borrow securities in order to complete certain securities transactions. By lending its portfolio securities, the Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of income on collateral held from securities on loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the loaned securities that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared during the term of the loan would accrue to the account of the Portfolio.

The Trust has entered into a Securities Lending Authorization Agreement with the custodian as the lending agent. Under this agreement, the custodian is authorized to loan portfolio securities on the Portfolio’s behalf. In exchange, the Portfolio receives either cash or securities as collateral against the loaned securities. The Portfolio receives collateral equal to at least 102% of the market value of the loaned securities (105% for foreign equity securities), at each loan’s inception. Collateral representing at least 100% of the market value of the loaned securities must be maintained for the duration of the loan. Cash collateral is generally invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending MET Portfolio (the “Navigator Portfolio”), a series of the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Trust that is managed by an affiliate of the custodian. The Navigator Portfolio is a registered money market fund that invests in a variety of high-quality, U.S. dollar-denominated instruments. If the market value of the collateral at the close of trading on a business day is less than 100% of the market value of the loaned securities at the close of trading on that day, the borrower shall be required to deliver, by the close of business on the following business day, an additional amount of collateral, so that the total amount of posted collateral is equal to at least 100% of the market value of all the loaned securities as of such preceding day. A portion of net income (income after the deduction of expenses and fees of the Navigator Portfolio) on the collateral is rebated to the borrower of the securities and the remainder is split between the custodian and the Portfolio. On loans collateralized by U.S. Treasuries, a fee is received from the borrower and is allocated between the Portfolio and the custodian. Income received by the Portfolio in securities lending transactions during the year ended December 31, 2014 is reflected as Securities lending income on the Statement of Operations. The values of any securities loaned by the Portfolio and the related collateral at December 31, 2014 are disclosed in the footnotes to the Schedule of Investments. The value of the related collateral received by the Portfolio exceeded the value of the securities out on loan at December 31, 2014.

The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities, possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially, as well as risk of loss in the value of the collateral or the value of the investments made with the collateral. The lending agent shall indemnify the Portfolio in the case of default of any securities borrower.

 

MIST-15


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Directed Brokerage Agreement - The Trust has entered into a directed brokerage arrangement with State Street Global Markets (“SSGM”). Under this arrangement, the Portfolio directs certain trades to SSGM in return for a recapture credit. SSGM issues a cash rebate to the Portfolio. Amounts paid to the Portfolio are shown separately as broker commission recapture on the Statement of Operations of the Portfolio. Additionally, these amounts have been excluded from the calculation of the net ratio of expenses to average net assets presented in the Financial Highlights for each share class.

3. Investments in Derivative Instruments

Futures Contracts - The Portfolio may buy and sell futures contracts as a hedge, to maintain investment exposure to a target asset class or to enhance return. The Portfolio may be subject to fluctuations in equity prices, interest rates, commodity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates in the normal course of pursuing its investment objective. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell a security, or deliver a final cash settlement price in connection with an index, interest rate, currency, or other asset. The Portfolio must deposit an amount (“initial margin”) equal to a certain percentage of the face value of the futures contract. The initial margin may be in the form of cash or securities, which is returned when the Portfolio’s obligations under the contract have been satisfied. If cash is deposited as the initial margin, it is shown as cash collateral on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts are marked-to-market daily, and subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Portfolio depending on whether unrealized gains or losses are incurred. These amounts are reflected as receivables or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and as a component of net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expires, the Portfolio records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed. Risks of entering into futures contracts (and related options) include the possibility that the market for these instruments may be illiquid and that a change in the value of the contract or option may not correlate perfectly with changes in the value of the underlying instrument. If futures contracts are exchange-traded, the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default. For over-the-counter futures, the Portfolio’s ability to terminate the positions may be more limited than in the case of exchange-traded positions and may also involve the risk that securities dealers participating in such transactions would fail to meet their obligations to the Portfolio.

At December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had the following derivatives, categorized by risk exposure:

 

    

Liability Derivatives

 

Risk Exposure

  

Statement of Assets &

Liabilities Location

   Fair Value  

Equity

   Unrealized depreciation on futures contracts*    $ 259,509   
     

 

 

 

Total

      $ 259,509   
     

 

 

 

 

  * Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only the current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Transactions in derivative instruments during the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   Equity  

Futures contracts

   $ (127,218
  

 

 

 

Statement of Operations Location—Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

   Equity  

Futures contracts

   $ (259,509
  

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the average amount or number per contract outstanding for each derivative type was as follows:

 

Derivative Description

   Average
Notional Par or
Face Amount‡
 

Futures contracts long

   $ 9,630   

 

  Averages are based on activity levels for a five month period during 2014.

 

MIST-16


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

4. Certain Risks

Market Risk: In the normal course of business, the Portfolio invests in securities and enters into transactions where risks exist due to fluctuations in the market (“market risk”) or failure of the other party to a transaction to perform (“credit and counterparty risk”). The value of securities held by the Portfolio may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies whose securities are owned by the Portfolio; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; and currency, interest rate, and price fluctuations.

Credit and Counterparty Risk: The Portfolio may be exposed to counterparty risk, or the risk that an entity with which the Portfolio has unsettled or open transactions may default. The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements. Financial assets that potentially expose the Portfolio to credit and counterparty risk consist principally of cash due from counterparties and investments. The Portfolio manages counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that it believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. The Portfolio’s investment adviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment, and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. In order to preserve certain safeguards for non-standard settlement trades, the Portfolio restricts its exposure to credit and counterparty losses by entering into master netting agreements (“Master Agreements”) with counterparties (approved brokers) with whom it undertakes a significant volume of transactions. Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions, and reduce the counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels.

Repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements are primarily executed under Global Master Repurchase Agreements (“GMRAs”) or MRAs, which provide the rights to set-off. Each repurchase and reverse repurchase agreement is initially collateralized at the transaction level. In the event of default, the total market value exposure will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable/(payable) that would be due from/to the counterparty.

Customer Account Agreements and related addenda govern cleared derivatives transactions such as futures, options on futures, and cleared OTC derivatives. Cleared derivative transactions require posting of initial margin as determined by each relevant clearing agency, which is segregated at a broker account registered with the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), or the applicable regulator. In the U.S., counterparty risk is significantly reduced as creditors of the futures broker do not have claim to Portfolio assets in the segregated account. Additionally, portability of exposure in the event of default further reduces risk to the Portfolio. Variation margin, or changes in market value, are exchanged daily, but may not be netted between futures and cleared OTC derivatives.

Additional risks associated with each type of investment are described above within the respective security type notes. The Portfolio’s prospectus includes a discussion of the principal risks of investing in the Portfolio.

5. Investment Transactions

Aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds of sales of investment securities, excluding short-term securities, for the year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Purchases

     Sales  

U.S. Government

   Non U.S. Government      U.S. Government      Non U.S. Government  
$0    $ 3,638,565,155       $ 0       $ 2,777,355,291   

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio engaged in security transactions with other affiliated portfolios. These amounted to $357,450,365 in purchases and $3,825,820 in sales of investments, which are included above.

 

MIST-17


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

6. Investment Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates

Investment Management Agreement - MetLife Advisers is the investment adviser to the Portfolio. The Trust has entered into an investment management agreement with MetLife Advisers with respect to the Portfolio. For providing investment management services to the Portfolio, MetLife Advisers receives monthly compensation at the following annual rates:

 

Management
Fees earned by
MetLife Advisers
for the year ended
December 31, 2014

   % per annum     Average Daily Net Assets
$11,485,647      0.625   First $250 million
     0.600   $250 million to $500 million
     0.575   $500 million to $1 billion
     0.550   $1 billion to $2 billion
     0.500   Over $2 billion

MetLife Advisers has entered into an investment subadvisory agreement with respect to managing the Portfolio. Effective February 3, 2014, Wellington Management Company, LLP is compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio. Prior to February 3, 2014, BlackRock Advisors LLC was compensated by MetLife Advisers to provide subadvisory services for the Portfolio.

Management Fee Waiver - Pursuant to a management fee waiver agreement, MetLife Advisers has agreed, for the period February 3, 2014 to April 30, 2015, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.070%    First $250 million
0.045%    $250 million to $2 billion
(0.005%)    $2 billion to $21.25 billion

Prior to February 3, 2014 the Adviser had agreed, for the period April 29, 2013 to February 2, 2014, to reduce its advisory fees set out above under “Investment Management Agreement” for each class of the Portfolio as follows:

 

% per annum reduction

   Average Daily Net Assets
0.025%    $500 million to $2 billion

Amounts waived for the year ended December 31, 2014 amounted to $804,575 and are included in the total amount shown as management fee waivers in the Statement of Operations.

Effective February 3, 2014, the Subadviser has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its subadvisory fees payable by the Adviser to the Subadviser for managing the Portfolio. In addition to the above advisory fee waiver, the Adviser has agreed to reduce its advisory fee reflecting a portion of the amount waived by the Subadviser for managing the Portfolio pursuant to the voluntary subadvisory fee waiver. $714,487 was waived in the aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2014 and is reflected in the total amount shown as a management fee waiver in the Statement of Operations.

Certain officers and trustees of the Trust may also be officers of the Adviser; however, such officers and trustees receive no compensation from the Trust.

Transfer Agency Agreement - MetLife serves as the transfer agent for the Trust. MetLife receives no fees for its services to the Trust under the transfer agency agreement.

Distribution Agreements and Plans - The Trust has distribution agreements with MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MIDC” or the “Distributor”) in which MIDC serves as the distributor for the Portfolio’s Class A, Class B and Class E Shares. MIDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors Group, Inc., an affiliate of the Adviser. The Class B and Class E distribution plans provide that the Trust, on behalf of the Portfolio, may pay annually up to 0.50% and 0.25%, respectively, of the average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares with respect to activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Class B and Class E Shares. However, under the Class B and Class E distribution agreements, payments to the Distributor for activities pursuant to the Class B and Class E distribution plans are currently limited to payments at an annual rate equal to 0.25% and 0.15% of average daily net assets of the Portfolio attributable to its Class B and Class E Shares, respectively. Amounts incurred by the Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 2014 are shown as Distribution and service fees in the Statement of Operations.

 

 

MIST-18


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Notes to Financial Statements—December 31, 2014—(Continued)

 

Under the terms of the Class B and Class E distribution plans and distribution agreements, the Portfolio is authorized to make payments monthly to the Distributor that may be used to pay or reimburse entities providing distribution and shareholder servicing with respect to the Class B and Class E Shares for such entities’ fees or expenses incurred.

Deferred Trustee Compensation - Each Trustee who is not currently an employee of the Adviser or any of its affiliates receives compensation from the Trust for his or her service to the Trust. A deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) is available to the Trustees on a voluntary basis. Deferred amounts remain in the Trust until distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The value of a participating Trustee’s deferral account is based on theoretical investments of deferred amounts on the normal payment dates in certain portfolios of the Trust or Metropolitan Series Fund, an affiliate of the Trust, as designated by the participating Trustee. Changes in the value of participants’ deferral accounts are reflected as Trustees’ fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations. The portion of the accrued obligations allocated to the Portfolio under the Plan is reflected as Deferred trustees’ fees in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

7. Contractual Obligations

Under the Trust’s organizational documents, its officers and Trustees may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Trust. Additionally, the Trust has a variety of indemnification obligations under contracts with its service providers. The Trust’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Trust that have not yet occurred.

8. Income Tax Information

The tax character of distributions paid for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

Ordinary Income

     Long-
Term Capital Gain
     Total  

2014

   2013      2014      2013      2014      2013  
$11,706,751    $ 16,313,722       $       $       $ 11,706,751       $ 16,313,722   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a federal income tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed
Ordinary
Income

   Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Loss Carryforwards      Total  
$21,913,000    $ 169,099,600       $ 245,838,155       $       $ 436,850,755   

The Portfolio utilizes the provisions of the federal income tax laws that provide for the carryforward of capital losses for prior years, offsetting such losses against any future realized capital gains. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Act”), net capital losses recognized after December 22, 2010 may be carried forward indefinitely and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term losses. Previously, net capital losses were carried forward for up to eight years and treated as short-term losses. As a transition rule, the Act requires that post-enactment net capital losses be used before pre-enactment net capital losses.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Portfolio utilized capital loss carryforwards of $178,925,520.

As of December 31, 2014, the Portfolio had no post-enactment accumulated capital losses and no pre-enactment accumulated capital loss carryforwards.

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-11 Transfers & Servicing (Topic 860): Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures to improve the financial reporting of repurchase agreements and other similar transactions. The guidance includes expanded disclosure requirements for entities that enter into repurchase agreements or securities lending transactions. The guidance is effective for financial statements with fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is evaluating the impact, if any, of this guidance on the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures.

 

MIST-19


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders of WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio and the Board of Trustees of Met Investors Series Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio, one of the portfolios constituting Met Investors Series Trust (the “Trust”), of December 31, 2014, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2014, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust as of December 31, 2014, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

February 25, 2015

 

MIST-20


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust

 

Management of the Trusts

The MIST Trust and the MSF Trust are collectively referred to as the “Trusts”. The Board of Trustees of each Trust (collectively, the “Board”) supervises the Trusts and is responsible for representing the interests of shareholders. The same persons serve as the Trustees of the MIST Trust and the MSF Trust, and as Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of its subcommittees, as described below. The Trustees of each Trust meet periodically throughout the year to oversee the Portfolios’ activities, reviewing, amongst other things, each Portfolio’s performance and its contractual arrangements with various service providers. The Trustees of each Trust elect the officers of the Trust, who are responsible for administering the Trust’s day-to-day operations.

Trustees and Officers

The Trustees and executive officers of the Trusts, as well as their ages and their principal occupations during the past five years, are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each is c/o MetLife Funds, One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Each Trustee who is deemed an “interested person,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, is referred to as an “Interested Trustee.” Those Trustees who are not “interested persons,” as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, are referred to as “Independent Trustees.” There is no limit to the term a Trustee may serve. Trustees serve until their death, resignation or removal in accordance with the MIST Trust’s and MSF Trust’s respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Boards of the respective Trusts from time to time. Officers hold office at the pleasure of each Board and serve until their removal or resignation in accordance with the Trusts’ respective organizational documents and policies adopted by the Board of each Trust from time to time.

 

Trustees of the Trust

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Interested Trustee          
Elizabeth M. Forget* (48)   Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Senior Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; President, MetLife Advisers, LLC and a predecessor company.   77   Various MetLife-affiliated boards.
Independent Trustees        
Stephen M. Alderman (55)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Shareholder in the law firm of Garfield & Merel, Ltd.   77   Trustee; MSF Trust,** Director, International Truck Leasing Corp.
Robert J. Boulware (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Managing Director, Pilgrim Funds, LLC (private equity fund)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Vertical Capital Income Fund (closed-end fund); Director, Gainsco, Inc. (auto insurance)
Susan C. Gause (62)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
March
2008 to
present
  Private Investor.   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair, HSBC Funds.**
Nancy Hawthorne (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chief Executive Officer, Clerestory, LLC (corporate advisor)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, THL Credit, Inc.,** Director, Avid Technology.**

 

MIST-21


Met Investors Series Trust

Trustees and Officers of Met Investors Series Trust—(Continued)

 

Name and Age

 

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

 

Term of Office

and Length of

Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5

Years(1)

 

Number of

Portfolios

in Fund

Complex(2)

overseen

by Trustee

 

Other Directorships Held

by Trustee During

Past 5 Years(1)

Barbara A. Nugent (58)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
January
2014 to
present
  President, True North Board Governance, LLC (consulting); until December 31, 2013, partner in the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, Episcopal Healthcare Foundation; until 2014, member, Mutual Fund Directors Forum Advisory Board.
Keith M. Schappert (63)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Principal, Schappert Consulting, LLC (asset management consulting)   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Director, The Commonfund for Nonprofit Organizations; until 2011, Director Trilogy Global Advisors; Director, Mirae Asset Discovery Funds,** Director, Calamos Investments.
Linda B. Strumpf (67)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
April
2012 to
present
  Chair of the Investment Committee, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust; until June 2011, Chief Investment Officer, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee and Member of Investment Committee, The Pennsylvania State University; Director, Trickle-Up.
Dawn M. Vroegop (48)   Trustee   Indefinite;
From
December
2000 to
present
  Private Investor   77   Trustee, MSF Trust,** Trustee, Driehaus Mutual Funds, Director and Investment Committee Chair, City College of San Francisco.

Executive Officers of the Trust

 

Name and Age

  

Position(s)

Held with

Registrant

  

Term of Office
and Length of

Time Served

  

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years(1)

Elizabeth M. Forget (48)    President, Chief Executive Officer, Trustee and Chairman of the Board    From
December
2000 to
present
   See principal occupation information in the table above.
Kristi Slavin (41)    Vice President    From
February
2015
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Peter H. Duffy (59)    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer    From May
2012 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.
Andrew L. Gangolf (60)    Secretary    From
2011 to
present
   Senior Vice President, MetLife Advisers, LLC; until 2011, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
Steven E. Hartstein (51)    Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”)    From
February
2014
   Vice President, MetLife, Inc.; CCO, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Executive Director, Morgan Stanley (2009-2013); CCO, Consulting Group Capital Markets Funds (2006-2013).
Alan C. Leland, Jr. (62)    Vice President    From May
2012 to
present
   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, MetLife Advisers, LLC; Vice President, MetLife Group, Inc.; Vice President, MetLife, Inc.

 

* Ms. Forget is an “interested person” of the Trust because of her positions with MetLife Advisers, LLC and her ownership of securities issued by MetLife, Inc. the ultimate parent company of MetLife Advisers, LLC.
** Indicates a directorship with a registered investment company or a company subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; as amended.
(1) Previous positions during the past five years with the Trust, MetLife, Inc., or the Adviser are omitted if not materially different.
(2) The Fund Complex includes 47 Portfolios of the Trust and 30 Portfolios of the MSF Trust.

 

MIST-22


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements

 

At an in-person meeting held on November 19-20, 2014 (the “November Meeting”), the Boards of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Met Investors Series Trust and Metropolitan Series Fund (“MIST” and “MSF,” respectively, and collectively, the “Trusts”), including a majority of the Trustees who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Trusts (the “Independent Trustees”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), approved the continuation of certain of the Trusts’ advisory agreements (the “Advisory Agreements” or “Agreements”) with MetLife Advisers, LLC (the “Adviser”) for the series of the Trusts (each a “Portfolio,” and collectively, the “Portfolios”).

In reaching that decision, the Board reviewed a variety of materials provided for the specific purpose of the annual contract renewal process, as well as a variety of materials provided to and discussed with the Board throughout the year. The Board also met in person with personnel of the Adviser on September 16, 2014 for the specific purpose of giving preliminary consideration to the proposed continuation of the Agreements (the “September Meeting”) through the review by the Adviser with the Board of the performance and fees experienced by each Portfolio. In considering the Agreements, the Independent Trustees were advised by independent legal counsel throughout the contract renewal process, and met with independent legal counsel in several executive sessions outside of the presence of management. While the Agreements for the Trusts were considered at the same Board meetings, the Board evaluated all information available to it on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis, and its decision was made separately with respect to each Portfolio.

Information furnished and discussed throughout the year included investment performance reports for each Portfolio, along with periodic reports on various expenses, shareholder services, legal and compliance matters, asset pricing, brokerage commissions and trade execution. Information furnished specifically in connection with the renewal process included, but was not limited to, a report for each Portfolio prepared by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent organization, as well as additional material, including a Portfolio-by-Portfolio profitability analysis that management prepared. In addition, the Independent Trustees received and reviewed a report prepared by JDL Consultants, LLC (“JDL”), an independent consultant to the Independent Trustees (“JDL Report”), which examined the comparative fees, expenses and performance of each Portfolio, based upon the Lipper reports. Also, the Board reviewed the responses to wide-ranging questions relating to the business, operations and performance of the Adviser that the Adviser had prepared specifically for the renewal process.

At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Adviser supported the renewal of the Agreements. The Board also concluded that the investment performance of each Portfolio was such that each Agreement should continue, and that the fees paid by a Portfolio to the Adviser appeared to be reasonable in light of nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Further, the Board concluded that the Adviser’s profitability in providing services under the Advisory Agreements did not appear unreasonably high in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Adviser. Finally, the Board concluded that the investment advisory fees paid by the Portfolios in some measure shared economies of scale with contractholders. In approving the renewal of each of the Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Trustees, gave attention to all of the information that was furnished. The following discuses some of the primary factors that generally were relevant to the Board’s decision. The Board did not identify any single factor as controlling, and the Trustees generally attributed different weights to various factors for the various Portfolios.

Nature, extent and quality of services. The Board evaluated the nature, extent and quality of the services that the Adviser has provided to the Portfolios. The Board considered the Adviser’s services as investment manager to the Portfolios, including its services relating to the oversight of the Sub-Advisers and their investment management activities, trading practices, financial condition, relevant personnel matters and compliance program, among other things. The Adviser’s services in coordinating and overseeing the activities of the Trusts’ other service providers were also considered. The Board considered information received from the Trusts’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) regarding the Portfolios’ compliance policies and procedures that were established pursuant to Rule 38a-l under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the expertise, experience and performance of the personnel of the Adviser who performed the various services that are mentioned above throughout the year.

The Board also noted that each of the investment, compliance and legal staffs of the Adviser conduct regular, periodic, telephonic and in-person meetings with the Sub-Advisers to review and assess the services that are provided to the Portfolios, and that personnel of the Adviser prepare and present reports to the Independent Trustees regarding those meetings.

Performance. The Board placed emphasis on the performance of the Portfolios in light of, among other things, its importance to contractholders. The Board considered the Adviser’s quarterly reviews with the Board of detailed information about each Portfolio’s investment strategies and performance results and composition, including discussions regarding the relevant effect of current market conditions. The Board reviewed and considered the report prepared by Lipper, which provided a statistical analysis comparing the Portfolios’ investment performance to that of comparable funds underlying variable insurance products (the “Performance Universe”). The Independent Trustees also met separately with a representative of JDL during the September Meeting to review the JDL Report.

 

MIST-23


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

At the November Meeting, the Board considered each Portfolio’s performance for periods subsequent to the performance period covered by the Lipper reports, and the Adviser’s discussion of the same, including the effect of current market conditions on each Portfolio’s more recent performance.

The Board focused particular attention on Portfolios with less favorable performance records. The Board noted that the Adviser’s focus on each Sub-Adviser’s performance and noted that the Adviser has been active in monitoring and responding to any performance issues with respect to the Portfolios.

Fees and Expenses. The Board gave consideration to the level and method of computing the fees payable under the Agreements. The Board considered the Lipper report for each of the Portfolios, which included comparisons for each Portfolio of its contractual management fees (at current and various asset levels), and total expenses, with those of its peers, including as those peers were divided into a broad group of peer funds (“Expense Universe”), a narrower group of peer funds (“Expense Group”), a broad group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Universe”), and a narrower group of peer sub-advised funds (“Sub-advised Expense Group”). Lipper selected the peer funds which were similarly situated funds underlying variable insurance products deemed to be comparable to the Portfolios. The Independent Trustees, with the assistance of JDL, also examined the JDL Report.

The Board noted that applicable sub-advisory fees for the Portfolios are paid by the Adviser out of its advisory fee. The Board also considered that the Adviser had entered into expense limitation agreements with certain of the Portfolios, as identified below, pursuant to which the Adviser had agreed to waive a portion of its advisory fee and/or reimburse certain expenses as a means of limiting a Portfolio’s total annual operating expenses.

Profitability. The Board examined the profitability of the Adviser on a Portfolio-by-Portfolio basis. The Board also considered that an affiliate of the Adviser, MetLife Investors Distribution Company, serves as distributor for the Trusts, and, as such, receives Rule 12b-1 payments to support the distribution of the Portfolios. In reviewing the profitability analyses, the Board recognized that expense allocation methodologies are inherently subjective and various expense allocation methodologies may be reasonable while producing different results.

Economies of scale. The Board also considered the effect of the Portfolios’ growth in size on their fees. The Board noted the fee schedules for the Portfolios that contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate above specified asset levels. The Board noted those Portfolios that did not contain breakpoints in the advisory fee and took into account management’s discussion of the same. The Board considered the effective fees under the Advisory Agreement for a Portfolio as a percentage of assets at different asset levels and possible economies of scale that may be realized if the assets of the Portfolio grow. Among other data, the Board examined the effect of a Portfolio’s growth in size on various fee schedules and reviewed the Lipper and JDL Reports, which compared fees among peers. The Board also generally noted that if a Portfolio’s assets increase over time, the Portfolio may realize other economies of scale if assets increase proportionally more than certain other fixed expenses.

Other factors. The Board considered other benefits that may be realized by the Adviser and its affiliates from their relationship with the Trusts. Among them, the Board recognized that MetLife Investors Distribution Company, as the distributor for the Trusts, receives payments pursuant to Rule 12b-1 from the Portfolios to compensate it for providing shareholder services and distribution activities, which could lead to growth in the Trusts’ assets and corresponding benefits from such growth, including economies of scale. In conjunction with these considerations, the Board noted the ongoing commitment of the Adviser to the Portfolios.

The Board considered possible conflicts of interest in the form of material benefits or detriments to the Trusts resulting from the nature of the Trusts’ and the Adviser’s affiliations and the services that are provided to the Trusts, and the manner in which such conflicts were mitigated.

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio. At the November Meeting, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, approved the renewal of the Advisory Agreement relating to the Portfolio. The Sub-Advisory Agreement for the Portfolio was not up for renewal at the November Meeting because it had previously been approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, in connection with the Portfolio’s change in Sub-Adviser to Wellington Management Company LLP, effective February 2014. The following outlines certain of the specific factors that the Board considered and the conclusions reached in relation to the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser regarding the Portfolio. These specific factors are in addition to the considerations that are discussed above.

Among other data relating specifically to the Portfolio’s performance, the Board considered that the Portfolio outperformed both the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the one- and five-year periods ended June 30, 2014 and underperformed both the median of its Performance Universe and its Lipper Index for the three-year period ended June 30, 2014. The Board further

 

MIST-24


Met Investors Series Trust

WMC Large Cap Research Portfolio

Board of Trustees’ Consideration of Advisory Agreements—(Continued)

 

considered that the Portfolio outperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, for the one-year period ended October 31, 2014 and underperformed its benchmark for the three- and five-year periods ended October 31, 2014. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Portfolio’s performance. The Board also noted the Sub-Adviser change in February 2014.

The Board also considered that the Portfolio’s actual management fees and total expenses (exclusive of 12b-1 fees) were below the Expense Group median, Expense Universe median, and Sub-advised Expense Universe median. The Board further noted that the Portfolio’s contractual management fees were above the asset-weighted average of the Expense Group at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board also noted that the Portfolio’s contractual sub-advisory fees were above the average of the Sub-advised Expense Group and below the average of the Sub-advised Expense Universe at the Portfolio’s current size. The Board further noted that the Adviser had agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses during the past year.

 

MIST-25


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, or persons performing similar functions (the “Code of Ethics”). During the period covered by this report, no material amendments were made to the provisions of the Code of Ethics, nor did the registrant grant any waivers, including any implicit waivers, from any provision of the Code of Ethics.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that the registrant has at least one “audit committee financial expert” (as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR) serving on its audit committee. Susan C. Gause, Nancy Hawthorne, Keith M. Schappert, Linda B. Strumpf, and Dawn M. Vroegop have each been determined to be an “audit committee financial expert” and each is “independent” (as each term is defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR).

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Information provided in response to Item 4 includes amounts billed during the applicable time period for services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), the registrant’s principal accountant.

(a) Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements and for services that are normally provided by Deloitte in connection with statutory and regulatory filings for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014 were $2,268,007 and $2,412,613, respectively.

(b) Audit-Related Fees

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014, Deloitte billed $16,068 and $16,500, respectively, for assurance and related services that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant, the registrant’s investment adviser or any other entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant. Represent fees for services rendered to the registrant as follows: (i) security valuation testing and procedures in connection with select portfolios of the registrant’s semi-annual report for the periods ended June 30, 2014; (ii) 17f-2 security count procedures for select portfolios for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013; and (iii) related to reorganizations involving certain portfolios of the registrant for fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.


(c) Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning in the form of preparation of excise filings and income tax returns for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014 were $379,770 and $330,020, respectively. Represent fees for services rendered to the registrant for review of tax returns for the year end December 31, 2014 and for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning in the form of preparation of excise filings and income tax returns for the fiscal year end December 31, 2013.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014, no fees for tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning services that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant were billed by Deloitte to the registrant’s investment adviser or any other entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant.

(d) All Other Fees

The registrant was not billed for any other products or services provided by Deloitte for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014 other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) above.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014, no fees for other products or services that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) above, were billed by Deloitte to the registrant’s investment adviser or any other entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the registrant’s investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant.

(e)(1) The registrant’s Audit Committee has established pre-approval procedures pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(B) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, which include regular pre-approval procedures and interim pre-approval procedures. Under the regular pre-approval procedures, the Audit Committee pre-approves at its regularly scheduled meetings audit and non-audit services that are required to be pre-approved under paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. Under the interim pre-approval procedures, any member of the Audit Committee who is an independent Trustee is authorized to pre-approve proposed services that arise between regularly scheduled Audit Committee meetings and that need to commence prior to the next regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting. Such Audit Committee member must report to the Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting on the pre-approval decision.

(2) Not applicable.

(f) Not applicable.


(g) The aggregate fees billed for the most recent fiscal year and the preceding fiscal year by the registrant’s principal accountant for non-audit services rendered to the registrant, its investment adviser, and adviser affiliates that provide ongoing services to the registrant for 2013 and 2014 were $0 and $0, respectively.

(h) The Audit Committee of the registrant’s Board of Trustees considered the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any subadviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X and concluded that such services are compatible with maintaining the principal accountant’s independence.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments.

(a) Schedule of Investments is included as a part of the report to shareholders included under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

(b) Not applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The registrant does not have procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board of Trustees.


Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a) The President and Treasurer of the registrant have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Act) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report on Form N-CSR, that the design and operation of such procedures provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

(b) There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits

(a)(1) Code of Ethics is attached hereto.

(a)(2) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act are attached hereto.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

MET INVESTORS SERIES TRUST
By:

/s/ Elizabeth M. Forget

Elizabeth M. Forget

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 6, 2015

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:

/s/ Elizabeth M. Forget

Elizabeth M. Forget

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 6, 2015

 

By:

/s/ Peter H. Duffy

Peter H. Duffy

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date: March 6, 2015